Open Space Committee
Mission Statement
Our mission is to Identify and help to preserve open space, recreational and trail opportunities in Merrimac. We work to increase public awareness of these open spaces to make good use of them for a wide range of activities such as organized sports, hiking, biking, walking, birding and horseback riding.
Merrimac’s Open Spaces Slideshow
Beaver Pond Reservation on Battis Road 
Carey Park on River Road 
Cobbler Brook Greenway and Trail on Broad Street 
Lake Attish Boat Launch 
Emery Street walking track, field, and trailrail -
Garden behind Merrimac Public Libray 
Innis Trail at the top of Brush Hill Road 
Kimball Park at Union and West Main St. 
Town Forest Trailhead at the end of the soccer playing fields 
Marshview Trail on Highland Road at intersection with Battis 
McLaren Trail on Brush Hill Road 
McLaren Trail Church Street access -
Playground on Locust Street 
Playground at Sweetsir School 
Red Oak/Town Forest Trail at the end of Battis Road 
Red Oak Trail at Woodland Street 
Trail behind Sawyer House on Main Street 
Trail behind the Senior Center -
Softball field and basketball courts at Donaghue School -
Tennis/pickleball courts at Donaghue School 
Town Forest trail access and playing fields 
Training Field on Church Street
Click here for Trail Maps and Trail Information
Join us for a Winter Exploration Walk on the McLaren Trail Saturday, February 28 10 a.m.
The winter is a surprisingly busy time in our woods! Many woodland creatures are still out and about!
Led by ecologist, Tim Simmons, we will identify some of our local wildlife by their tracks in the snow, maybe find some snow fleas hopping about, and look for signs of beaver activity. We will also take a look at the Beaver Deceiver that has been installed at the marsh and discuss ways that beavers are being managed.
We will meet at the McLaren Trailhead on Brush Hill Road at 10 am. Park along the road but stay to one side to leave plenty of room for traffic to pass. We will continue north about a half mile to the New Hampshire border. Trail conditions permitting, some participants may choose to make a loop up the Marshview Trail, to the Innis Trail and back to Brush Hill.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Open Space Committee at: openspace@townofmerrimac.com
New Bench Installed on Cobbler’s Brook Trail in Town Forest
Many thanks to Mark Taylor for donating and installing a new bench on the Cobblers Brook Trail in Town Forest overlooking the beaver pond! Thanks also to Rick from Red Phoenix Construction and Ben from North Coast Concrete who supported Mark in this project with their donation of time and materials to build and install the bench. Be sure to take a walk up to the beaver pond to enjoy the view from our new bench! Maybe you will be lucky enough to see one of the resident beavers!
You can access the Cobblers Brook Trail from Highland Road. The trailhead is located next to the #13 mailbox. Park in the pull off across the street and a bit north of the trailhead. The trail is also accessible from the Red Oak Trail from the trailhead at the end of Winter Street. Follow the Red Oak Trail up about a half mile and the Cobblers Brook Trail goes off to the right. There is a sign at the trailhead to the Cobblers Brook Trail.
Thanks to our Trail Work Day Volunteers
Many thanks to the volunteers who came out on Saturday, October 25th to help with our Trail Work Day. Starting at the trailhead on Highland St. we were able to clear the Marshview Trail of invasive species such as multiflora rose and bittersweet. The trail opening to the woods was also cleared so you can continue across the fields and down to the marsh.
This is a great time to take a fall walk on the Marshview Trail as the trail is dry and the fields are mowed back. The trailhead is on Highland Street right across from Battis Road. You can park along Battis Road. Along the trail, there are two short spur trails that offer beautiful views of the Spiegel Fields. Walk across the field to enter the woods and you can follow the trail down to the marsh. This is now an in and out trail. A portion of the trail was flooded and is not navigable, so it no longer connects to the Innis and McLaren Trails on the other side of the marsh. Those trails are accessible from trailheads on Brush Hill Road.
Join the Open Space Committee
There is currently an opening for a volunteer to serve on the Open Space Committee. If you are interested in helping to preserve open space, recreational and trail opportunities in Merrimac, please contact the Open Space Committee at openspace@townofmerrimac.com or complete the volunteer form and submit it to the Select Board at the Town Offices: Volunteer Opportunities – Town of Merrimac, MA
Visit our new Free Little Library at Carey Park
Many thanks to Tom Zappala for his donation of a free little library that has been installed at Carey Park. Carey Park is a beautiful spot on the Merrimac River with benches to sit and enjoy a good book as you watch the river go by!
Greenbelt Protects 120-plus Acres of Working Farmland and Forest in Merrimac
In June, Greenbelt successfully acquired Hoyt Farm in Merrimac, one of the largest remaining unprotected farms in the Merrimack Valley. Spanning more than 120 acres of working farmland and forest, the property will be renamed Silver Brook Farm, honoring its original colonial name and the stream that winds through the landscape.
This significant conservation milestone was made possible by a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, support from private foundations, and the generosity of numerous donors — including many from the Merrimac community — whose enthusiasm and commitment were essential to the project’s success.
Volunteer Opportunities
Become a friend to Merrimac’s trails and open spaces!
The Open Space Committee is an all volunteer group. We can always use volunteers to help maintain our trails, participate in events, and help us to preserve Merrimac’s open spaces. For more information and descriptions of some of the volunteer opportunities available go to: Volunteer Opportunities.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, send an email to: openspace@townofmerrimac.com
Junior Ecologist Program
Learn about tree and bird identification, beaver habitats, animal tracking and more as you explore Merrimac’s trails. Complete and submit your Activity Journals to the Open Space Committee to earn levels and prizes. For more information and to download Activity Journals and trail maps click here