The Norfolk Rails to Trails Committee announced that it has been selected as an Athletic Brewing Two for the Trails grantee winner. Athletic, a nonalcoholic craft brewer, allocates 2 percent of its sales to support active and healthy lifestyles. Their outdoors program is one of the largest of its kind, and Norfolk Rails to Trails has received $10,000 to use toward revitalization of the North Brook Trail as a fully accessible trail.

More than 150 applicants applied for the grants, from small community groups up to nationally focused organizations. Of these, 62 were chosen as grantees. Norfolk Rails to Trails will use the funds to support construction of a boardwalk to elevate the North Brook Trail above the water level, creating a wide trail for hiking, biking and general use.

North Brook is a key trail section that will eventually connect downtown Norfolk with other trails along the old Central New England (CNE) rail bed such as the Stoney Lonesome Pass. The full trail system will provide many miles of unobstructed travel through Norfolk’s pristine natural forests as well as bring visitors into Norfolk’s business district.