DeLauro Celebrates Official Opening of Shoreline Greenway Trail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 12, 2005
DeLauro Celebrates Official Opening of Shoreline Greenway Trail
BRANFORD, Conn. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today celebrated the official opening of the recently completed Shoreline Greenway Trail segment along Birch Road in the Pine Orchard neighborhood. The event marked the completion of the first improved section of the trail and is the culmination of three years of work by volunteers striving to create a multi-use trail from New Haven to Madison for non-motorized recreation and transit. DeLauro secured $1.85 million for the greenway trail in the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users or (TEA-LU), a bill that passed the House in July.
"Whether you enjoy biking, jogging, walking, rollerblading, or just spending time outside, Shoreline Greenway is something extraordinary," said DeLauro. "It is a celebration of our open spaces-of our natural surroundings and outdoors recreation. And it will be a boost to local business and to tourism in our area, in addition to giving commuters a real choice when they go to work in the morning - a healthy choice."
The completed segment celebrated today stretches from the west side of Young Park to the east end of the Branford Day Care Center's Nature Classroom. The trail is a 10-foot-wide trail suitable for walking, running and biking - a stark contrast to the narrow, rocky hiking trail that preceded it. Several other sections in East Haven and Guilford have been dedicated and are open for limited use
When completed, the Shoreline Greenway will stretch from Hammonassett Beach State Park in Madison to Lighthouse Point in New Haven, where it will connect with the East Coast Greenway which runs from Maine to Key West, Florida. The trail will span 25 miles and will provide residents of the four towns with pedestrian and bike access to town centers, railroad stations.
"What makes this day particularly special is that it is the result of a true community effort," continued DeLauro. "In an age when we are constantly trying to combat sprawl in our communities, it is reassuring to know that our cities and townships are working their hardest to make our communities more livable and beautiful. That kind of foresight is rare and pays dividends for decades to come."
DeLauro joined First Selectman John Opie of Branford, First Selectman Gene Bishop of Guilford, Mayor Joseph Maturo of East Haven, Chip Angle, chairman of the board of directors of Shoreline Greenway Trail, and Judy Gott, director of the South Central Regional Council of Governments. Children from the nearby Branford Day Care Center were also on hand to celebrate the opening.
The Shoreline Greenway Association - an all-volunteer organization - has been working to help raise money for the towns to acquire rights of way for the trail. Already, volunteers have raised over $50,000 in private financing for right of way acquisition and trail construction.
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/September/shoreline_09_12_05.html