Tamworth Community Nurse Association (TCNA), in collaboration with the Chocorua Lake Conservancy (CLC), is excited to announce the planned construction of the first All Persons Accessible Trail in Tamworth.

The ADA-compliant trail will be located on conservation land owned by the Korson family and will be known as the Mary Mullarkey All Persons Trail in honor of Tom Korson's late wife and Andrew Korson's mother. Mary Mullarkey passed away in 2021, after many years living with multiple sclerosis. Throughout her distinguished career, she served as a Supreme Court Justice in Colorado for 23 years—12 of which were spent as the state's first female chief justice—prior to her retirement in 2010.

The trail will be accessible from the Hammond trailhead parking area on Scott Road in Tamworth. It will feature a picturesque woodland setting, a seasonal brook, and culminate at a viewing platform on the bank of the Chocorua River, equipped with railings and a bench for visitors to rest and enjoy the natural surroundings. The trail spans 0.5 miles round trip and will include compacted stone dust mix and boardwalk sections with railings over wet areas. Additionally, interpretive signs will highlight special features along the trail, serving as educational tools. A welcoming kiosk at the trail's entrance will provide visitors with information about the trail and acknowledge the foundations, organizations, and individual donors who contributed to making this vision a reality.

The planning for this project began nearly five years ago, inspired by a former TCNA board member who recognized the need for a local accessible trail during a visit from her son. Accessible trails suitable for individuals with mobility issues are limited in the surrounding area; there are none in Tamworth. The first meeting was attended by community members who gathered to talk about ideas and possible locations for an accessible trail in Tamworth. Subsequent meetings and potential site visits were attended by members of TCNA, CLC and the Tamworth Conservation Commission. Many locations were evaluated before the group found what they felt was the ideal location on Scott Road. Following that initial site visit, Sheldon Perry went down to Scott Road and walked out along Stony Brook to the Chocorua River, mapping out the proposed trail route and observing the contours of the ground he was walking using the Chocorua Map app on his phone that was developed by Rick Allmendinger. The site was reasonably level with a couple of wet areas and offered a flowing stream, a beautiful and quiet forest setting, and a destination point on the Chocorua River. The Korson family was presented with the idea of an All Persons Trail on their property, which they graciously approved.

Since then, ongoing meetings, workshops, and grant writing efforts have been conducted. CLC members have collaborated closely with us to ensure adherence to restrictive covenants and have committed to assisting with oversight and routine maintenance of the trail. The Tamworth Conservation Commission has supported us in securing necessary permits for the project. Additionally, we have received backing from the Tamworth Outing Club, the Tamworth Selectboard, and the Carroll County Coalition for Public Health. Financial support has been provided through grants from the NH Bureau of Trails Recreational Trail Project Program, Fields Pond Foundation, The Tamworth Foundation, and the NH Charitable Foundation. These competitive grants reflect the project's merit and worthiness of support.

Matt Coughlan from Recon Trail Design, LLC in Parsonsfield, ME, is the talented trail builder for this project. He has crafted the boardwalk and observation deck at the Alice Bemis Thompson Wildlife Sanctuary and the accessible trail at Tin Mountain Conservation Center. Trail clearing began on March 3, and construction is scheduled for late summer/early fall. By November, we hope to have a beautiful All Persons Accessible Trail for everyone to enjoy.

To accommodate accessible parking for the trail, this project also includes expanding the Hammond trailhead parking area from its current capacity of 3-4 vehicles to12 vehicles, with designated accessible parking spaces.

TCNA views this All Persons Accessible Trail as an extension of the health services we provide, using the natural environment to promote improved health and wellbeing of residents and visitors. From the youngest to our most senior citizens, all can enjoy the experience of being out in the woods, the sounds, the smells, the sights that draw us in, bring us peace, allow us to escape the busyness of the day, if just for a few minutes. Children can explore while walking along a flat, safe surface or enjoy riding along in a stroller; adults can gather to socialize and catch up with friends. The possibilities are endless!

If you would like more information about this worthwhile project, please email teresamf60@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading!