West River Watershed is Designated a CT “Greenway” SATURDAY JUNE 6, 9:30 AM The West River Watershed Coalition is very excited to announce that the Connecticut Greenways Council has accepted the nomination of the West River Greenway as a Connecticut Designated Greenway.  We thank the signers of the application:  the governments of Bethany, Hamden, New Haven, West Haven, and Woodbridge, the South Central Regional Water Authority and the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority.  We appreciate the support of all of the members of the West River Watershed Coalition. The press conference will be held next to the West River Memorial Park lot across from Dunkin Donuts and the West River Tide Gates on Route 1 (Orange Ave./Boston Post Rd.) between Ella T. Grasso Blvd and Marginal Drive, at the New Haven/ West Haven town line. Immediately following the Saturday press conference at 10 am, there will be a public hike along the West River starting at the Tide Gates, passing though West River Memorial Park and 100+ year old Olmsted-designed Edgewood Park.  Participants will learn about the recent changes in river flow, community involvement, and the history of the parks. The two mile walk ends at the Edgewood Park Gazebo near Whalley Ave. and West Rock Ave. about noon. Walkers are invited to carpool back to the starting point. For more information, contact, Stephanie FitzGerald, West River Watershed Coalition, sfitzgerald1@comcast.net, 203-500-7777. On Sunday, June 7, the public hike begins at the Edgewood Park Gazebo (near Whalley Ave. and West Rock Ave.) and explores the West River from Westville Village, through the West Rock Greenspace ending at the Pond Lily Dam (an earthen dam built in the 1700’s that will be demolished this summer to lessen flooding in Woodbridge and improve fish passage in the river). An historian and geologist will interpret. This hike has some rough terrain; wear sturdy shoes. Walkers are invited to carpool back to the starting point.  For more information, contact Kathy Fay, West River Watershed Coalition, kathyfay@gmail.com, 203-815-5615. On Saturday, June 13, the public hike begins at the Whalley Ave./Amity Walgreen’s parking lot at Pond Lily Dam.  The walk will follow Fountain St. into Woodbridge, continue along the Naugatuck Trail to the old Derby Trail (used by the Paugasset Native Americans), continue to Bradley Rd. and explore the area along the West River suitable for a proposed trail between New Haven and Woodbridge. For more information, contact Frank Deleo, West River Watershed Coalition, metd1@optonline.net, 203-387-0530. In addition to the West River Watershed Coalition, the June 6 and 7 hikes are also sponsored by the CT Forest & Park Association as part of Connecticut Trails Weekend—the largest National Trails Day (NTD) celebration in the nation.  Other sponsors of the three hikes are Save the Sound/CT Fund for the Environment, West River Neighborhood Services Corp., the Friends of Edgewood Park, the Westville Renaissance Alliance, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, the New Haven Land Trust, and West River Restoration & Flood Mitigation Committee (Woodbridge). The West River Watershed Coalition was formed two years ago and is made up of individuals from many different organizations who envision safe, clean water with enhanced public access and recreation opportunities for the West River: Barnard Environmental Studies Magnet School, CARE (Community Alliance for Research and Engagement), Columbus House, Common Ground/New Haven Ecology Project, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Elm City Cycling, Friends of Beaver Pond Park, Friends of Edgewood Park, Greater New Haven BioRegional Group, Greater New Haven Pollution Control Authority, Greater New Haven Water Works Coalition, Lehigh University, Menunkatuck  Audubon Society, Mill River Watershed Association, NAACP, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, New Haven Department of Parks and Recreation and Trees, New Haven Environmental Justice Network, New Haven Land Trust, New Haven Health Department, Save the Sound/ CT Fund for the Environment, Solar Youth, South Central Regional Water Authority, Southwest Conservation District, Urban Resources Initiative, West River Neighborhood Services Corporation, West River Restoration & Flood Mitigation Committee (Woodbridge), West River Watershed Partnership, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance.

For more information, contact Martha M. Smith, Steering Committee, West River Watershed Coalition, marthamsmith@att.net, 203-497-9698

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