Methodology
How I picked the paths.
Four steps, from aerial photos to measured routes. Scroll through them and watch the map build itself.
- Step 1
Found the hubs
Using aerial photos, I outlined the places people actually go: shopping plazas, the town center, train stations, schools, and job clusters.
- Step 2
Looked for the land in between
Instead of following the roads, I looked for woods, brook edges, parks, and back lots that already connect the hubs.
- Step 3
Drew and measured each path
Every path was drawn in Google Earth and measured for length and walk time.
- Step 4
Checked what's nearby
The Tri-Community Greenway in Woburn, Winchester, and Stoneham shows paths like these get built in towns like ours.
Important Findings
Hills aren't the problem.
The biggest elevation change on any path is about 43 feet, spread over 2 miles on the Yentile-East Path. The rest change by about 24 feet or less. Wilmington is flat enough that hills aren't the problem, allowing for geographic peace of mind when it comes to actual path planning.
The ground under each path
Height above sea level, 75 to 120 ft. Every row uses the same scale. Hover or tap to read it.
40ft
Biggest change, over 2.0 mi
North Wilmington Path
24 ft change
Main Street Path
13 ft change
Rotary Park Connector
11 ft change
Butters Row Path
11 ft change
Yentile-East Path
40 ft change
Checked a second way: ground heights every 40 meters from USGS lidar (the 3D Elevation Program). They land within a few feet of the Google Earth measurements. For scale, 40 feet is about a four-story building, spread across 2 miles of walking.
Honest Limits
What still needs to happen.
This is a student project, not an engineering study. Elevation numbers come from Google Earth and are approximate. Before any path could be built, the town would need to confirm land ownership, check wetland rules with the Conservation Commission, and estimate costs.
Before anything gets built
01Confirm land ownership
Who owns each stretch of woods, brook edge, and back lot.
02Check wetland rules
With the Conservation Commission, for paths near brooks and wet ground.
03Estimate costs
Paved and unpaved paths, boardwalks, and crossings all cost different amounts.
“This project was just me, my computer, drone, and passion for urban planning, all coming together to improve my hometown.”
Vinny Anastasia · Wilmington High School