SWAMPSCOTT — In celebration of the second segment of the Swampscott Rail Trail nearing completion, the Friends of the Swampscott Rail Trail have unveiled a new trail logo.
“The circular logo includes train tracks evocative of the history of the trail along with a branch of elderberry,” the organization said in a press release. “Elderberry bushes, native to Massachusetts, provide food and cover for small animals and birds, and they have edible fruit and flowers. In folklore, elder wood conveys safety, a key objective of the rail trail to provide a safe place to walk and ride off of busy roads.”
The first segment of the trail was completed in June 2020 and has been open to bikers and walkers since then. The second segment has not yet been completed, as construction was delayed by early snowfall in the fall, and the trail still needs final touches like a layer of crushed stone and other landscaping.
Marzie Galazka, director of community and economic development for the town, said that it has still served the community well during the winter, with residents using it for walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
“Tons of people are using it, and we’ve been receiving many positive comments,” Galazka said. “It’s wonderful that we’re able to link to the Marblehead trails, so even though the segment in Swampscott is fairly short, it opens up recreation opportunities for our community to continue into Marblehead and Salem, and you really have miles of trail.”
Construction on the trail will be finished this spring, and will be celebrated with a formal opening and rededication ceremony.
The two-mile trail will be one of more than 70 rail trails in the state, according to the Friends of the Swampscott Rail Trail, totaling around 350 miles. Swampscott’s trail is also part of the East Coast Greenway, a network of more than 3,000 miles of walking and biking trails extending from Maine to Florida.
The new logo was designed by Gina Janovitz, a freelance graphic designer who also created the logo for the Swampscott Public Library in 2019.
