Stamford Celebrates Mill River Greenway North Project

Information via city of Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Mayor Caroline Simmons, former Mayor David Martin, and prominent community leaders gathered this week to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Mill River Greenway North project.

The event was attended by Nette Compton, president and CEO of the Mill River Park Collaborative, and Arnold Karp, Board Chair of the Mill River Park Collaborative, who joined in commemorating this significant milestone. The ceremony also featured the participation of fifth-grade students from Hart Elementary School.

Compton expressed her enthusiasm for the park and its new greenway, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on the community.

"What makes me so excited about this park, and especially this new greenway, is the connection to our schools and our children," she said. "I love witnessing Stamford students visit the park for field trips and activities, where they can explore and learn about the thriving nature that surrounds them."

The Mill River Greenway North project represents phase two of the Mill River Master Plan, aimed at establishing a continuous park with interconnected trails from Stamford's South End at the Long Island Sound, extending northward to Scalzi Park.

Spanning a width of 12 feet, the lighted greenway runs alongside the picturesque Mill River, reaching the southern border of Scalzi Park. The greenway commences with a trail entrance at Green Street, extends to West North Street behind Hart Elementary School, and further connects to Cloonan Middle School and JM Wright Technical School.

Notably, the project encompasses several enhancements, including stormwater drainage improvements, a pedestrian bridge, sidewalk reconstruction and native landscaping.

Arnold Karp, Board Chair of the Mill River Park Collaborative, emphasized the significance of the collaboration between the organization and the city.

"Our partnership with the city is critical to the success of this park, and the design and construction of the greenway north is certainly no exception," he said in a news release.

As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Mill River Park Collaborative is responsible for the maintenance of the Mill River Park greenspaces, including Greenway North. Moreover, the Collaborative is committed to providing year-round community programming, thanks to the generous support from the city and private donors.

Simmons expressed her support for the project, underscoring the positive impact it will have on the community.

"I am thrilled about the completion of the Mill River Greenway North project. This pathway will provide the community with greater connectivity and accessibility to Mill River Park," she said in a news release. "It also furthers my goal to enhance pedestrian and bike pathways in support of the City’s Vision Zero goals, which are to eliminate roadway fatalities in Stamford by 2032.”

The completion of the Mill River Greenway North project marks a significant achievement in creating a vibrant and accessible green space that fosters connectivity and appreciation for nature within Stamford.