Upper Charles Trail

Members of the Friends of the Trail -- a volunteer group organized this year to help the Parks and Recreation Department operate successfully -- voted last week to hold the dedication Oct. 15 with a rain date of Oct. 22.

Although details of the dedication are still being formulated, acting president Margaret Myatt said the dedication will be held either at the trail head off the municipal commuter parking lot across the street from Sacred Heart Church on East Main Street or at Louisa Lake where the trail continues to Dilla Street.

"It's in its infancy," Myatt said of the dedication details. A committee meeting is expected next month not only to elect officers of the Friends of the Trail but to begin planning the dedication activities.

The Friends meeting will be held Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center on North Bow Street. Anyone interested in the trail is invited to attend and participate in the meeting.

"The date is set. Now everyone can look forward to an announcement about activities. It will be a family fun time -- maybe some physical fitness demonstrations," Myatt said.

One goal of the meeting will be to establish levels of giving for membership to the Friends of the Trail, which is a nonprofit organization officially know as the Friends of the Trail, Milford, MA. The group is already accepting donations.

More information on the Friends is available on the town Web site at www.milford.ma.us. and clicking on organizations. Information on the entire project is available on www.uppercharlestrail.org.

Myatt can be reached by accessing the Friends Web page, by e-mailing her at mmyatt@comcast.net or calling 508-473-0377.

Construction of the 3-mile trail through Milford began in May and is expected to end next spring. When complete, it will allow for biking, jogging, and in-line skating from the commuter parking lot across from Sacred Heart Church on East Main Street to Deer Street just north of the Interstate 495/Rte. 85 Overpass.

Milford's Upper Charles Trail still needs Town Meeting approval for the town's share of funding for the second phase, which will link the trail to the Hopkinton and Holliston town lines.

Leslie H. Dixon may be reached at 508-634-7521 or by e-mail at ldixon@cnc.com.