Improvements to the Merrimack River Trail

Update 3/30: Thank you all so much for supporting this project! We just finished the entire boardwalk, along with ramp sections for ease of accessibility. Thank you to everyone who helped in the construction process, and everyone who donated to make this possible!

Update 3/18: We just finished 2 workdays, and made great progress in the boardwalk! The scope of the boardwalk has been expanded to 128 feet (96-foot boardwalk + ramps), and we were able to get amazing help in constructing the boardwalk! However, we still need additional funding for the ramp, which covers a good percentage of the total boardwalk. Any amount would be appreciated!

See below for pictures of us working and the current state!

Hi everyone! I am James Xiao, 17-year old high school student, and Senior Patrol Leader of Scouts BSA Troop 73 in Andover. I am aiming to reach Eagle Scout before my 18th birthday, and for my Eagle Scout Project, I am planning on making several improvements to the Merrimack River Trail, near the trailhead by the DoubleTree Hotel parking lot. The trail is very beautiful throughout the year and is an amazing place to take a walk or a bike ride to relax. However, certain spots are subject to flooding during rainy conditions

These improvements will include:

Installation of an 88-foot boardwalk along a wet area

Removal of a previous dilapidated boardwalk

Clearing of overgrown vegetation along the trail

Filling of eroded areas by the trailhead

While I will lead the members of my troop to do the hard work (we have more than 1700 screws to drive!), this public-service project is completely funded by donations from the community and people like you. As lumber prices have increased significantly in recent years, we are in desperate need of any support you can give:

With $50 we can buy a 10' HDPE corrugated double-walled culverts pipe

With $20 we can buy a 2"x8"x16' pressure-treated pine lumber

With $5 we can buy a 2"x4"x8' pressure-treated pine lumber

And we do need a lot of 2"x4", 2"x6" and 2"x8" pressure-treated wood!

If you would like to support my project, please consider donating to make it possible! :)

We'll start the project in the spring, and when it's complete, please come and visit! You are also supporting the project just by making the trail useful!

All unused funds will go to my beneficiary, Andover Conservation commission.

**NOTE: GoFundMe goal has been updated to accommodate for higher prices than anticipated on HDPE corrugated culvert pipes**

This is what it used to look like!