Governor Ned Lamont was joined by elected in Binney Park on Monday to celebrate a $270,400 state grant to Greenwich Dept of Public Works, in partnership with the City of Stamford, for a multi-use trail for pedestrians and bicyclists connecting Old Greenwich to southwest Stamford.
Mike Lambert, Bureau chief of outdoor recreation for the CT DEEP said their Recreational Trails Grant would fund planning and design work for a 2-1/2 mile trail.
The proposed path predominantly follows the official East Coast Greenway (ECG) alignment except for a short connection to Binney Park north of West End Avenue. The Town of Greenwich DPW intends to look at connecting to Binney Park either via Sound Beach Avenue or West End Ave / Arch Street. The ECG through this area has some sidewalks but does not currently have any protected bicycle facilities, despite some of the highest bicycle ridership in Town.
The grant is one of 50 that received funding from the program. In total, $9 million in state grants are being released.
This year there are 28 awarded projects that are within or serve CT’s distressed municipalities and environmental justice communities to provide equitable access to the outdoors.
Mr. Lambert said this year DEEP received a record 105 proposals for trails grants, the most ever. He said the Greenwich-Stamford proposal had been highly ranked and recommended for funding by the CT Greenways Council. The trail route will become an important connection to the East Coast Greenway, supporting an inter state trail which will one day connect from Maine to Florida.
Lambert said in addition to trail projects like the one celebrated on Monday, the program also funds new trails, maintenance and restoration of existing trails, improved access for people with disabilities, purchasing and leasing trail equipment and supplies, acquisition of land or easements, and trail amenities such as parking lots, toilet buildings, signs and benches.
Governor Ned Lamont said the trail program was a good way to interconnect towns and cities to each other and to outdoor recreational spaces.
“One of my real goals is to make sure Bob DeAngelo can bike all the way across the state of CT and not have to cross many big roads and highways along the way,” Lamont joked, referring to bike enthusiast, Mr. DeAngelo.
Lamont said Connecticut was one of the densest states in the country and it was important to preserve open space.
“We have preserved in this state about 40,000 acres, and 1,000 in the last couple years. We’re doing everything we can to see what this state will look like in 20 or 30 years – preserving our open spaces as best as we can, preserving our farms as best as we can.”
He said he hoped trails like the one being planned for Greenwich and Stamford would get people out of their cars.
“We are one state, and paths like this remind us that Greenwich and Stamford are one region, and together as one state we work together,” he continued, adding that the Greenwich-Stamford trail was the first of about 100 different trails the state will rebuild.
“What we’re doing along old railways and old canals – opening up the state and making sure that everybody from every single zipcode has access to what makes the state so beautiful,” Lamont added.
First Selectman Fred Camillo said he was proud that in Greenwich thee was a focus on pedestrian safety, active lifestyles, adding open space, adding trails and bike routes.
He said Greenwich and Stamford already had a joint bike task force.
“It’s even more enjoyable for me to say that, with Mayor Caroline Simmons, that we continue to work together on projects,” Camillo said.
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said,” This project is a great example of ways we can collaboration between our cities and towns to promote more equity, to promote more pedestrian friendliness, to promote more access to quality parks and open space.”
State Rep Meskers (D-150) said it was refreshing to see what state government can do in conjunction with our towns and cities.
“You see that in the bridge that was recently completed in Binney Park, which is beautiful. You see it now in the trails. Government working collaboratively is what it’s about. The infighting that we see locally is disappointing. I’m so glad to be able to work in a bi-partisan basis up in Hartford. It’s peaceful and constructive and I hope we can get back to that in Greenwich.”
State Rep Hector Arzeno (D-151) noted that many people had been advocating for years for mike bike and recreational trails in Greenwich. “I hope this is just the beginning,” he said.
Rep Matt Blumenthal (D-147), who attended Old Greenwich School as a child, said it was a pleasure to be back in Binney Park.
“No town is an island,” he said. “Today is a very literal and symbolic recognition of the connection that our communities have to one another.”
“This trail is going to make a lot of people really happy. It’s going to give them a sense of peace, a chance to exercise ensconced in nature.”
State Rep Corey Paris (D-145) congratulated Governor Lamont on what would be his legacy of preserving, revitalizing and repurposing spaces for public use for now and future generations.
“You’ve done it again,” said State Rep Corey Paris, joking that with the trail, his district in Stamford would be connected to Steve Meskers’ district and he’d be able to walk over for a visit.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to show the rest of the country, especially post-Covid, how to put good money and investments back into providing great spaces for families, for children, and also, importantly protecting our environment and fighting off the dangers of climate change.”
State Rep Rachel Khanna (D-149) said as a member of the Transportation Committee, increasing access to sustainable transport was important to her.
“If we’re going to meet our zero-carbon goals, we must create opportunities such as this for people to get around without using cars,” she said.
Thee was no talk about adding parking for people to access the trail. Kim Bradley, trails specialist for DEEP, said since the grant was for planning and design, they would take a look at access points.
“Subsequent funding opportunities through the parking lot can provide access for parking lots and other facilities to be funded directly from our construction support grants,” she said.
