Norwalk River Valley Trail road crossing in Wilton
Two leaders of an effort to build a pedestrian and bicycle trail between Norwalk and Danbury, Connecticut, will discuss their progress, challenges, lessons learned and plans for the future as keynote speakers at Shoreline Greenway Trail’s 2018 annual meeting on Tuesday, May 22. The meeting, which starts with a visit to the new, 1 1/2-mile Tabor section of the Shoreline Greenway Trail, will be held at the Tabor Lutheran Church on Tabor Drive in Branford, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited.
A Norwalk River Valley Trailhead
Charlie Taney, executive director of Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, and Pat Sesto, president of the NRVT board, will offer advice to communities planning similar projects—such as the Shoreline Greenway Trail. At an expected 33 miles, the Norwalk River Valley Trail will be longer than the Shoreline Greenway Trail, which aspires to connect New Haven and Madison, roughly 25 miles apart. Like the SGT, the NRVT will pass through multiple towns. Unlike the SGT, it has an established corridor—land from an abandoned superhighway project—for development of much of its length.
Parts of five sections of the NRVT totaling 8.3 miles are completed, in Norwalk and Wilton. Plans call for the trail to begin at Calf Pasture Beach, a state park in Norwalk, and pass through Wilton, Redding and Ridgefield before terminating at Rogers Park, a 56-acre public park and recreational facility just south of downtown Danbury.
Come learn how NRVT has remained focused and committed for more than 30 years; built a broad network of supporters; harnessed state, federal, foundation and private money; and rallied political and community support to construct more than one-quarter of its trail. We hope to see you there!