Reminder: Community Path Meeting Tonight (WED) at Chenery

There's a meeting to discuss the eastern end of the proposed Belmont Community Path this evening (Wed Nov 16) at 7 PM at Chenery Middle School Auditorium. Come show your support for a gorgeous Belmont Community Path! (Photo by Paul Roberts.)

There’s a meeting to discuss the eastern end of the proposed Belmont Community Path this evening (Wed Nov 16) at 7 PM at Chenery Middle School Auditorium. Come show your support for a gorgeous Belmont Community Path! (Photo by Paul Roberts.)

Hey Blogging Belmont Community! This is a quick reminder that this evening is the occasion for another community dialog regarding the planned Community Path. The discussion with Pare, the engineering firm hired to evaluate the various options for the path, is set to begin in The Chenery Middle School Auditorium at 7:00 PM.

This evening’s discussion will cover the Eastern End of the proposed path, from Belmont Center’s Railroad Bridge to Brighton Street and the connection to the path to Alewife and the Minuteman Trail. From an engineering standpoint, this is the least complicated section of the whole route: flat as a pancake and with plenty of room along an abandoned right of way providing a straight shot down the tracks to the terminus of the existing Alewife connector path.

From a political standpoint, this is one of the most contentious parts of the project, as there has been concern from abutters along Channing Road about the impact of the Community Path on their property as well as concerns about privacy, noise and other issues.

In short: there will be some healthy discussion about the various options and path supporters should make it a point to attend tonight and make their voices and opinions heard. Previous meetings (I was at last week’s meeting regarding the central portion of the trail) have been very informative and have featured lots of back and forth between the excellent folks at Pare and community members.

There’s more information on the Town’s web site. And, if I’m not wrong, Pare is still open to having residents take the survey about the path. Around 200 people have taken it so far, but Pare is obviously interested in hearing from as many of you as possible. The link to that is here.