Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Deputy Commissioner David K. Leff and Connecticut Greenways Council Chairwoman LaVerta Matthews honored five Greenway Award recipients at a ceremony on the Farmington Canal Greenway in New Haven.
The 2004 Greenways Recognition Awards honor those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the promotion, development, and enhancement of linear open spaces in Connecticut. The ceremony is part of the nationwide celebration of National Trails Day, which is officially Saturday, June 5.
“Greenways enrich our lives by providing access and protection to our rivers and forests, linking open space parcels, enhancing our appreciation of the environment, and increasing recreational opportunities,” said Deputy Commissioner Leff. “The Farmington Canal Greenway is a great example of a historic right of way that has new life as a path for non-motorized recreation and transportation. Today, we honor those individuals and organizations for their vision and commitment to this Greenway and others like it throughout Connecticut.”
“The recipients of today’s Greenway Recognition Awards exemplify individuals and groups who work hard to protect Connecticut’s natural resources while providing safe recreational opportunities for communities and the region,” said Chairwoman Matthews.“Without the tireless efforts of so many volunteers, the preservation of these corridors of open space would not be possible.”
Greenways in Connecticut cover thousands of acres throughout every county in the state. There are over a thousand miles of trails in Connecticut used for active recreation including walking, biking, horseback riding and in-line skating. Each year the Greenways Council selects individuals, organizations, and governmental entities that have made a significant contribution in Connecticut.
Awards were presented to the following:
Government David K. Leff, Deputy Commissioner CT Department of Environmental Protection
Legislator Congresswoman Nancy Johnson Connecticut 5th District
Municipality City of New Haven
Non-Profit Connecticut Horse Council
Land Trust Great Meadows Conservation Trust , Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Glastonbury
In addition to the awards, the Deputy Commissioner will also participate in a ceremony honoring Connecticut’s newly designated official greenways. The Greenways Council also recognized an additional three corridors and trails as greenways designees in Connecticut, based on the regional nature of the greenway, strong local support, and the potential for further linkages around the state.
Municipality - City of New Haven
The City of New Haven has actively planned for a system of Greenways that would link first and foremost the City's park system but also would enhance access between residences, schools and colleges, job sites, retail stores, cultural attractions, and City landmarks. In doing so, the City works with "GO-alition", an open advisory group of trails and cycling advocates, as well as businesses and institutions such as Yale University. Several important Greenways are in the planning or implementation stage, including the New Haven link in the 50-mile Farmington Canal Greenway.
Non profit - The Connecticut Horse Council
For many years, the Connecticut Horse Council has represented the interests of the equine industry in Connecticut, an industry worth tens of millions of dollars a year to the state. Strong advocates of multiple-use, horse -accessible trails, the Council has worked tirelessly to educate all users on proper trail etiquette and the need to preserve, enhance, and expand trail systems. Most recently, Council members created Volunteer Horse Patrols in several State Forests. The Patrols serve as extra eyes and ears on the trail, assisting other trail users and alerting DEP personnel to potential problems.
Legislator - Congresswoman Nancy Johnson
Congresswoman Johnson has been a strong and consistent advocate for Connecticut's trails, beginning with her support for the state's section of the Appalachian Trail. More recently, she partnered with Congressman Olver of Massachusetts on a bill to study the Metacomet/Mattabesett/Monadnock Trail for designation as a National Scenic Trail. The Congresswoman has also voiced her support for efforts to complete the Farmington Canal Heritage Greenway and link it with the Norwattuck Trail in Massachusetts.
Land Trust - Great Meadows Conservation Trust Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Glastonbury
The Great Meadows Conservation Trust was incorporated in 1968 by concerned citizens of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Glastonbury as a non-profit tax exempt land trust to protect and preserve the Great Meadows. Their goal is to save the floodplain's vital agricultural, scenic, archeological and wetland resources, and are committed to working with like-minded groups and landowners.