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04/21/2021 08:30 AMBarbara Brow of East Haven has been involved with the Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT) since the group behind it formed in 2002.
“I was a younger person then,” she says with a chuckle.
But it seems age has proven no obstacle to Barbara’s involvement with her town’s section of the trail, or its ongoing reach and expansion. She serves as the chair of the 15-member East Haven town team of the Shoreline Greenway Trail Committee, which she says is looking forward to a trail maintenance session on Saturday, April 24, in honor of Earth Day.
“I really appreciate their effort,” she says of the team. “Some have been involved as long as I, or close to as long as I, and the good thing is we do always recruit new people that move into town or just started hearing about the Greenway Trail, so it’s a good effort.”
And on July 3, it’s East Haven’s turn to host the SGT’s First Saturday Walk or Ride. These monthly events bring walkers and bicyclists to experience the scenic, multi-use trail, whose expansion is funded by federal and state grants.
“The trail is a collaborative effort between East Haven, Branford, Guilford, and Madison to, whenever possible, connect our trail,” Barbara says.
With Earth Day on her mind, Barbara says she’s grateful to be part of a Town Green beautification project organized by Mayor Joseph Carfora.
“He wants to make the Town Green a more focal point,” she says. “It is listed on our National Register of Historic Places. He has the vision—and I agree—to make it more of a meeting place.”
With the town’s help, Barbara says, “we are making great trail progress. The Public Works Department is extending our multi-use trail at the former site of the D.C. Moore school 400 feet to Elliot Street, and the administration interviewed five different companies and selected BL Companies, based out of Meriden, to extend the trail approximately 1.85 miles to Cosey Beach Avenue by means of sidewalks. That presentation was on April 6 and it was well received, so we’re looking forward to getting that underway probably next year sometime. They have to complete the design and then construction will begin.”
At the end of March, Barbara and Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti renewed the partnership between East Haven Shoreline Greenway Trail and the East Haven Public School District.
“It serves as an educational and an extracurricular activity for the students because we want to hopefully have some young people become stewards of greenways and the environment in the future, “Barbara explains. “Also, we’re going to invite the upper grades to fill community service hours with us by cleaning and clearing the trail.”
The extracurricular activities include cross-country, a kids’ challenge, and hiking for the students.
“I think it’s so important because we’re teaching our young students from the get-go to be proactive about their health and to use the trails,” she says. “With the pandemic and what it has caused, the trails are even more popular than ever, and so it’s a good way to get the students out and outdoors in a safe environment.”
Barbara is retired but worked as a per diem dental assistant for many years. She has been married to her husband, Fred, for 55 years. Fred worked for the town fire and police departments. They have two daughters, Andrea and Michelle. Michelle passed away in 2009. Andrea manages Century Silhouette Farm in Northford, which boards horses.
“We put her on a horse at two years old and she hasn’t gotten off,” Barbara says.
Barbara’s great-grandson, Steven, is 7 “and he lights up our life,” Barbara says.
When she’s not practicing yoga or walking the trail she helped build, Barbara creates her own nature in the form of paintings she hangs around her house. One is a large daisy and another is a scene from Italy.
Barbara shares one final reflection about the SGT group.
“Throughout our whole tenure since we organized in 2002, it’s just been a pleasure,” she says. “It teaches you to be patient and to persevere, but we’re getting there.”
Learn more atshorelinegreenwaytrail.org.