In early 2016, the Town of Bedford Conservation Commission secured a grant to enhance/rehabilitate a section of Heritage Trail. The grant was awarded to the town from the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Trails.

The Recreational Trails Program is a competitive grant program that offers funding for quality public trail projects throughout New Hampshire. Limited grants are available for motorized, non-motorized and diversified trails. The town selected this location to pursue the grant as it was noted that users of the trail avoided a particular area of Heritage Trail that had a steep slope and required crossing through a wetland, hikers often used the active railroad tracks to avoid this area.

The Bedford Conservation Commission has announced that in the near future that is all going to change with the addition of a crossing over the wetland and regrading of the approach to the crossing. The specific area being enhanced is behind the NH Sportsplex. This endeavor is collaboration between the Town of Bedford Conservation Commission, an Eagle Scout and Eversource. The crossing is expected to be fully completed by Oct. 15.

This is the second grant the Conservation Commission has secured to improve the town’s trail system. The first was for the Scott Road Conservation Area, which was completed in 2015. In 2017, improvements will be made at the Pulpit Rock Conservation Area.

– Submitted by Bedford Conservation Commission