WESTFIELD – The Community Preservation Commission (CPC) reviewed the application by the Westfield Historic Commission April 8 to fund part of a study of the Massachusetts portion of the Farmington Canal.

The proposed survey of the canal is one step in putting the Massachusetts portion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The Connecticut portion of the canal, which ran all the way to New Haven, is already on the NRHP.

The study is being spearheaded by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). The total preliminary budget is $120,000, which would be split across six municipalities: Southwick, Westfield, Russell, Easthampton, Southampton, and Northampton. The Westfield Historic Commission did not yet request funding from the city for the project because they do not know exactly how much they will need. Each municipality will be expected to contribute approximately $20,000, but the larger communities could be asked to contribute more than the smaller communities.

PVPC Historic Preservation Planner Shannon Walsh said to the CPC that the state Historical Commission requires that all six municipalities work together to fund the study.

“A typical survey for a single town can be about $30,000,” said Walsh, “So this is cheaper per town.”

PVPC Regional and Municipal Programs Manager Eric Weiss said that, as of April 8, Southwick and Northampton had already put up the money for the project. Walsh said that Southwick in particular is unique because the town has an existing mitigation fund due to a cellular tower, and the funds can only be used for canal documentation.

The study of the canal would identify what pieces of it still remain and where exactly portions of it ran through. The canal was first established in the 19th century to allow ships to travel far inland from New Haven to Northampton. When the company that owned the canal failed, it was converted into a railroad. When the railroad too failed, most of it was converted to a walking and bicycle trail. The rail trail is not currently completely connected from Northampton to New Haven. Southampton, for example, has not connected a rail trail to Westfield.

Westfield Historical Commission Chair Cindy Gaylord said during the CPC meeting that Westfield has signs documenting where the canal once ran, but that there are parts of it that are “missing”.

“We are documenting where the canal is, but there is a lot more to find,” said Gaylord.

Westfield Principle Planner Jay Vinskey said that the project would be eligible for Community Preservation Act funding, but that the survey may still not meet some of the other requirements.

“That said, you can find plenty of examples of communities that have defined CPA liberally to do studies like that,” said Vinskey.

Gaylord said that they will know by the July meeting for the CPC how much each remaining participating town will need to contribute.

“The PVPC is getting the quotes now for the study and then the final amount will be requested in July,” said Gaylord.