Community trail gets new mural and workout stations as expansion work continues

posted on: 10/6/2020

New workout stations and a new mural were added to the Dover Community Trail last week thanks to the generosity of Dover-based Northeast Color.

The Crosby Road company recently held a community service day, and the employees of the firm were on the Community Trail painting, installing workout equipment and cleaning up litter.

It's the second time Northeast Color donated a day of service to the Community Trail. Last year, employees painted the mural inside the Silver Street tunnel and refurbished the stairway to the picnic area in the trail section between Washington Street and the Transportation Center, built a train planter at the Rotary Trailhead, and painted hopscotch boards on the urban section.

This year, three Northeast Color crews worked on three projects. One team touched up the Silver Street tunnel mural; another painted a new mural underneath the Spaulding Turnpike; and the third installed two workout stations nearby the Beckwith Field entrance to the Community Trail. The workout stations include a pull-up station and a stretching and yoga platform, similar to stations installed at Willand Pond by Timberland employees during one of its community service days.

"Northeast Color's creativity and talents add to the vibrancy of the Dover Community Trail," said City Planner Donna Benton, who oversees the Community Trail. "They are among the many volunteers we are lucky to have to help maintain this resource."

Phase III work underway

Those who have traveled on the urban part of the Community Trail recently have likely noticed the contractors from S.U.R. Construction, Inc. of Rochester working on the newest section of the trail: the Fisher Street extension to Central and Rutland avenues. The work began on Sept. 8.

S.U.R. Construction crews will soon also begin work on creating a trailhead and graded entrance to the rural part of the Community Trail by Fourth Street and Downeast Energy. This part of the project will formalize the unofficial, steep dirt entrance users have transversed for years. The new entrance will be paved until it meets the trail grade by the Cochecho River.

This trail work is part of Phase III of the Community Trail project. At its Aug. 12 meeting, the City Council approved S.U.R. Construction to complete Phase III.

Planning for Phase III began in late 2014 with the City applying for TAP funding through the DOT which was awarded to the City in 2015. Part of the planning process included a feasibility study, followed by engineering plans that can be viewed here: Phase III Construction Plans. Part of the process to make Phase III a reality included obtaining four easements from property owners. Two were granted for the extension between Fisher Street and Central Avenue on the property owned by Diamond Holdings. The other two easements were granted from property owners to create the accessible ramp and trailhead at Fourth Street. One was from Downeast Energy. The other easement was granted by the Sixth Street Station Condominium Owners Association, which has previously granted an easement to allow use on the Community Trail on their property that borders the Cochecho River.

About the Community Trail

The Dover Community Trail is a 3.2-mile, soon to be 3.5 miles, non-motorized trail that connects the urban Central Business District with rural parts along the Cochecho River.

The trail utilizes parts of former railroad beds that once provided the Garrison City direct connections to Rochester and Portsmouth by rail. The Community Trail consists of two sections. One is a paved urban section that extends from Dover Transportation Center on Chestnut Street to Fisher Street, and by year's end, to Central Avenue. The second part is an unpaved rural extension that follows the Cochecho River near Fourth Street to Watson Road. The two sections are connected via sidewalks on Chestnut and Fourth Street.

The trail's urban section provides a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly connection between the City's Transportation Center and downtown to neighborhoods.

The rural trail provides opportunities for bicycling, hiking, bird watching, and fishing where the trail follows the Cochecho River. A portion of this trail parallels Sixth Street, providing an alternative transportation linkage to Liberty Mutual, Measured Progress, and other employment centers in the Enterprise Park area. There are trailheads at Watson Road, Whitter Street, off Hillside Drive, and by year's end, Fourth Street.

Phase IV of the Community Trail Project is underway, but still a couple of years off before any construction. This phase would focus on creating the trail through Bellamy Park and extend to Knox Marsh Road. Currently, the project is in the feasibility study stage. The City has contracted with Fuss & O'Neill to study potential routes and conduct wetland studies.