SHAWSHEEN GREENWAY SPRING KICK OFF EVENT
Shawsheen River is one of the most beloved resources. It is also one of its most under-utilized, and least visited recreational treasures. It is the mission of the Shawsheen Greenway to make it accessible for all to enjoy. Mark your calendars for June 11, 2017 for a Shawsheen Greenway Celebration. The full day of events is hosted by Andover Recreation at Pomps Pond, and the Shawsheen Greenway organization. It will include opportunities for guided paddling trips on the river and Pomps Pond, as well as guided hiking trips. Canoes and kayaks will be made available for a small fee, that those at all skill levels will get to enjoy the river. The event is cosponsored by Andover Youth Services, AVIS, Andover Trails, SRWA, Andover Conservation Commision, Andover Historical Society and the Andover Chamber of Commerce. The celebration will culminate in a campfire, s’mores, and appreciation testimonials at Pomps Pond beach.
See the Andover Recreation website!
You can also look for sign-up opportunities in the Andover Rec. Catalog.
Trip co-leaders are still needed for a two hour, 3.4 mile hike and a paddle on Pomps Pond and the South Marshes. Please contact Burt Batcheller to volunteer:
burt.batcheller@comcast.net or contact shawsheenway@gmail.com if you wish to volunteer to help.
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MORNING EVENTS: Participants meet at 9:30am, hike/paddle trips start at 10:00 finish at 12:00.
HIKE to FOSTERS ISLAND and BACK.
Ages 4 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult, no pets. Hikers meet at Pomps Pond Parking lot at 9:30 am. Start hike at Pomps Pond beach walking along shore of pond to old sand pit site where trail traverses a large marsh to Fosters Island trailhead. Hike passes through a second older gravel pit to a point where trail reaches a berm separating marsh from the Shawsheen River. Continue across berm to the start of Fosters Island nature trail. Complete loop hike of Fosters Island and return to Pomps Pond. Hike length about four miles, hike duration about one and one half hours to two hours. Moderate hike.
#618, 9:30 pm, free
HIKE SHAWSHEEN RIVER & VALE RESERVATIONS to POMPS POND BEACH
Ages 4 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult, no pets. Hikers meet at Pomps Pond parking lot at 9:30 am and will be shuttled to trailhead. Hike starts at Shawsheen Reservation off Central Street and walks up river through fields and woods to the Vale Reservation parking lot in Ballardvale. From there, hikers walk Dale Street to Andover Street crossing over the Shawsheen River to the Fosters Island trailhead. The final leg of hike traverses the South Marshes of Pomps Pond to the Pomps Pond beech. Hike length about three miles flat, hike duration about an hour and a half to two hours. Moderate hike.
#613Â 9:30 am, free
PADDLE POMPS POND and SOUTH MARSHES(flat water)
Ages 4 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult; no pets, life jackets must be worn. Participants meet at Pomps Pond parking lot at 9:30 am. Explore Pomps Pond and the South Marshes. Start at Pomps Pond beach paddling along shore line eventually entering the hidden south marshes, a home to a wide variety of wildlife. Great trip for entry level paddlers. Trip length about two miles. Paddle duration about an hour. Beginner pond paddle trip, group size twenty. Expect wet feet.
#620Â 9:30 am, $10/person, limit 20
RIVER TRIP(downriver): LOWELL JUNCTION to BALLARDVALE MILL POND
Ages 8 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult; no pets, life jackets must be worn. Participants meet in parking lot at Arrowhead Athletics off Andover Street in Ballardvale at 9:30 am and will be shuttled to start of paddle trip. Start at Shawsheen Pines boat launch off Lowell Junction Road and paddle downstream through woods and meadows past Serio’s Grove Conservation land.  Paddlers will then pass by the Pole Hill Reservation passing under the iconic railroad bridge connecting Boston with points north. Shortly after the railroad bridge, paddlers will enter the “Flats” of the Shawsheen. From there it’s onto a take out at the historic Ballardvale Mill Pond on river right (Arrowhead Athletics). Trip length about a mile and a half. Trip Duration about an hour and a half. Easy level river trip, group size 12 paddlers. Expect wet feet.
#622Â 9:30 am, $10/person, limit 12
AFTERNOON EVENTS: Participants meet at 1:30, hike/paddle trips start at 2:00 finish at 4:00.
HIKE to FOSTERS ISLAND and BACK.
Ages 4 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult, no pets. Hikers meet at Pomps Pond Parking lot at 1:30 pm. Start hike at Pomps Pond beach walking along shore of pond to old sand pit site where trail traverses a large marsh to Fosters Island trailhead. Hike passes through a second older gravel pit to a point where trail reaches a berm separating marsh from the Shawsheen River. Continue across berm to the start of Fosters Island nature trail. Complete loop hike of Fosters Island and return to Pomps Pond. Hike length about four miles, hike duration about one and one half hours to two hours. Moderate hike.
#619Â 1:30 pm, free
HIKE SHAWSHEEN RIVER & VALE RESERVATIONS to POMPS POND
Ages 4 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult, no pets. Hikers meet at Pomps Pond parking lot at 1:30 pm and will be shuttled to trailhead. Hike starts at Shawsheen Reservation at Central Street and walks up river through fields and woods to the Vale Reservation parking lot. From there, hikers walk Dale Street to Andover Street crossing over the Shawsheen River to the Fosters Island trailhead. The final leg of hike traverses the South Marshes of Pomps Pond to the Pomps Pond beech.  Hike length about three miles, flat. Hike duration an hour and a half to two hours. Moderate hike.
#614Â 1:30 pm, free
PADDLE POMPS POND and SOUTH MARSHES
Ages 4 years and older, children under 16 must be accompanied by adult; no pets, life jackets must be worn. Participants meet at Pomps Pond parking lot at 1:30 pm. Explore Pomps Pond and the South Marshes. Start at Pomps Pond beach paddling along shore line eventually entering the hidden south marshes, a home to a wide variety of wildlife. Great trip for entry level paddlers. Trip length about two miles. Paddle duration about an hour. Beginner pond paddle trip, group size twenty. Expect wet feet.
#621Â 1:30 pm, $10/person, limit 20
RIVER TRIP(circle): START and FINISH AT POMPS POND via ACC CANAL and SOUTH MARSH
Ages 8 years and older; children 16 and younger must be accompanied by adult; no pets, life jackets must be worn. Participants meet at Pomps Pond parking lot at 1:30 pm.  Start and finish at Pomps Pond beach. Paddle across pond to north outlet carrying over berm into the historic Andover Canoe Club Canal dug by hand in 1917. Navigate the half mile length of canal to where it meets the Shawsheen River. Up river to carry over the south outlet berm into the south marshes. Paddle along the marsh entering Pomps Pond from the south and back to the beach. Expect to get wet and muddy. Trip length about a mile and a half. Trip duration about an hour and a half.
Moderate level river trip for strong paddles group size 12 participants.
Preregistration Required: $10/person, limit 12
#624Â 1:30 pm, $10/person, limit 12
Enjoy the Day! Preregister NOW!
All participants (youth & adults) must have a completed & signed Emergency Information Sheet on file in order to participate in REC Programs. Registration over the phone will not be permitted without an emergency sheet on file for the registrant. Online registration requires a Waiver Form be electronically signed, however an Emergency Sheet is still required for all participants regardless of how registration occurs. Emergency Sheets are available online at the REC website under “FORMS” or in the REC office and can be mailed, dropped off, emailed or faxed to REC.