Seekonk Town Hall Trails in SE Massachusetts

Trail head behind town hall.

The town of Seekonk in southeastern Massachusetts - not far from Providence, RI - has a nice accessible trail starting right at the town hall. This trails project, partially funded through DCR's Recreation Trails Grant program, offers visitors an opportunity to hike through the woods to a wetland view.

The town hall can be found at 100 Peck Street. Once there you'll find a brand new accessible playground right at the town hall, along with a picnic area and new parking lot. When I visited in August these new features were still under construction but close to being finished.

Shady deck ends the accessible trail portion.

A short partially paved access route will bring you to the start of the red trail just beyond the picnic tables. What I like about this short trail - just 1/6 of a mile - is how easy it is to slip into nature in an urban environment. The stone dust path soon reaches a trail junction. From here, the accessible yellow trail will take you through the woods to the YMCA. The red trail continues to a tiny observation deck before it changes to boardwalk that leads to a larger deck. Along this route you can observe various plants and potentially wildlife in a damp forest. Reaching the deck view completes the wheelchair accessible portion of the trail - a worthy and enjoyable journey. 

The trail continues on with a step or two down onto parallel planking that crosses the wetland and re-enters the woods. From here to Arcade Street it switches between planking and foot path. Never have I seen such a diversity of trail surfaces in such a short distance - two sections are laced with tree roots, another is soft pine needles. A recently built wooden bridge crosses the modest stream known as Runnins River in a dramatic way with 7 steps on the near end. I suspect the stream may be more substantial in non-drought years. Town officials tell me the trail will eventually be all planking through the wetter tree-rooted areas. Unfortunately neither the planking or the bridge offer wheelchair access. In several places plant life was encroaching heavily into the planking. If you venture this far, bring your tick spray. I had a lovely encounter with a favorite stream-side wildflower here - cardinal flower.

Planking is inaccessible for many, even a hazard.

For ambulatory hikers, this trail system offers the possibility of joining up with city streets that lead to a path around nearby Turner Reservoir. I met a few families with young kids out exploring and crossing busy Arcade Street to continue on. Everyone was very good about keeping physical distance during the pandemic.

For further perspective on hiking the wheelchair accessible portion of the trail and exploring the trail system at Turner Reservoir, click here for Marjorie Turner Hollman's post. She offers a winter view and the perspective of having a mobility impairment while on this trail system.

DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation) advocates for people to stay close to home and visit parks within walking distance or a short drive. If you plan to venture further afield, as well as on any outing, please protect yourself and others. In addition to following safe practices outlined by the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, please be sure to follow these additional DCR guidelines for safe park visiting:

• Minimize outdoor recreational time to limit potential exposure to COVID-19;
• Stay within solitary or small groups, and avoid gatherings of ten or more people;
• Practice social distancing of at least six feet between individuals;
• Administer healthy personal hygiene, such as handwashing for at least 20 seconds;
• Participate in only non-contact recreational activities;
• Leave a park or area should large gatherings begin to build; and,
• Stay home if ill, over 70, and/or part of a vulnerable population