Guilford To Scrap Shoreline Greenway Trail Grant

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

GUILFORD, CT – The Board of Selectmen, after a lengthy discussion at its Dec. 18th meeting, voted unanimously to have newly-elected First Selectman Matt Hoey write a letter to the state stating “with regret” that Guilford would not be using previously allocated grant funds for the Shoreline Greenway Trail.

The trail project has been a hot button topic for years – and the town had secured $875,00 in state and federal grants for the project. It was supposed to be a 25-mile continuous path on the shoreline designed for cyclists, walkers and hikers.

The first section of the trail proposed in Guilford was 0.7 miles long and would have linked the East River Bridge to the junction of Boston Street and Route 1.

While proponents lauded the plan there was fierce opposition to it – primarily from property owners who live near where the trail was proposed and did not want to see it built.

Hoey said his thinking is the town is not prepared to use the funds and that the Shoreline Greenway Trail Committee in town is looking to release the money back to the state so it can be used elsewhere.

Other selectmen said went along with Hoey, but weren’t happy.

Selectman Charles Havdra said he was “disappointed” and wishes “that as a community they could have found a way to make this work.”

He said this will be giving money “to other communities who are prepared to take advantage of it.”

The Shoreline Greenway Trail, was formed in 2001 after a group of Guilford residents identified the need for a trail that allowed for safe building and walking along the Shoreline.

Since the organization’s inception, 50 percent of the Shoreline Greenway Trail’s 25-mile path has been completed, is under construction or has been approved.

Image via Shutterstock