Se Cais Rerrns el ttor +54 Portsmouth Street Concord, NH 03301 Tel. 603.224.9945, Fax 603.228.0423 Infooforestsoclety.org ww forestsociety.org January 27, 2011 Mayor and City Council City of Concord 41 Green Street Concord, NH 03301 Dear Mr. Mayor and Councilors, ‘The purpose of this letter is to endorse the concept of the Merrimack River Greenway Path, as presented in a recent feasibility study commissioned by the Merrimack River Greenway Path Steering Committee. Asa state-wide organization with its “home” in Coneord, we share a desire in common with the Steering Committee to make Concord a livable community that, encourages human-powered transportation to places of both work and recreation. We look forward to the day when the trails we have developed at the Conservation Center will be linked to Concord’s many outdoor amenities by a major, multiuse trail. The Forest Society’s strategic vision “New Hampshire Everlasting” has as its subtitle “An Initiative to Conserve Our Quality of Life.” Its foundation goal is to “Support every community in conserving. ..lands for a network of trails, parks, farms, and forests where people can connect with the natural world.” Clearly, the goals of the Merrimack River Greenway Path are aligned with those of the Forest Society. Our mission focuses on the protection of forested land, and our Merrimack River Initiative aims to use forested buffers to protect the water quality and quantity of the Merrimack River. We believe that, as we carry out these tasks, we can coordinate and assist the City of Concord in creating the Merrimack River Greenway Path We urge the City Council to support this effort and to accept the Feasibility Study. “Tate A. President/Forester recycled paper