Craig Della Penna is the Executive Director with Norwottuck Network, an Associate Broker with The Murphys Realtors, Trailside Team, as well as the Owner of Sugar Maple Trailside Inn in Florence, MA.

For 12 years, Craig marketed rail freight and operated New England’s largest and most successful railroad-owned, transloading facility—Railroad Distribution Services, Inc. For seven years, he worked for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as their New England Field Representative focusing on the policy end of building rail trails as well as public outreach. Today he is a successful Realtor, the fist realtor in the US specializing in the sale of property near to rail trails.

He spoke with us just before their annual conference being held this year in Gilbertville, MA.

In talking about the history and his pivotal role in progressing multiple trails in Massachusetts, we get the story that leads us to this pivotal ‘Are We Here Yet?’ question: Do Rail Trails Bring Wealth to Neighborhoods.

In countless examples, such as the Erie Canalway Trail the state of New York surmises the completed trail has created $250MM USD annually of economic development.

By incorporating other important priorities of more sustainable and human-scale development into trialside projects, such as this one in Falls Church, VA, communities are solving middle-market housing challenges as well as bringing important parcels back live on municipal tax roles.

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Our episode is a trail map of sorts, guiding you on how to optimize your trail space for maximum momentum.

On this episode of SMG’s ‘Are We Here Yet?’ podcast.

SMG’s ‘Are We Here Yet’?