The Carol Getchell Nature Trail, created in 2000 in Saxonville, follows the course of the federally designated Wild and Scenic Sudbury River. It includes two trailheads: the first on the south end of the nearly mile-long trail, at Danforth Street and Sudbury Landing, where a 900-foot-long boardwalk parallels the river; the second, the north trailhead, located at the bottom of Little Farms Road, features a combination of paths and stream crossings.
As part of Conservation's ongoing goal to improve and expand accessibility on Framingham’s trails, plans were developed to replace the 25-year-old boardwalk at the south trailhead, which had reached the end of its service life, with a new ADA-compliant boardwalk. The new structure will include a riverfront viewing platform designed to also serve as an outdoor classroom for the nearby Stapleton School. At the north end of the trail, proposed upgrades include safer, more accessible pathways, the replacement of existing stream crossings with new bridges, and the addition of viewing platforms to provide closer access to the riverbank.
Conservation was fortunate to receive funding from both Framingham’s Community Preservation Committee and the state’s MassTrails grant program to support accessibility improvements along both the north and south sections of the trail, including full reconstruction of the southern boardwalk.
Following a public bidding process, the City selected SumCo Eco-Contracting to complete the work. The project is now underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 or shortly thereafter. For safety reasons, the trail is currently closed during construction. Updates will be posted on this page to track progress as the trail continues to be enhanced for all to enjoy.