President’s Letter
I hope all were enjoying the amazing weather that Connecticut had this
summer and fall. The sunny days and warm temperatures have resulted in
many visitors to the Farmington Canal Heritage (FCHT) and River Trails. Our
goal is still to complete the FCHT from New Haven to the Massachusetts border
which will allow to connect to the trail to Northampton and beyond so it truly
will be the New Haven Northampton Greenway Trail. Most of New Haven is
done and we have made strides in Plainville so that two sections are in design
stage. In addition, we have begun supporting spines off the FCHT towards
New Britain and Bloomfield that will allow runners, walkers, cyclists access to
Hartford and trails on the other side of the Connecticut River.
All this could not be done without your support. As we are proud to state,
we are a solely volunteer organization. All the dues money goes to support the
trail and the municipalities that must handle the upkeep and repairs of the
trails. We try when we can to add improvements like memorial benches, pump
stations, and water fountains.
Your membership also helps us in another way. It gives us power when we
speak to legislators and write letters on behalf of municipal grant seekers.
Numbers count so we need people not only to donate but to join. With
Plainville still in the developing stage we will need to be a voice for funding at
the state legislature.
