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03/28/2017 03:00 PMLike to hike or bike? Wish there were better trails? A group in Clinton is working to mark a trail system that will link to the planned Shoreline Greenway Trail that’s envisioned to provide a safe, shoreline path from Madison to Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven.
On March 22, the Bike and Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton (BPAC) was granted permission by the Board of Selectmen to begin work on building an extension of the Shoreline Greenway Trail for recreational activities in Clinton.
Plans to connect Clinton to the Shoreline Greenway Trail have been discussed since 2012. BPAC member Carrie Allen has been spearheading the campaign since November 2016.
“We’re very proud of how far we’ve come in a short time,” Allen said.
The full path in Clinton will run about 5 ½ miles. The path will zigzag across Clinton, navigating roads that are wide enough to safely accommodate both bike and pedestrian traffic, as well provide scenic views of Clinton.
When Allen showed Shoreline Greenway Trail Chair Judy Miller the route the trail would take in Clinton, she said Miller told her she had no idea Clinton was so beautiful.
In an effort to garner as much support as possible, Allen has met with many people, from Board of Selectmen members to business owners and residents in the Clinton community.
“We’ve been as open as possible,” Allen said of her meetings with the town.
Allen said she has met with the Clinton Police Department to talk about what the path would need. The department was supportive, but wants to conduct a traffic study to determine the impact the increased use on the roads. Additionally, BPAC held a meeting that was open to the public on Feb. 27 to unveil the plan and answer any questions.
BPAC started a petition on www.moveon.org on Feb. 24 in anticipation of their meeting with the Board of Selectmen to showcase the support they had. The goal was 200 signatures, and by the meeting the petition had gained almost 300 signatures.
A major component of BPAC’s pitch is that it will be asking for no taxpayer money. Instead, it will ask exclusively for donations, which will mostly go to signs to mark the route. Another aspect of the plan that Allen is excited about is the possibility of establishing what she called a “Blue way” by the Clinton marina. Allen envisions that in the summer, people could bike to one of the kayak rental locations in the marina area where patrons could then explore the shoreline.
The plans for the greenway have hit one hiccup that could prevent a contiguous proposed path: The Harbor View Association, a group that represents a neighborhood that will be traversed by the greenway, expressed concern about having more people and traffic in the area. Allen said while she’d like to reach out to the Harbor View Association to see if she can alleviate their concerns, she also agreed to stop the trail at the town beach. Stopping at the beach would no longer include the Harbor View Association, but it would still provide for around three miles of trail in Clinton. If the Harbor View Association later agrees to be included in the trail, a second phase of construction will complete the entire proposed trail.
Besides the recreational aspects, Allen believes the trail will be good for economic reasons. She said the trail would provide a reason for tourists to spend more time out in downtown Clinton, where people could be likely to stop into a local business or restaurant that catches their eye while they’re out.
“This is exactly what Clinton needs at this time,” Allen said.
Now that the plan was approved, Allen says the next step is to begin fundraising. She hopes to attract more volunteers and involve more people of the community. Allen plans to begin physically working on the first phase of the trail sometime in April.
Besides Allen, other members of BPAC that have been involved in the project in Clinton are Debbie Lundgren, Maureen Noonan, Ginnie Simmons, Mark Koschwitz, Paul Egan, Bill Appleby, and Hal Tzeutschler.
For more information on BPAC, volunteer opportunities or the Shoreline Greenway Trail visitors are encouraged to look on the BPAC Facebook page or contact Carrie Allen at carriefallen@gmail.com.