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The A2A Trail offers a cultural corridor connecting world-class institutions to the northern Berkshires . Once completed , visitors will be able to bike from MASS MoCA to the Clark Art Institute , stopping along the way at the Williams College Museum of Art , the Adams Theater , and countless smaller galleries and historic properties . This cultural infrastructure , combined with existing restaurants , shops , and hotels , positions the trail to become a major driver of sustainable tourism . While tourism numbers grab headlines , local residents stand to gain as well , as the accessible A2A Trail will help people meet the federal guidelines for physically active lifestyles . “ Being able to get to the trail from neighborhoods along the route is going to be great in terms of health and wellness ,” Brennan explains . “ We hope that it will also be a new option for commuting for daily needs , whether that ’ s employment or shopping or going to appointments .” Applying for federal funding can be complicated , which is where BRPC ’ s Berkshire Funding Focus initiative comes into play . Staffed by Karen Pelto , its purpose is to coordinate partnerships and help Berkshire County organizations secure government investments by taking on the lead coordinator role for complex grant applications , rather than placing that burden on smaller towns or organizations . When all is said and done , the project ’ s scope extends beyond its immediate impact and footprint . “ This is creating a 25-mile contiguous stretch which will be rivaling the length of trail that you can access , say , on Cape Cod ,” Brennan notes . It ’ s a crucial piece in an even grander vision : a 75-mile trail system stretching from the Vermont border to Connecticut , which with this connector will be one-third of the way there . With design work now funded , the region is closer than ever to realizing a dream that ’ s been decades in the making . n
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