Proposed seven-mile trail to run the length of the town

By Ruth Melville

On July 9 an introductory meeting of a new Rails to Trails Committee was held at Town Hall. The primary goal of the meeting, convened by Dave Beers, was to gather together interested residents and to set up small work groups to determine the first steps toward constructing a rail trail through Norfolk.

The goal of the rails to trails movement is to convert abandoned railroad tracks into flat, smooth trails for walking, biking and even strollers and wheelchair use. Proponents of rail trails (also called greenways) maintain that, in addition to making use of neglected land, the trails provide safe, easily accessible recreational areas for young and old, connect communities and attract visitors.

As Beers says, Norfolk, especially its older population, “needs places that are appropriate for people to walk. If we make life better for us, other people will want to come here too.”

Similar projects in the Norfolk area have proved popular. Perhaps the best known is the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in New York State, which currently goes from Wassaic to Millerton, a distance of about 10 miles. The plan is to extend the trail all the way to Chatham, a full 46 miles. Closer to Norfolk, the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway in Torrington is a three-mile-long trail that runs parallel to Route 8, and the city hopes to expand the trail to connect Torrington and Winsted.

The proposed trail through Norfolk will potentially run seven miles from town line to town line, passing close to the center of town. The trail will incorporate old railway track and existing trails and paths, and, like most rail trails or greenways, it will be developed in sections. Setting up a rail trail can be a lengthy and complicated process, since property rights and environmental issues need to be carefully worked out.

The Rail Trail Committee, which is under the auspices of the Economic Development Commission, will meet in Town Hall at 7:00 on the second Thursday of every month. Officers will be elected at the next meeting of the committee, on August 13, and anyone interested in participating is encouraged to attend.