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Foundation looks to renovate trails as marathon center project ramps up

A rendering from Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects of the 26.2 Foundation’s proposed International Marathon Center shows a network of trails in the rear of the property.

The 26.2 Foundation announced Thursday that it was selected to receive a grant for enhancing community trails at its property on East Main Street. 

In a press release, the foundation reported that it was awarded a $12,000 grant from Athletic Brewing Company as part of the brewery’s “Two for the Trails” grant program. Athletic Brewing awards over $2 million in grants annually to protect and restore outdoor spaces.

With the grant in hand, the 26.2 Foundation plans to partner with the Trails Committee to rehabilitate two miles of trail that will reside near the future International Marathon Center (IMC).

“The grant itself is allowing us to develop the trails on the IMC property specifically,” Kim Chisholm, the foundation’s executive director of development and institutional advancement, clarified. “We’re super excited about it.”

Chisholm explained that the trail rehabilitation project, which will begin sometime this spring, will enhance the existing trails on the property, create different hiking options for users and connect to the broader network of trails in town. She added that some initial clearing already has begun, and the Trails Club is holding a walk there on Saturday.

The $12,000 is slated to pay for equipment and signage. Chisholm said all the work planned for the spring “will really enhance the existing trails that are there.”

The grant award comes as the 26.2 Foundation is deep into its capital campaign for its marathon center. President Tim Kilduff said the foundation is meeting with “major investors” and making progress on funding with the hopes of ramping up in the next few months. He anticipated that the IMC’s due diligence committee will start the permitting process with the town over the next month.

“Once we start this process, this has got to move,” said Kilduff. “The pace of all of this is going to pick up this month across the board, in every phase of the project.”

He added that the landscape of the property — 19 acres of what Kilduff called “an old bog” that sits on East Main Street just before Weston Nurseries and the Spirit of the Marathon Statue — is a factor the due diligence committee will need to consider moving forward.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

The Hopkinton Police Department has charged a 19-year-old with animal cruelty after he allegedly attempted to set a cat on fire.

Developers are a step closer to designating Whisper Way as a town road after the subdivision’s certificate of compliance was approved by the Conservation Commission on Tuesday night.

This week’s Athlete Spotlight shines on wrestler Finn Durocher, a junior who “is setting ambitious goals for himself this postseason,” according to coach Corey Mills.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is Dottie, a low-maintenance dog who “has a great sense of humor” and loves the summertime.

The Friends of Hopkinton will hold its next monthly meeting Monday in the basement of Town Hall.

Photo of the Day

Work continues on the development at the site of the former Hopkinton Drug property.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR