GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich officials are looking to collaborate and establish the Byram River Greenway, a move that would bring several benefits and potential new trail linkage to the town and its residents.
The Board of Selectmen this week was set to examine a request from Greenwich Land Trust Executive Director Will Kies and GLT Director of Stewardship Chris Aldrich for a municipal resolution to endorse the greenway for nomination, but the two were unable to attend the meeting.
The agenda item was postponed to a later date.
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According to documents associated with the agenda item, the need for nominatng the Byram River Greenway comes from the growing demand for outdoor recreational opportunties, as well as a desire to protect and conserve “the ecological integrity” of the area that straddles the Byram River.
“Through the development of a new trail network, this effort aims to address these needs by providing enhanced recreational access while promoting environmental stewardship and conservation. Greenway designation would also aid in securing potential funding opportunities and bring attention to this important stretch of open space,” Aldrich wrote.
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A map with the agenda item shows swaths of land, overseen by the GLT, Greenwich Audubon, and Grifith E. Harris Golf Course, and a potential trail linkage stretching from Sherwood Avenue up near Laphum Lane along the Byram River on the western side of town
The designation of “greenway” would come from the Connecticut Greenway Council and the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT-DEEP).
CT-DEEP notes on its website that the benefits of trails and greenways include:
Connecticut’s Greenway Program defines a greenway as a “corridor of open space” that:
During this week’s Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Fred Camillo expressed excitement about the potential designation. He said he wanted to organize a hike with his colleagues Selectwoman Lauren Rabin and Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan so they could see the greenway area.
On Friday, Camillo explained to Patch what the greenway would mean for the town.
“The official designation of a Byram River Greenway signifies how important conservation is to our town as well as the focus we put on active recreation,” Camillo said. “Moreover, being able to connect nature preserves, trails and open space with other similar tracks of land is one of the defining features of Greenwich that makes it stand out. I want to thank Will and the Greenwich Land Trust for their steady dedication to our environment and their efforts to preserve as much as our natural land as is possible.”
The Board of Selectmen could revisit the agenda item at its next scheduled meeting on Aug. 8.
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