Greenways, including two in Groton, highlighted at state event
Jun. 4—GROTON — At the Poquonnock River Walkway, off of Depot Road in Groton, two new state-designated greenways connect.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Connecticut Greenways Council made a stop Friday morning in Groton near the path to recognize the importance of these greenways and others across the state as the agencies encourage interconnectivity of trails. Greenways identify corridors that could connect existing natural features, such as open space or parks, and paths, including for biking and hiking. The designation helps promote the corridor and provides greater weight in grant applications for trail improvements or for the establishment of links in the corridor, local and state officials have said.
About 40 local and state officials and open space and environmental advocates gathered for the state's 22nd Annual Greenways Award Day ahead of Connecticut Trails Day, which will take place this Saturday and Sunday.
Connecticut Greenways Council Chairman Bruce Donald said the state's goal is to foster interconnectivity of trails, which leads to benefits that include community-building, recreation, regional tourism and economic development.
During the ceremony, Donald announced the new state greenways: Groton's Cross Town Greenway and Tri Town Greenway, the Cheney Rail Trail System in Manchester, the Rocky Hill Greenway and the proposed Norfolk Mountain Express Accessible Rail Trail.
The idea is that the greenway designation will help Groton's ongoing efforts to develop trails. Tom Olson, a member of the Town of Groton Conservation Commission and the Tri Town Trail vice president for Groton, said he appreciates the recognition from the Connecticut Greenways Council and looks forward to continuing the progress and getting remaining portions of trails completed, with both bikers and hikers in mind.
The Tri Town Trail Greenway is based on the proposed Tri Town Trail, which is designed to run north to south in Preston, Ledyard and Groton.
Olson said the Tri Town Trail started 14 years ago as an effort to connect Bluff Point in Groton to land through Groton, Ledyard and Preston. A 2-mile tract from Bluff Point up to Route 1 in Groton has been completed, and the vision is to continue the path northward using both town properties and Groton Utilities and Department of Transportation areas to head up through the rest of Groton and into Ledyard. A northern portion that starts at Preston Community Park on Route 117 and connects into Ledyard has been established.
Olson said the Cross Town Greenway expands upon the Cross-Town Trail. He noted the efforts of groups, including Avalonia Land Conservancy, Groton Open Space Association, the Groton Trails Coordinating Task Force, and the New England Mountain Bike Association to help get the town better connected.
The proposed Cross Town Greenway is designed to run east to west and connect the Town of Groton with the City of Groton. It includes a new path from the Naval Submarine Base to the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, which then allows people to connect to New London.
Town Councilor Bruce Jones said Groton has overlapping systems among state, town, Groton Open Space and Avalonia trails. "It's a wonderful place if you like to hike the outdoors," he said, adding that the number of people using the trails increased tremendously during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble spoke about the importance of diversity. He said "the outdoors brings us together," but "it's important to make sure we're all inviting all people to the outdoors."
Trumble also honored the late David Leff, former deputy commissioner of DEEP who was very instrumental in the formation of DEEP's Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program and championed open space.
Trumble said he's always amazed by how engaged people in Connecticut are around outdoor spaces, and pointed out that the state does not have huge tracts of open space, such as in parts of the west, so every little part of the greenway, trail or open space matters.
"We would not have those spaces in Connecticut without people like you who stand up and fight for them, and also sacrifice to make that possible," he said.
During the ceremony, several people received awards: Ruth Strontzer, who serves on the Connecticut Equine Advisory Council; Lisa Watts, who wrote the East Coast Greenway Alliance's "Guide to the East Coast Greenway: New Haven, Connecticut, to Providence, Rhode Island, by Bike or on Foot"; and Mark Jewell, a team member with VHB who helps the state Department of Transportation in managing trail projects.
Laurie Giannotti, who retired earlier this year and who, as head of DEEP's Trails and Greenways Program, helped strengthen the Connecticut Greenway Council's relationship with DEEP, received the lifetime achievement award. Donald recognized her role as "an integral driving force behind the positive momentum that the Connecticut Greenways Council and trails in general have experienced statewide."
