Scouts Lend Support to Greenway Trail
The latest phase of the Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT) project was completed last month, keeping East Haven in the lead of developing the trail that will wend from New haven through East Haven and on to Madison.
This latest phase involved completing the trailhead parking area at Hoop Pole Lane and Mansfield Grove Road. Once completed, the SGT will be a pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle path that links Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven to Hammonasset State Park in Madison.
Boy Scout Adam Burr of Troop 401 selected working on the SGT for his Eagle Scout project. As part of his work, Burr constructed and placed bollards in the parking area, according to Barbara Brow, chairman of the East Haven SGT team. The bollards are meant to deter ATVs from traveling on the trail. Burr also constructed an informational kiosk that will contain maps and other information about the SGT for visitors.
In addition to the bollards and kiosk, Brow said the scouts of Troop 401 extended the trail around the parking lot area. Gravel donated by the town was spread on the parking area. The next step in that part of the project is to have a contractor install a fence that will define the parking area, added Brow. She hopes the fence will be in place by late fall.
"We are so indebted to the Boy Scouts," said Brow, noting their work over the last several years.
Burr's work is just the latest in many projects the scouts have completed for SGT. Among that other work was the clearing of two sections of the trail at D.C. Moore Elementary School, noted Brow, as well as the clearing of a trail through Farm River State Park.
Ned Taylor, scout master for Troop 401, said seven Eagle projects have been completed as a result of the scouts' work on the SGT. Taylor said he was proud of the scouts' accomplishments on the SGT project.
"It shows that scouting is not dead," he said. "The education [the scouts receive] is great. And it's something they can give back to the community."
Taylor stressed that the scouts don't have a list of projects for the boys to select as Eagle projects-the seven who have worked on the SGT chose it specifically. Taylor mentioned that the scouts select projects that benefit many areas of the local community. For instance, he said that the scouts recently painted two main rooms at Hagaman Memorial Library and also performed outside work on the library grounds.
"It boils down to teaching these kids leadership," said Taylor, who noted that the next project for the scouts is a November food drive.
For the SGT, the work continues as well. Brow said the next area the SGT plans to develop is the Bradford Preserve. More immediate plans, however, include a trail maintenance day planned for the end of November. Volunteers will clear leaves from the trail that day, said Brow.