NORTHAMPTON — City officials this week celebrated the opening of a newly-paved portion of the trail leading into the Broad Brook Greenway and Fitzgerald Lake.

Cutting a ceremonial ribbon along the entrance to the trail Thursday afternoon, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra explained that the trail, which had been left primarily unaltered since 1977, lacked accessibility for those with mobility challenges. The event marked the reopening of an “all persons” soft surface trail leading from a new parking lot at 196 Cooke Ave.

“Our first 152-acre acquisition was in 1977, and it included this access along Boggy Meadow Road. For the last 50 years, this path has remained virtually unchanged, and so people could access the lake from it, but it was on very rugged terrain,” Sciarra said. “This is our first naturalized, soft surface accessible trail within the conservation area, so this is really, really exciting for us.”

Sciarra also announced that the city recently transferred ownership of a parcel of land abutting the trail entrance to the Franklin and Hampshire Habitat for Humanity, which is expected to use the land to build four affordable homes.

The new trail took three months to construct and is funding mostly by a $185,000 Community Preservation Committee grant. The Conservation Commission funded its design with $18,000.

Director of Planning & Sustainability Carolyn Misch recognized and thanked all the involved organizations, including the Broad Brook Coalition, the Conservation and Community Preservation commissions, City Council and all community members who lent their support to the project.

After four years at the helm of the city’s Central Services Department, Director Katie Deppen will part ways with the city on July 29 for a new role as the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s capital projects manager.

Deppen joined the city in 2022 as facilities project coordinator in the Central Services Department. She later served in the Department of Public Works before returning to Central Services as director in June 2025. Throughout her service, she helped strengthen the city’s approach to facilities management, capital planning and infrastructure projects, Sciarra said in a statement.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the City of Northampton and for the trust placed in me,” Deppen said in the statement. “Working alongside the talented staff in Central Services has been the most rewarding part of this role. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and I know the department will continue building on that work.”

As director, Deppen oversaw the maintenance and operation of city and school buildings, managed municipal capital projects, and supervised the city’s parking operations.

The city will post the position on its website and hopes to fill the role “as soon as possible.”

“The city of Northampton will miss Katie,” Sciarra stated. “She challenged us to think differently about how we manage our facilities and capital projects, and she backed that vision with hard work and thoughtful leadership. I am grateful for everything she has done for the city, and I wish her every success in this next chapter.”

The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, in partnership with MassAbility, will hold a listening session on Tuesday, July 14, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Northampton Senior Center.

This community conversation, called “Meeting the Moment,” is created to listen and learn from individuals with disabilities, families, caregivers, service providers and advocates.

This gathering will focus on key issues, including housing, employment, transportation, long-term services and supports, and health equity. Community members are encouraged to participate by sharing their experiences, challenges and ideas on these topics.

The afternoon will begin with opening remarks from state leaders, followed by the community conversation and conclude with an in-person resource fair featuring more than 30 organizations offering information, services, and supports for people with disabilities and their families.

To register, visit https://www.mass.gov/news/meeting-the-moment-a-community-conversation-and-resource-fair-0.