The trail’s national recognition highlights its integration into daily life. Commuters use the regional bike-share system to travel between Easthampton, Northampton, Westfield, Springfield, and Holyoke. “You can get on one of those bikes and really travel around.You see people doing that as well as people walking their dogs,” Mayor LaChapelle notes. “The bike trail also leads to three of the best breweries in Western Mass, so it’s eclectic. You can walk off the path and go into a small section of our industrial park. You can walk off and go to another trail that brings you up to Arcadia to see all sorts of birds.” This infrastructure investment yields economic returns. The breweries report increased foot traffic from trail users. Mill district businesses cite the 129 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 EASTHAMPTON, MA
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