Chicopee Canal Park and Bike Path to open Friday

Date: 5/18/2010

May 19, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- Local and state officials will gather on May 21 at 11 a.m. to mark the official opening of the Chicopee Canal Park and Bike Path, the first phase of a bike path and river walk project that will eventually stretch from Chicopee center to the former Uniroyal complex.

The path has been a long time in the planning stage. City Councilor William Zaskey first proposed the walkway in 1979.

Construction on the first phase began last year. Besides the construction of the 1,100 foot walkway that ends at Grape Street, the project included a re-designed area on Front Street with benches and tables overlooking the walkway.

The paved path begins fairly close to the historic Sycamore trees downtown and follows the canal next to Ames Privilege.

Mayor Michael Bissonnette explained to Reminder Publications last week his administration has sent a letter to MassHighway to request funding for the next phase of the walkway, which would bring it past the rear of the library and to across the street from the entrance to Szot Park.

Bissonnette has noted in the past, the library was constructed to take advantage of the walkway. The library's outdoor amphitheatre area will be accessible from the path.

He said the completed first phase is already attracting people, even though the path hasn't had the advantage of grand opening publicity.

"[The project] created a park, not just a walk," he said.

Bissonnette said he is also looking for funding to undertake a study and the design work for the Chicopee section of the Connecticut River walkway. He noted that in the federal National Health Institute legislation there is $5 billion expressly allocated for projects such walkways and bike paths.

"We're applying for everything," he said.