Enthusiasm for an organized bicycle/pedestrian (running, jogging, walking, strolling) transportation system within the City of Keene gradually grew through the 1980's.

The Planning Department sponsored a public meeting, at the Keene Public Library, to address the City Council's mandate that a system of public pathways be developed throughout Keene,

A Bicycle/Pedestrian Path Advisory Committee was formed composed of concerned citizens representing an assortment of City residents with a wide variety of biking and pedestrian interests, such as jogging, walking for pleasure, biking to work, biking to school and so forth. City staff from the Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Facilities, and Planning Departments also served on the committee.

Six public workshops were held which addressed public participation, community wide concerns, goals and objectives, stakeholder needs, and possible routes.

With City Council support and the information from the public workshops, the Planning Department proceeded to develop a bicycle/pedestrian plan for the City as well as a grant application for transportation enhancement funding through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.

The Advisory Committee reconvened to develop a list of prioritized routes and to assist city staff in consolidating these routes into a draft bicycle/pedestrian master plan along with assisting in the final preparation of the ISTEA grant application.

The City Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager to apply for the ISTEA funds. This action was approved with the condition that the required local 20% match for these funds be raised by the Keene community.

The Conservation Commission created a subcommittee to begin to address the fund raising task. A group of citizens responded to the Conservation Commission's plea for help by forming Pathways for Keene, Inc. The new nonprofit organization's prime mission was to raise and solicit funds for the 20% match and to seek final approval of the project by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT). Within less than a year, local funds amounting to $49,964 were raised by Pathways for Keene and on May 4, 1995, the City Council approved a resolution to take all appropriate steps necessary to implement a Downtown Bike Path project along the former Cheshire Branch rail bed corridor.

The Federal Highway Administration's authorization of $250,000 for this project was approved, enabling the City to proceed to contract with NHDOT to design and construct the project in FY 97/98.

The City was informed that additional ISTEA funds would be available for eligible transportation enhancement projects in FY 98/99. The Pathways for Keene Board voted to continue to collect additional funds so that a second ISTEA grant for the City could be sought.

The City Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager to proceed with an application to fund the Keene Industrial Heritage Trail. This project was subsequently approved by the State of New Hampshire and is now scheduled in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program for design in 1998 and construction in 1999.

Numerous fundraising activities were held throughout the year.

Pathways for Keene confirmed (in a letter) that it raised the 20% local matching funds required for this project.

Downtown Cheshire Trail - Construction started on the first portion of the trail, the Downtown Cheshire Trail was completed and dedicated. The trail runs west from the Center of Keene Plaza past Antioch New England Graduate School to the Route 12 bypass.

The existing trail from Court Street to Wheelock Park was named in memory of William Appel who dedicated many years to establish the trail system in Keene.

Keene Industrial Heritage Trail Phase I construction started. The trail runs in a southeasterly direction from the center of town, passing through several industrial properties which were sites of former mills and manufacturing businesses during Keene's industrial past, 1910 to present.

The first annual Pathways for Keene 5K Road Race was held on the Ashuelot River Trail. It attracted runners from Keene, surrounding communities, and elsewhere throughout New England.

Pathways for Keene received a significant donation from The Timken Foundation (the charitable arm of the Timken Corporation that is the parent of our local Timken/MPB organization).