Month: June 2025

Shout-Out to Westport Conservation Department!

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A warm shout-out goes to Westport Conservation and Parks and Recreation Departments!

Bench overlooking the river on a Westport town trail
View from Saugatuck River Trails

The CT Trail Finder team is proud to work with them to create a digital guide to the open space area trails managed by the town and partners (shout-out to Aspetuck Land Trust)! A sincere thank you to Colin Kelly, Conservation Department Director, who spoke with me about how Westport’s original illustrated open space maps and the CT Trail Finder online maps have complemented each other.

As one example, Colin gave credit to student interns who have been using the illustrated trail maps to guide them in collecting geospatial trail data using Avenza.
We are excited to help our Westport partners build a digital trail database to help trail users find outdoor recreation features, like shoreline access. We also enjoy seeing the creative approaches that Colin and partners have used to connect smaller trails, paths, and public recreation areas together to help people imagine new ways to explore Westport open space, such as the Saugatuck River Trails. Find a new Westport trail to enjoy this week!

Shout-Out to the Still River Greenway Committee!

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TGI#FriendFriday! It’s our pleasure to highlight the managers of the Still River Greenway, a multi-use paved trail along the Still River in Brookfield, CT. Many thanks go to Jay Annis, Still River Greenway Committee Chair, longtime Brookfield resident, and outdoor recreation enthusiast, for speaking with me.

wide flat pathway on a sunny day with green vegetation around
Still River Greenway
Following a Brookfield resident survey in 2001 that revealed a desire for a walking/biking path, Jay was tapped to lead the committee that would bring such a path to life. After 15 years of work with the Parks and Recreation Department, the Still River Greenway Committee saw the greenway opened in 2016. Now, the collaboration continues with an extension of the greenway as part of the in-progress Norwalk River Valley Trail. From Jay himself, “our town project has changed into a much bigger project that benefits everyone”.
Still River Greenway is in the CT Trail Census program, with trail use count data going back to 2017, assisting advocates with garnering support. It was also published on CT Trail Finder in 2024, viewed as a way to promote trail use and support for trail projects, and to encourage enjoyment of local experiences when pairing trails with trailside services. We sincerely appreciate our partnership across the CT Trails Program! Explore the trail here!