2021 MassTrails grants benefit two Cape Cod towns 

Funding will enhance bike connections in Sandwich and accessibility in Brewster 

The Baker-Polito administration visited the Town of Sandwich in late June to announce nearly $4 million in grant funding to support 52 trail projects across the state as part of the MassTrails grant program. Two Cape Cod towns will be receiving funds as part of this statewide program to assist with construction, maintenance, and improvements for a variety of public trails including hiking trails, bikeways, and shared-use paths. 

The Town of Sandwich was awarded $124,000 that will be used to study a preferred route for a multi-use path that will connect the western end of the Sandwich Service Road shared-use path to the Cape Cod Canal bike path and close an important gap in off-road bike accommodations from Provincetown to the Cape Cod Canal. Matching funds from the town in the amount of $31,000 will enhance the grant.  

“Bourne and Falmouth are doing their part for planning and executing a Shining Sea path extension and connecting that to the canal via the Bourne Rail Trail. Yarmouth and Barnstable are doing their part to extend the Cape Cod Rail Trail westward,” says Sean Polay, member of the Sandwich Bike Committee and Bicycle Representative on the Cape Cod Joint Transportation Committee. “As a committee, we're seizing that momentum. A cross-Sandwich trail is not only important for our town's residents and visitors, but it's also crucial regionally.” 

The Town of Brewster was awarded $50,000 to fund design, public outreach, and permitting for the Wing Island boardwalk project. The boardwalk would provide accessibility to the 27-acre Wing’s Island, interconnect existing public trail segments, and provide a fully ADA compliant pathway to complement recent work at neighboring Drummer Boy Park. The project will receive $46,013.64 in matching funds from the Town of Brewster. 

“The MassTrails grant program is helping to build out the trail network across Cape Cod by providing funding for important regional connections,” said Steven Tupper, Cape Cod Commission Transportation Program Manager.  

MassTrails provides matching grants to communities, public entities and non-profit organizations to design, create, and maintain the diverse network of trails, trail systems, and trail experiences used and enjoyed by Massachusetts residents and visitors. The program has benefited several Cape Cod projects in past years, including the Bourne Rail Trail, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, the Higgins Crowell shared-use path in Yarmouth, and the Bearses Way shared-use path in Barnstable.