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| Ridgefield's Selectmen walked the proposed trail. Tom Galeota [left] of engineering firm Fuss & O'Neill, explained plans for the path to [from right to left] Joseph Heyman, First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Barbara Manners, and Steve Zemo. This section of the route has recently been covered with wood chips to remediate a higher level of arsenic contamination. |
The Selectmen were joined by Tom Galeota of Fuss & O'Neill, the firm doing the engineering plans for CL&P, several interested citizens, and some homeowners whose property abuts the power line. Two things were apparent from this first hand look: the path makes for a delighful walk through some of Ridgefield's most beautiful wooded and wetland areas -- and there are indeed a handful of houses, mostly along Cooper Rd. on the eastern end of the trail, which are very close to the CL&P power line, and thus to the proposed trail which follows under it. Several of these residents, concerned about the foot traffic the trail would bring near their property, have asked that the trail be terminated at Cooper Hill Rd., limiting its length to 1.7 mi. On the other hand, a large number of Ridgefielders has expressed enthusiastic support for the full 2.4 mi. trail, including the Cooper Rd. portion. Selectman will decide on their recommendation for the project at their meeting this Wednesday, March 29.
Two views of houses close to the trail. [Left] The western end of the route, off Prospect St., passes right behind the Quail Ridge condos. In some places, the trail passes within about 20 ft. of homeowner's decks. [Right] Near the eastern end of the route, the trail is close to several houses on Cooper Rd. Interestingly, Quail Ridge residents are generally supportive of the "Rails To Trails" plan, while a number of the Cooper Rd. abutters are vehemently opposed to upgrading the path, citing privacy and security concerns.
[Left] The route passes through beautiful wooded, slightly hilly areas just to the east of its crossing Ivy Hill Rd. [Right] Acres of 8-10 ft. high reeds line the path just west of its intersection with Cooper Hill Rd., near the eastern end of the proposed trail.
[Left] This area of the trail, behind Cooper Rd., was flooded during last fall's Hurricane Floyd. A layer of heavy rocks (the white material covering the path to the left) was added after the washout. In the foreground, Selectwoman Barbara Manners (striped shirt) is negotiating a section of the path washed out during recent rains. [Right] The walking group rested at the eastern end of the trail, where it runs into Florida Rd. about a mile up from Branchville. From the left, David Galeota and dad Tom, from Fuss & O'Neill; First Selectman Rudy Marconi; Selectman Steve Zemo; Ms. Earl Kroner, a local resident; Selectmen Barbara Manners and Joseph Heyman; Susan Terbrusch; Mary Galeota; and Earl Kroner, a local resident who joined the walk to explain his opposition to developing the Cooper Rd. section of the trail.
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