| 1994 |
Oak Valley
Trail at Shelton Lakes is officially opened in October with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The trail is created on City land located next to Water Company property that will soon be
sold as "surplus" land. |
| 1995 |
Oak Valley Trail is extended and a
bridge is built in early spring. Huntington Woods, a controversial condominium development
by Monty Blakeman that would block the Rec Path, is defeated. The developer goes back to
the drawing board and comes back with a development that accomodates the Rec Path and
reduces the building density. |
| 1996 |
Nell's
Rock Trail is created at Shelton Lakes on property originally purchased by the City to
be used as a landfill. Eagle Scouts build a bridge for Oak Valley Trail. |
| 1997 |
Shelton Trails
website is launched (www.borntoexplore.org/trails). Dominick Trail
(southern portion) is built. City Referendum held to buy water company property
passes. |
| 1998 |
The City of Shelton takes
ownership of water company property, including 234 acres at Shelton Lakes. The Shelton
Lakes Public Open Space is now about 450 acres (the area is added to over the years via
smaller purchases and acquisitions during subdivisions). Trail volunteers
immediately extend Dominick and Oak ValleyTrails onto the new property. They also
begin clearing a route for the Rec Path. |
| 1999 |
Riverview
Trail is refurbished, improved and extended at Riverview Park. Much of the Rec Path route is cleared as a hiking trail at Shelton Lakes. |
| 2000 |
March 22: Shelton receives an award from the CT DEP for its Greenway Program. In June nearly
100 people show up for a guided hike on Nell's Rock Trail. Gristmill
Trail is opened on Mill Street, along the Far Mill River. The trail complex at Shelton
Lakes receives Millenium Statue from the Whitehouse. We got a certificate, a letter from
Hillary and we get to use the official Millenium Trail logo. |
| 2001 |
Shelton awarded $100,000 state
grant for the Rec Path: Representative Beldon, Terrance Gallagher, and the Shelton Trails
Committee and Conservation Commission worked hard to secure funds for this project. Turkey Trot Trail is created at Shelton Lakes. Scouts build a
kiosk and bridges for Oak Valley trail. In December a portion of the Rec Path is paved, in
conjuction with construction of the new Middle School |
| 2002 |
In January, 66 people show up
for a guided winter hike at Shelton Lakes. The Board of Aldermen vote to rename all three
"Shelton Reservoirs" to Hope Lake, Pine Lake and Silent Waters. Formerly they
are all called Shelton Reservoir. Scouts install a kiosk at Dominick Trail on Shelton Ave
(c 2002). A new bridge was installed over the dam at Pine Lake (formerly Shelton
Reservoir). This is located at the beginning of the Rec Path and is one of two bridges Rec
Path bridges acquired with grant money. |
| 2003 |
The weir at "Silent
Waters" (the smallest of the three reservoirs") is rebuilt and the pond water
raised. |
| 2004 |
A kiosk and bench are installed
by Scouts on Gristmill Trail. Other Scouts install a kiosk at Pine Lake for the Rec Path.
The second Rec Path bridge we acquired through a grant was installed, but not in the
located originally intended. It is installed in Huntington Center, in a location the path
should eventually link to. The Rec Path Route is extended
to Huntington Woods, a new subdivision between Aspetuck Village and Buddington Road,
providing access to Wesley Drive and Great Oak, although the route is not yet officially
marked or opened. Scouts clear out a new parking area for Nells Rock Trail across
from Chordas Pond and L'Hermitage Condos. The City is awarded a $49,000 State grant
to build a bridge and install handrails for the Rec Path on the dam at Silent Waters. |
Above: Diehard trail volunteers Bill Dyer,
Tom Harbinson, Bob Wilkins and Terry Gallagher (click photo to enlarge). Much of the
work done during the past ten years was done by these four guys.
Ten Miles in Ten Years: