Belchertown Wins $325,000 Grant to Design Rail Trail Segment

BELCHERTOWN — Belchertown has secured a $325,000 MassTrails grant to design Segment 1C of the Mass Central Rail Trail, a project town officials say will link Belchertown into a regional trail network stretching from Northampton to Boston.

TOWN HALL

The Massachusetts grant funds design work on the rail trail segment, one of the town's most consequential infrastructure wins in recent memory, according to the town's News Flash announcement. Town officials framed the segment as a key link connecting Belchertown to the broader Mass Central Rail Trail corridor.

The town's public safety ranks also saw movement this week. Jared LaValle, a lifelong Belchertown resident and 2008 Belchertown High School graduate, was promoted to lieutenant after 15 years in public safety. Separately, Call Force Firefighter Brandon Stackhouse earned his certification from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.

New directional signs have also gone up around town, with additional signage planned through the summer and beyond, the town said.

COMING UP

The Belchertown Cultural Council opens its Fiscal Year 2027 grant application window on September 1, accepting applications for local arts, humanities, and science programming.

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.