Norwalk River Valley Trail Elects New President

NORWALK, CT — The Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail voted unanimously at the February Board of Directors' meeting to elect Kate Throckmorton as interim president of the organization through 2023.

The organization's current president, Charlie Taney, will assume the role of first vice president, according to a news release provided by NRVT.

A Wilton native, Throckmorton has been a board member of the NRVT since 2020. Throckmorton agreed in the interim to step back from her role as NRVT's Wilton team leader.

"I am very happy to step into a new leadership role for the NRVT and continue the NRVT mission," Throckmorton said in a news release. "The trail is a fabulous asset for the region, providing a safe multipurpose trail that will eventually provide connectivity along the Norwalk River Valley for all to enjoy the outdoors."

With this leadership shift, Taney will actively pursue a board president replacement at a time when the organization is looking for new talent in the face of the expanding work that lies ahead.

"It's an amazing time to be involved with the NRVT as the trail will be growing rapidly over the next several years," Taney said. "If you are someone who knows our trail, loves our trail, and you're interested in being part of a legacy project, talk to me. There's a place for you on our board."

According to the organization, there has been much progress in the last three years designing and building the planned 30-mile trail. Sections in Norwalk, Wilton and Redding officially opened in early 2022.

In October, CT DOT funding letters were received for the Ridgefield Ramble and continuation of the Wilton Loop North projects. When the current Ridgefield and Wilton lengths are finished, the total length completed of the NRVT will reach the halfway mark at 15 miles.

More recently, the Friends of the NRVT partnered with the Western Council of Governments (WestCOG) in applying for a multi-million dollar planning grant as part of a federal initiative under Rebuilding America's Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) to invest $1.5 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.

The popular program helps communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact and is administered through the Department of Transportation, according to the organization.

"Kate's proved to be a great team leader in Wilton and she will keep the ship steady and moving forward until the end of the year. My job now is to enlist a new captain," Taney said. "With funds like RAISE available, it is clear that the Norwalk River Valley Trail is an idea whose time has come. The notion that this trail could be completed in 10 years is not too far-out and I know that there's someone out there who thinks she or he can make it happen."

The board meets monthly at the Comstock Community Center, Room 30, at 180 School Road in Wilton. The next meeting is scheduled to take place March 15 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend meetings, which lasts no longer than 7 p.m.

More information is available at www.nrvt-trail.com.