BY DARRELL HALEN

An organization that plays the lead role in maintaining and developing Windham’s rail trail has recently won a $10,000 grant.

Mark Samsel, president of the Windham Rail Trail Alliance, said the money will go toward applying a final coat to the paved, multi-use trail this summer.

The grant was awarded by Bikes Belong, a coalition of bicycle suppliers and retailers, based in Boulder, Colo., that seeks to have more people riding bicycles more often.

“I’m excited, especially since it was a very competitive process and it’s a nationally recognized organization,” said Samsel. “We were up against some pretty big players.”

The WRTA, a nonprofit group formed four years ago, leads the development and management of the Windham section of the Salem to Concord Bike Pedestrian Trail.

“We are thrilled to support this great project in Windham, and hope it encouraged lots of people to get out and ride their bikes for transportation and recreation,” said Elizabeth Train, the grants and research director at Bikes Belong.

In addition to bike riders, walkers, runners, horseback riders, rollerbladers, and parents pushing baby strollers also enjoy the scenic trail.