Claremont — Most users of Moody Park probably don’t realize, it but when they head west in the park past the old ballfield they are soon using a trail network that is outside the park boundaries.

The roughly 135-acre, city-owned parcel that is bordered by railroad tracks to the west and Moody Park on the east includes more than half of the park’s approximately eight miles of trails. It is considered part of Moody Park, but has never been officially designated as such

Now, with a celebration planned later this spring to mark the park’s 100th anniversary, the city wants to officially add the city-owned property.

“The council just wants to make it official,” City Manager Guy Santagate said Thursday. “I don’t see any big obstacles to the change.”

The park recently underwent some significant improvements, including the construction of new trails for hiking and mountain biking and repairs to existing trails. The work was funded with revenue received from the sale of timber from a logging operation in the park.

The park is named for William Moody. He grew up in Claremont and became a salesman in the shoe industry and a partner in shoe shops in the Boston area and southern New Hampshire. Moody returned to his hometown when his health began to decline. In 1916, he donated a portion of his 600-acre property, Highview Farm, to Claremont for free public recreational use.

 

Patrick O'Grady covers Claremont and Newport for the Valley News. He can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com