Hartford Courant: CT’s longest rail trail nearing completion but faces two major obstacles

On the long-running campaign to complete a New Haven to Northampton rail trail, advocates made progress this summer when the final long stretch in Southington was opened to riders, pedestrians, skateboarders and other users.

Running from Lazy Lane to Aircraft Road, the new 1.27-mile section leaves less than a mile to finish before the trail’s southern end reaches the Plainville line.

But from there, the next steps will be especially hard: Less than a mile north of Aircraft Road, abandoned and rusting railroad tracks give way to the southern end of the still-active Pan Am Railways freight line.

The biggest appeal is that like rail trails across the country, the route is separated from streets and roads except for the occasional crossing. Users don’t have cars and trucks passing alongside them, and motorists aren’t slowed by lines of cyclists or pedestrians.

Click here to read the entire article.

CT Mirror: The CT hikers who have racked up 800+ miles on blue-blazed trails

Most seasoned hikers in the United States wouldn’t put Connecticut at the top of any list. The state’s highest point — the southern slope of Mount Frissell, which sits on the Massachusetts-Connecticut border — is dwarfed by taller, more majestic peaks elsewhere around the nation. At only 2,380 feet, the highest point is shorter than those in 36 other states. 

But to Stevens, what Connecticut’s hiking scene lacks in height and sweeping views, it makes up for in other small joys. 

Stevens’ love for the state’s outdoors is so pronounced that she’s racked up more than 800 miles of hiking in Connecticut over the past couple of decades. She’s one of about 20 state residents who can boast that accomplishment, according to the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, which tracks hikers’ miles through its official blue-blazed trails challenge.

CFPA’s blue-blazed trails are unique because they’re “recreational arteries” that connect different parts of the state, according to Clare Cain, the organization’s trails director. While other trails may stick to a single area in the state, CFPA’s aim is to take hikers across long distances to explore a variety of natural spaces within Connecticut’s borders. 

Click here to read the entire article.

Exploring Life: Along the Metacomet Trail in Simsbury and Bloomfield

Outdoor enthusiast and editor of many publications, check out more of Peter Marteka’s suggested summer hikes. Have fun out there:

Views, chimneys and traprock ridges. Click here to read the entire article.

Exploring Life: Summer Hikes

Outdoor enthusiast and editor of many publications, check out Peter Marteka’s suggested summer hikes. Have fun out there:

South Meadows River Trail in East Hartford, Glastonbury, and Wethersfield. “With the completion of a new multiuser path to the Putnam Bridge, the South Meadows River Trail just got more expansive. The hike is a combination of paved trails and dirt and stone dust paths along the banks of the Connecticut River.”

Nod Way Trails, Avon. “If you really want to explore Talcott Mountain State Park, check out the Avon Land Trust’s Nod Way Trails that take you along the valley of Talcott Mountain through forest lined with paths lined with ferns. One cool stop, the site of monument rocks, is Tinker’s Midden, where you will find discarded cookware and other artifacts from the 19th century.”

Rand’s View, Salisbury. “A journey along the Appalachian Trail from Great Falls to Rand’s View will bring you to arguably the best view in Connecticut — the “Niagara Falls of New England.” The hike to the top of the 1,475-foot-high Mount Prospect is a constant climb with an overlook and beautiful view.”

Farmington history hikes: a lost zoo and ghostly canal as well as Shade Swamp, Click here to read the entire article.

Press Release: Governor Lamont Announces $10 Million in State Grants for Recreational Trails Across Connecticut

Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes today announced the release of a series of grants totaling $10 million that will support the planning, building, expansion, and improvement of 45 multi-use trails located in towns and cities throughout Connecticut.

The grants are being awarded through Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program, which is administered by DEEP. Funds to support the grants were approved by the State Bond Commission at its October 2023 meeting. Governor Lamont serves as chair of the commission. Click here to read the entire press release.

Hartford Courant: CT trails voted among best Memorial Day destinations for families

…A pair of locations did make the list, according to the survey.

First up… Savin Rock Trail in West Haven, which came in at 118th. The trail offers beautiful views of Long Island Sound with an easy walk complimented by beaches and playgrounds, per the survey.

Silver Sands State Park in Milford also made the list at 121st thanks to its boardwalk, sandy beach, and tidal pools, per the survey. Its flat terrain is good for strollers and those with mobility issues, too. Click here to read the entire article.

Hartford Courant: There’s new hope for a significant CT greenway. It comes after decades of complex debate

A push to convert a desolate, 4-mile stretch of rail line into a Connecticut greenway with trails for pedestrians and bicyclists has run headlong into the state’s stance that the rails remain a viable freight transportation corridor.

But a new study shows for the first time that it is possible to combine the two uses in Hartford.

The Griffin Line is seen as a key component to the $65 million Hartline pedestrian and bicycling path that would run from Hartford’s Riverside Park on the Connecticut River to Bloomfield. And it also is seen as a viable option for filling a crucial gap in Hartford in the East Coast Greenway, which runs from Florida to Maine.

The Hartline is part of the expansive Hartford 400 vision for reconnecting Harford to its riverfront by moving, burying or capping highways. Click here to read the entire article.

OIA: Outdoor Industry Association Celebrates Explore Act Passing the U.S. House

Press Release: The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) Act, in a significant move towards enhancing public land access and promoting outdoor recreation opportunities across the country. Introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the EXPLORE Act is a bipartisan package of recreation bills that aim to address barriers to access for veterans, people with disabilities, and underserved populations, streamline permitting processes for guides and outfitters, and support and enhance recreation opportunities on our public lands. 

The EXPLORE Act is a companion bill to S.873, America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), which passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in May of 2023. AORA and EXPLORE represent the strong bicameral and bipartisan collaboration across chambers to advance policies supporting outdoor recreation. The passage of the EXPLORE Act through the House marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, improve public land access, and support economic growth in rural communities. As the legislation advances further, bipartisan collaboration and stakeholder engagement will be essential in realizing its potential benefits for individuals, businesses, and the environment.  Click here to read the entire press release.

Hartford Courant: A CT river is named one of ‘most endangered’ in US. Here’s why and what it means for residents

The Farmington River, “the top priority watershed in the state,” according to the state’s environmental agency, has been named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers by the organization American Rivers.

The 47-mile river, which flows into the Connecticut River, “has the potential to be the biggest positive environmental impact to fish restoration,” according to Paul Woodworth, senior ecological restoration project manager for Save the Sound.

The reason it’s listed as endangered is the hydroelectric Rainbow Dam, which is only partially operating, Woodworth said. The dam is run by the Farmington River Power Co. in Windsor, which is owned by Stanley Black & Decker.

“The Farmington River supports diverse fish and wildlife, is a vital source of clean drinking water for the region, and provides boating and other recreation opportunities, but this dam is an ongoing threat,”  said Katie Schmidt of American Rivers, in a statement. Click here to read the entire article.

New Haven Register: How a Bike Box is engaging cyclists in New Haven's Newhallville neighborhood

…Lowery had stumbled on a new collaboration between nonprofits in two typically disparate realms of the city — Newhallville and East Rock, home to the Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op. The Co-op and the Community Placemaking Engagement Network are working to bring free bike repairs and maintenance classes to Newhallville in the name of community building.

If you have a bike needing repair, you can bring it by, and volunteers will fix it at no cost. But what they would really like to do is teach cyclists how to fix their bikes themselves. They'll even provide the tools.

Using grant funds, BSBC and CPEN have hired a program mechanic and community coordinator, Kapp Singer, who will staff The Bike Box for weekend repair clinics and maintenance workshops twice a month on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Following clinics on March 9 and 23, the next clinics will be on April 13 and 20, May 11 and 25, June 8 and 22, and July 13 and 27. Thursday maintenance classes are scheduled for 5:30 to 8 p.m. on May 9, June 6 and July 11. Click here to read the entire article.