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New Milford River Trail

Our mission is to make New Milford, CT more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

New Milford River Trail

3 weeks ago

How exciting for our youngest New Milford residents- a pedal park at John Pettibone Community Center, along with lit Pickleball courts for adults. From News Times Feb. 15, 2026:The Town Council voted to approve $809,600 for an expansion of the recreational facilities at the John Pettibone Community Center to include three pickleball courts and a pedal park as well as more parking. There is a significant amount of green space behind the community center, located at 2 Pickett District Road in New Milford, with a playground and baseball diamond in one corner. To provide more recreational options for children and adults, ground will be broken on the the two activity spaces within the year, with a tentative opening in 2027, the Town Council said at the Feb. 9 meeting. At the pedal park, children will be able to learn to ride bicycles and get exercise on a small circular track, which will have multiple play features such as small ramps, tubes and other obstacles. The project will include bike racks, picnic tables and benches, along with a new sidewalk connecting the track and playground. The cost of the pedal park itself is the smallest portion of the project, at $155,000, with the sidewalk connection attributing to most of the cost, at $95,000. Town officials said that once installed the park would be low maintenance and wouldn’t need constant upkeep from the Parks and Recreation Department. Significant inspiration for the pedal park came from a similar installation in Newtown, where the circular gravel course features several raised woodboard paths, large rings to pass though, concrete cones and other items. Mayor Pete Bass said that after he was informed that New Milford residents were going to Newtown to use the pedal park, he asked the Public Works Department to create a draft plan to bring a similar facility into their community.“It’s a great, safe opportunity for youngsters to kind of learn how to ride a bike,” Bass said. “So I asked public works, could you guys come up with a concept that would be relevant to New Milford and how would that look at Pettibone?”The pickleball courts will cost $425,000 and consist of three courts, with a total footprint of 122 by 64 feet. The project will include lighting for evening play and covered bench areas for players.The courts will be surrounded by fencing and equipped with automatic locks, similar to the courts at the high school, along with an automatic timer for the lights that can be set with a phone, Bass said. At certain hours, the courts will be accessible only to children, he said, so they won't be used exclusively by adults.Both projects will be paired with a parking renovation for the lot in the rear of the building, which would accommodate the increased traffic that’s expected once the work is completed.The project will be entirely paid for through the Landfill Settlement Fund, which contains money received from the settlement of the Brickley v. Waste Management of Connecticut case, that is set aside for public recreation, education purposes, or public library facilities. Because of that, the Bass said, there will be no cost to taxpayers. ... See MoreSee Less

New Milford to build pedal park, pickleball courts at Pettibone Community Center

www.newstimes.com

Ground will be broken on the the two activity spaces within the year, with a tentative opening in 2027.

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New Milford River Trail

2 months ago

Size of vehicles, distractions and speeding contribute to fatalities for pedestrians and bicyclists. Be safe, be aware, be seen......... "Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths continue to occur at relatively high rates, particularly accidents involving bicycles, which saw eight incidents as of Dec. 17, a 90.4% increase from the five-year average of 4.2. Pedestrian deaths also rose 2.1% from the five-year average of 55.8 to 57 this year". ... See MoreSee Less

Connecticut traffic deaths down in 2025, but pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities remain high

www.newstimes.com

The data shows there have been a total of 256 traffic deaths in all categories as of Dec. 17, down from 304 at the same time last year.

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New Milford River Trail

3 months ago

From the Hartford Courant 12/8/2025:Completing massive CT rail trail seen to boost more than fitness. It could be major economic boon tooStory by Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant •The Bike Cellar in Simsbury sees a boom in customers looking to buy a bicycle over the summer months every year.The bicycle shop, located at 532 Hopmeadow St., sits just off the Farmington Canal Greenway, a popular biking and walking trail that extends from the Connecticut shoreline up to Massachusetts. The shop estimates that many of its customers are looking for bikes to use on the popular pedestrian bike trail.“If I think of the average person coming in, 60 to 70% of them are purchasing bikes that can be used on the rail trail,” said Walter Rochefort III, the owner of the Bicycle Cellar. “I don’t ride my road bike on the road anymore because I’ve been hit twice. Once they put in the rail trail, it’s a great avenue to safely get out and bike. Safety is a big part of cycling and people want to be safe.”The Bike Cellar is just one of hundreds of businesses that see an economic benefit from the Farmington Canal Greenway. A new study shows that a completed greenway could generate up to $60 million annually once it’s finished.The popular bike and walking trail, a 55-mile route through Connecticut that runs along former railroad tracks, stretches from New Haven up to Granby and through Massachusetts into Northampton. After years of delays, the Connecticut section is estimated to be fully completed by 2030, according to a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.The entire New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway, which is commonly referred to as “the rail trail,” is 81 miles total in length.A new report by Cambridge Econometrics, an economic consultant group, shows that a completed greenway will significantly boost economic development for communities along the trail. Existing trail users are estimated to support 166 jobs that pay $9.3 million in earnings and generate $16.7 million in value, according to the report. A completed greenway could support 351 to 582 jobs, earning $20 to $33.5 million in wages and generating $35 to $60 million in value.Last year, greenway users currently generated an estimated $15.1 million alone on food, accommodation, retail and other items, according to the study.“The current trail segments attract an estimated 800,000 users each year. The two future scenarios estimate trail usage at corridors that are not yet developed. The low scenario estimates a continuous trail would attract 1.3 million users each year, while the high scenario estimates 1.6 million users annually,” according to the study.“These trail users spend money on food, accommodation, retail and other items, benefitting local businesses and the overall economy,” the study says. “In total, existing trail users spend an estimated $15.1 million each year while users of a completed trail are estimated to spend $32.0 to $53.8 million annually.”The consultant group uses a holistic input-output model to assess potential economic impact using indicators like employment, income and business growth. The study also takes into account a “low and high” scenario, which gives both a conservative short term model of five years after completion and a 10-year model showing more growth.Once fully developed, the greenway will be a continuous corridor for walking, running and biking with connections to urban districts, town centers, neighborhoods and natural landscapes, according to the study. Current gaps in the trail include 5.3 miles in Plainville; 0.7 miles in Southington; 1.5 miles in New Haven’ 3.9 miles in Southampton, Massachusetts; and 4.8 miles in Westfield, Massachusetts, officials said.The Massachusetts segment is slated to be completed by the early 2030s, while the Plainville and Southington sections in Connecticut have a 2030 completion date, according to a spokesperson with DEEP. The New Haven segment should be completed in late 2026. The entire route is expected to be completed within the next five years, allowing for unimpeded access from New Haven to Northampton.“For decades, these trail corridors have been envisioned, planned and advocated for, yet they remain incomplete. Each year the trails remain unfinished represents a missed opportunity for the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut,” the study says.“Communities, businesses and residents are forgoing the significant economic benefits that completed off-road trails can bring, from increased tourism and local spending to job and business growth.”The consultant firm showed that, in a 2019 study, property value premiums went up 3 to 5% when located near a multi-modal pedestrian trail, according to the study. These property value benefits also generate additional tax revenues for local municipalities.The firm said their work took into account stakeholder interviews with local businesses along the existing trail corridors, and that “each of these cafes, bakeries, bike shops, and fitness facilities, along with countless other businesses, benefits from (and in some cases relies on) the existing NHNCG corridors that pass by their respective establishments.”Further, the report notes, marketing, promotion, and “user-friendly travel packages are essential to realize the full economic development potential of a long-distance multi-use trail. As noted throughout this report, the largest economic impact of trail users comes from out-of-town visitors, in particular visits that include overnight stays with more substantial spending on food, restaurants, retail, and accommodations (hotels, inns, campsites).”“There are many examples of how bike and longer-distance shared use paths can be marketed and promoted, but a successful campaign generally consists of both a strong website and social media presence, along with organized and easily searchable travel packages,” it notes. “Sometimes known as inn to inn, these trips allow visitors to bike the trail for multiple days with organized overnight stays at inns near the trail and travel logistics to safely move their luggage.”If the completed NHNCG were connected to the Merritt Parkway/Route 15 shared use path corridor, it would enhance the economic impacts of both trail segments, the report notes. “The 130-mile continuous path could attract an estimated 3.0 to 3.8 million user days each year, generating $104.9 to $163.2 million in direct spending,” it says.That direct spending would support “845 to 1,417 jobs in Connecticut and Massachusetts earning $48.1 to $81.8 million in wages and generating $86.7 to $147.4 million in value added and $165.5 to $280.2 million in output.”Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.©2025 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/completing-massive-ct-rail-trail-seen-to-boost-more-than-fitness-it... ... See MoreSee Less

Completing massive CT rail trail seen to boost more than fitness. It could be major economic boon too

www.msn.com

The Bike Cellar in Simsbury sees a boom in customers looking to buy a bicycle over the summer months every year. The bicycle shop, located at 532 Hopmeadow St., sits just off the Farmington Canal Gree...

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New Milford River Trail updated their cover photo.

3 months ago

New Milford River Trail's cover photo ... See MoreSee Less

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New Milford River Trail

3 months ago

In case you cannot open link, here is the article from CT Insider Nov. 29, 2025:Completed New Haven–to–Mass. trail could bring millions in spending and hundreds of jobs, study saysBy Eric Bedner,Staff WriterNov 29, 2025An 81-mile trail stretching from New Haven to Northampton, Mass., that is expected to be finished in five to six years likely will lead to significant economic boosts to surrounding areas, including more jobs and higher property values, according to a new analysis.The trail through Connecticut and Massachusetts is just a small section of the overall East Coast Greenway that eventually will run continuously from Maine to Florida. The shared-use path follows the historic north-south route of the Farmington Canal, from New Haven to Northampton. It is already 80% complete (65 miles) and final plans envision a continuous corridor for walking, running and biking with connections to urban districts, town centers, neighborhoods and natural landscapes.Cambridge Econometrics' economic impact analysis released this month shows the potential for significant new revenue streams, jobs and higher property values.“The greenway serves as a major recreational and transportation asset for the region, and a completed trail would further enhance the benefits of the path,” the analysis states.Existing trail segments attract an estimated 800,000 users per year, which could double upon completion, according to the analysis. Trail users tend to spend money on food, accommodations, retail and other items while traveling, which supports local businesses and the overall economy of the region, the analysis says.In total, existing trail users spend an estimated $15.1 million annually, and are expected to spend between $32 million and $53.8 million each year once the trail is completed, according to the analysis.The direct economic impact from trail users likely would spur jobs and economic activity, the analysis states. The existing portion of the trail supports 166 jobs that pay $9.3 million and $32.1 million in total output sales, the analysis says.A completed trail in the region could support between 351 and 582 jobs, earning between $20 million and $33.5 million, and producing between $68.4 million and $114.4 million in output, the analysis states.“The direct economic activity by trail users has a ripple effect through the Massachusetts and Connecticut economies,” driving supply chain activities and increased household income spending, according to the analysis.Local businesses along the trail already have seen a significant increase in business due to the added traffic, the analysis states. These include The Bicycle Cellar in Simbsury, which has seen at least 70% of its sales and almost all rentals primarily used on the trail, the analysis says.Climb City Gym in New Haven, which offers indoor rock climbing and fitness, and hosts parties and events, routinely sees between five and 10 bikes on the rack outside, making it easier for patrons because there is limited parking in the area.A completed trail also could benefit the Merritt Parkway and Route 15 corridors from New Haven to the New York border, according to the analysis. The corridor does not have any existing path infrastructure but originally was designed with space to accommodate bike and pedestrian paths.If a shared-use path were constructed, it could attract an estimated 1.4 million to 1.9 million users each year, generating between $37.3 million and $61 million in direct annual spending, according to the analysis.“This spending would ripple through the Connecticut economy,” the analysis states. “For decades, these trail corridors have been envisioned, planned and advocated for, yet they remain incomplete. Each year the trails remain unfinished represents a missed opportunity for the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Communities, businesses and residents are forgoing the significant economic benefits that completed off-road trails can bring, from increased tourism and local spending to job and business growth.”A 2019 study by the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration details the impact of greenways and trails on nearby property values. While there were outliers with values increasing as much as 15%, the most widespread outcome for single-family homes located near a trail was an increase of between 3% and 5%, according to the study. ... See MoreSee Less

Completed New Haven–to–Mass. trail could bring millions in spending and hundreds of jobs, study says

www.ctinsider.com

The trail through Connecticut and Massachusetts is just a small section of the overall East Coast Greenway that eventually will run continuously from Maine to Florida.

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