We believe that everyone should have access to the outdoors regardless of means, and that's why the maps, directions, and learning resources for the Walking City Trails will always be free; as will almost all of our trail events. But it takes a great amount of time and labor to create these trail resources. And in a metro area as expensive as Greater Boston, this poses challenges for an independent grassroots initiative like the Walking City Trails.
We are deeply grateful for the enthusiasm and support of Boston walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, and on two occasions, we have held community fundraising campaigns to cover the costs of hosting and expanding this website, installing physical signage along part of the Walking City Trail, and organizing more group events on the Walking City Trails. At this time, we are in the application process for fiscal sponsorship from a nonprofit incubator, which will allow the project to become eligible for instiutional support such as grant and foundation funding. In addition, we will be launching a Walking City Trails membership program by early summer, for all who would like to help us grow Boston’s trail network.
As we make this transition to a new development model, direct contributions to the Walking City Trail are tremendously helpful and appreciated. You can contribute directly today to support our work.
With the City On The Hills Trail now launched, our projects for the remainder of 2025 and beyond include the following:
- Building strategic partnerships with allied organizations as a means of growing our trail events programming.
- Expanding the network of connective trails in Boston, by creating a web-based platform through which people can suggest and test-walk newly proposed urban trails.
- Creating guides for edible resources along the Walking City Trails, including local restaurants, bars, and markets.
- Working with the City of Boston’s Office of Neighborhood Services and on campaigns to make the Walking City Trails more accessible, and negotiating approvals for trail signage to be permanently installed at points along the trails.
Since we are not currently a nonprofit or a fiscally sponsored entity, your trail donation will not be tax deductible. But it will make it possible for us to invest the time and labor that these projects will require.
If you’re able to make a donation to the trail today, we thank you so much for your generous support!
We encourage anyone enthused about the Walking City Trail to consider lending a hand in a Boston park or urban wild, to help keep these spaces beautiful. You can also spread the word about this project to your network, or represent the trail by purchasing some of our official trail swag from the WCT store.
As the Walking City Trails project approaches its third anniversary, we’d like to recognize our wonderful trail support crew. Thank you to each of you for making all of this possible.
Kostia Bergman
Torin K. Clark
Marianna Foos
Sarah Freeman
Karen & Dave Hinchen
Louise Johnson
Fred Langa
Ruthe L’Esperance
Barbara Parmenter & Mary Burns
Julia Reade & Rob Duncan
If you’ve made a trail donation and would like to be mentioned on this shout-out list, please get in touch!
