- Norwalk River Valley Trail
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Norwalk River Valley Trail
Location Length 27 miles (completed) Trailheads Union St. Norwalk, CT Use Hiking, biking, jogging, snow shoeing, cross country skiing Difficulty Easy and level (currently). Accessible to handicaps in certain parts of trail Surface Asphalt or wooded trail depending on which part of the trail a person is on Hours Open all hours (currently) Amenities Benches, playground, tennis courts Bathrooms None 
Norwalk River Valley Logo
The Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) is a Rails to Trails trail that is currently under construction. The plan for the trail is to run from Norwalk, Connecticut to Danbury, Connecticut stretching about 27 miles (43 km) passing through Redding, Ridgefield and Wilton. Currently the trail is only about two miles (3.2 km) long in Norwalk, CT with the trailheads at Matthews Park and Union Street. The currently accessible trail is accessible to everyone (bikers, walkers, joggers, handicapped etc...). The trail generally runs along the Norwalk River and will have surfaces of asphalt and woods. This trail can be enjoyed by everyone and at anytime of year. It provides beautiful nature sights as well as historical museums and attractions.
Contents
Historical development
Historical significance
The Danbury and Norwalk Railroad was created in 1835 but under the name Fairfield County Railroad. Not until 1850 was the name changed to the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. The railroad was created for people who live in towns in Connecticut to shorten their commute to New York City. This would allow them to take a train to Norwalk and then to New York City as opposed to commuting to Norwalk to board the train there. In 1850 the Railroad was improved and the South Norwalk Train Station was connected to the New York and New Haven line. The construction of connecting the lines was routed along the Norwalk River.
Trail’s history and evolution
The idea for the Norwalk River Valley Trail aroused in 1995 to have a trail run along the Norwalk River. The future trail is to extend about 27 miles (43 km) from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk all the way to Danbury. Currently there is about 2 miles (3.2 km) of the trail complete in Norwalk and have plans to finish the entire trail in five years. The Norwalk and Wilton parts of the trail is owned by the state of Connecticut. The board hopes to receive donations of money and land to obtain this trail but will most likely need to purchase some of the land themselves. In hopes of funding the initial routing for the trail, the Norwalk River Valley Trail committee has applied for a Recreational Trails Grant that is administered by the state.
Trail development
Map of Norwalk area trails on Norwalk River Valley TrailDesign and construction
The trail in Norwalk is a short trail in comparison to the projected finished trail. The 2 mile paved trail stretches through a park, a playground and a historical museum. The trail is about ten feet wide and is accessible to everyone. The trail also runs through an intersection in the City of Norwalk, but quickly picks back up its paved trail behind the YMCA. From the YMCA, the trail is a continuous straight path to Union Park. People use this trail to commute from one place to another and also just to enjoy a leisurely walk or bike ride.
Trail amenities
There is a very big parking lot at Matthews Park where the trail starts so it is very easy to access. Traveling shortly down the trail you come across a children's playground and also benches for resting. Towards the beginning of the trail, there is a poster board with a map of the trails in the area and this trail is located on the map and shows the entire trail.
Community
Trail supporters
The trail is controlled by each respective town it passes through but the state funds most of the trail. Other parts of the trail come from public or private donators as the progression of the construction of the trail continues.
Special events
The Norwalk River Valley Trail hosted a Norwalk Harbor Loop Walk. This event organized just to simply get a gathering of people to enjoy the new found trail and to promote the trail. The NRVT also hosts community workshops in which they discuss the routing of the trail and ideas for the trail such as promoting non-motorized vehicles.
References
External links
Categories:- Rail trails in Connecticut
- Transportation in Fairfield County, Connecticut
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