Ridgefield Resident Receives CT Greenways Council Volunteer Award

RIDGEFIELD, CT — On May 31, the Connecticut Greenways Council commended eight individuals, and two non-profit organizations that have made significant contributions to the promotion, development and enhancement of Greenways – linear open space in Connecticut – and designated a new State Greenway at a ceremony this morning at Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury.

Patricia Sesto, of Ridgefield, was recipient of CT Greenways Council’s Volunteer Award. She is a founding member of the Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) and currently serves as president of their board of directors. The vision of the non-profit NRVT is to build, beautify and maintain a thirty mile, ten-foot wide, multi-use trail from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, passing through Wilton, Ridgefield and Redding, and terminating at Rogers Park in Danbury.

Sesto said, "I accept this Volunteer Award on behalf of the all the volunteers in Norwalk, Wilton, Redding, Ridgefield and Danbury who have worked so diligently over the last ten years to realize the vision of the Norwalk River Valley Trail. We've made remarkable progress because of their tremendous efforts."

Susan Whalen, deputy commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said, "Our state designated greenways provide great opportunities to enjoy recreation, commute to work, exercise or shop from a bicycle, or simply spend time with family and friends on a beautiful day. Today’s ceremony also recognizes a dedicated group of volunteers whose passion for greenways continues to improve the quality of life in our State."

Bruce Donald, chair of the CT Greenways Council, and tri-state coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance stated: "Trails are community builders. They act like a new 'town green' as a meeting place. Even more so as a beloved amenity that evokes pride of place, attracting people from far and wide to a trail-town. As more and more trails are completed, their contribution to the vibrancy of Connecticut cannot be questioned."