Greenway trail to be extended in Seymour, Ansonia

A rendering of the proposed Naugatuck River greenway through Seymour. A rendering of the proposed Naugatuck River greenway through Seymour. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Greenway trail to be extended in Seymour, Ansonia 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Based on trail counts carried out in 2015, the northern section of Derby’s greenway trail recorded 30,730 trips past the heat-activated sensor over a monthlong period that spring. That translates to more than 300,000 trips a year on that section of the Naugatuck River Greenway, which is eventually planned to run from Derby north to Torrington.

“Derby hasn’t fully capitalized on it, yet it’s almost become a community center,” said Jack Walsh, co-chair of the greenway committee. Walsh, who lives in Derby, said he sees people on the 2.2-mile greenway every time he goes by.

“After the flood of 1955, that river became a nightmare for people,” he said. “All of a sudden, it’s a great positive for the community. Imagine if we could do the entire length of the river.”

Still in the early stages — only about 10 percent of the planned 44-mile greenway has been built — the greenway is expected to see significant progress this year with work planned in both Seymour and Ansonia.

Seymour will begin construction on its first phase on April 1, with LaRosa Earth Group from Meriden chosen to take on the project, according to the state Department of Transportation. It is expected the $1.1 million trail section, funded by town and federal funding, could be completed by August.

“It's very rewarding to see a project through from concept to design to funding and now construction,” said Fred Messore, Seymour’s director of economic development. “The town of Seymour has been working the concept, design and search for funding since completing the 2012 Downtown Strategic Plan.”

The trail’s 800-foot path will run parallel Route 8, beginning at the corner of Bank Street and the Route 8 southbound on-ramp. It will end at the parking area serving the Tingue Dam Bypass Channel and Fishway Park.

In 2014, the town received the Connecticut Main Street Center’s ‘Award of Excellence for Renewed Commitment to Main Street for its master plan for the Seymour Greenway Trail and Linear Park.

Ansonia’s piece, meanwhile, is an extension of its existing river walk and will go across the river and out to Pershing Drive. “We just went out to bid,” said Sheila O’Malley, the city’s economic development director.

With the bids due next month, O’Malley said construction on the 700-foot riverwalk extension could begin in the late spring or early summer. The project’s budget is approximately $2 million.

O’Malley also said the city recently received additional funding to extend the trail even further in the future, toward downtown and up toward the Seymour line.

“It’s one of those amenities people enjoy and it helps my job,” O’Malley said. “You’re bringing people here. You’re bringing people outdoors. It helps generate foot traffic and it helps generate interest in your community. We want that influx of visitors and people looking to see our city.”

An economic impact study on the trail, released last week, shows the trail could spur economic growth in the host towns.

“Between now and 2031 when the trail is assumed to be fully operational, total cumulative economic benefits, in terms of user spending, consumer surplus and monetized health benefits are estimated at over $7.3 billion (mostly due to health benefits), amounting to over 95 times the cost to construct the trail,” the study states.

Aaron Budris, a member of the greenway committee and planner at the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, said the study shows the trails will pay off in the long run. “People don’t necessarily think of recreational amenities as economic drivers, but they are,” he said.

“It starts with reclaiming the river,” said Bill Purcell, president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. He said officials in the Valley hope to leverage the success of the greenway to advocate for the notion of creating a national heritage area locally.

“Just about every place they’ve built one of these things it’s been a success,” Walsh said.

ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227