Descripción
Along the East bank of the Mill River between State Street and Humphrey Street along the Western property line of the old CT Transit site lies a great trail opportunity with little upfront cost to tax-payers.
Readying this connection for a trail will pave the way for recreational access between East Rock Park and Grand Avenue.
We have spoken with City Plan and City Engineering and it appears that this is a reasonable request and use for the river shores.
We have also spoken to State Representative Roland Lemar who supports the project and believes that with interest from resident's demonstrated we can get a trail funded here.
If you would use this area recreationally or would like to see this trail created please vote up this issue and share it with neighbors. As organizers we would like to see that there is real interest(50 or more votes might convince us :) from the community before we organize to push the issue to the State.
If you have thoughts in support or opposition please add them in the comments!
Let's make the Mill River something New Haven can be proud of again.
100 Comentars
Cerrado David Budries (Usuario registrado)
Who is a key contact person?
db
Reopened BB (Usuario registrado)
Thanks David!
For now Ben Berkowitz and JR. Logan: ctwebnet@gmail.com and johnrichardlogan@gmail.com.
We would love to come talk about it at the next East Rock Meeting.
Bob Frew (Usuario registrado)
Steve Victor (Usuario registrado)
Andrushka (Usuario registrado)
apellegrino81 (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Zoraya (Invitado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
The offers for volunteering are awesome. I think the initial volunteer effort might be in getting out the word and bringing more supporters to the table! Once we get a plan from the City we could likely go in and start to do some brush clearing.
If you work or live nearby please share this issue for vote from your work and home neighbors.
BB
Paul Wessel (Usuario registrado)
"As organizers we would like to see that there is real interest(50 or more votes might convince us :) from the community before we organize to push the issue to the State"
I am proud to have been vote #50.
:)
BB (Usuario registrado)
PAUL WESSEL FTW!!! Thank You all for the support. The wind is in our sails.
BB
abgoode (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Ravenclaw (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Quietly On Q-Ave. (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
The theory from the City Engineer is that connecting to East Rock Park through the baseball fields would be the short cut for now. Later, we could go under the underpasses!
guest (Invitado)
guest (Invitado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
David Budries (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
Bob Frew (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Hi Bob,
The initial request is for the City to provide plans for implementation and the State DOT to provide some extra funding.
We are going to present the idea at the next East Rock Management team meeting. After that we should pick a Saturday and meet on site to discuss next steps that could be helpful to move this quickly.
Bob Frew (Usuario registrado)
This idea has great potential. It is the missing link to connect the sound to the trails that exist around east rock. I will be available whenever to talk about this. I am in Scotland right now and will return tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you.
Regards, Bob
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
David Budries, to my understanding the tidal gate is in place to reduce the impact of tides up stream. With this trail project the tidal gate is a benefit because it serves as a bridge across the river. I have found that portaging around the gate is fairly simple. With few changes it could be made even easier to pull out your boat and get it around the gate.
The gate works by using big one way flaps that lets water out but slows salt water from getting up stream during high tide. I assume this is to make water levels consistent around heavily used areas of East Rock park. To some extent, because fresh water coming down stream is blocked when ties are high, we get a small freshwater tidal effect from the pooling water north of the tidal gate. This fresh water tidal ecosystems are not something we see much in our area, to interesting in that it is novel. It also make the water upstream of the gate less salty. I am not an expert on the ecological impacts but it is pretty obvious that there is a negative impact in that it creates a barrier to fish headed up stream. For example at times I have seen large numbers of shad. Shad is an anadromous fish that are born in freshwater and, swim to the sea to feed and mature, then return to the rivers of their birth to spawn. I am attaching a picture of of a school which was at the tide gate apparently trying to get further up stream. It is not clear to me if if they can get through when the gates open at low tide. In some places tide gates have been modified to allow easier fish passage.
All this is to say that this entire river is an exciting and ecologically interesting area. With only a few minutes walk you can experience fresh and salt water zones, it has serene natural corridors through East Rock Park and urbanized and historical areas to the South. I hope that a walking trail becomes an asset that will bring to people's attention the natural assets we have and introduce them to some of the otherwise hidden spectacles such as the fish migration.
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
abgoode (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Aaron, that is a great write-up. We really need to make this happen this time. There have been so many failed attempts.
Is there a group of folks that would want to lead the effort to create a trail behind Wilbur Cross?
Andy Montelli (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Andy,
That is awesome. The Starr Supply residential project will add a ton of new residents right at the access point to the water.
Thanks for offering to assist!
City of New Haven (Oficial verificado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
A quick update that the City Engineer has created a first drawing of the route along the bus property. Progress!
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
Diane Panasci (Usuario registrado)
Kevin (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Hi Kevin,
That's a good question. While the initial numbers proposed are a drop in the bucket compared to the State deficit a trail like this can get pretty far with volunteers and donations from citizens and local businesses.
Getting an understanding of the initial cost for the CT Transit site will be helpful.
BB
BB (Usuario registrado)
Maria (Usuario registrado)
Tucker (Usuario registrado)
Mahfouz (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
A few of us went out and cleared some brush along the public rite of way between State and James yesterday.
Here's a photo of one of the temporary trail markers we placed along the route.
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
Tomorrow at 2:00 PM we will clear some more of the trail along the old CT Transit property. Meet us at the Ralph Walker rink. Bring clippers, machete, bear saw or other clearing tools. We don't need a ton of hands but could use a few.
You can message me at 203.415.6878 if you need to find us and you come late.
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
Paul Wessel (Usuario registrado)
Katie Timlin (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Some updates:
Yale grad students with an on-campus org came out on Friday to see how they can assist.
Kip Bergstrom from State DECD came out to see how he can assist.
Pamela Soto with Yale Forestry and City Plan has been joining us on the trail and at community meetings like the one we attended in Fair Haven last Monday. The support has been tremendous.
Roland Lemar mentioned that the State should help out with the trail in relationship to the State Street Bridge being shut down for so long. Read the article here: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/state_bridge_set_to_reopen_in_2016_maybe/
Paul Wessel (Usuario registrado)
zbeat (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
JR,
I am planning on meeting folks at 1:00 PM on Saturday. Do you want to organize some clearing and clean-up around that time as well?
Paul has an itching to get his hands dirty.
BB
Paul Wessel (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
Thomas Burwell (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
Paul Wessel (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
The City Engineer and Head of Traffic and Parking came out today to walk the trail. They were both very enthusiastic about the progress.
We discussed new infrastructure that would be needed such as trail gates and improved tidal gate railings. JR, Paul and a new trail-goer Eliza also came out and picked up garbage.
Thanks to all. Its looking better everyday!
BB
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
AEIOU Y (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Let's hope our efforts so far convince the developer to favor the water facing piece of the property in their plans!
AEIOU Y (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
mathurin25 (Usuario registrado)
Diane Panasci (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
mathurin25 (Usuario registrado)
neighbor (Invitado)
Diane Panasci (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
Hi folks,
Some exciting updates:
1) The City has ordered trail signs as of yesterday
2) State DEEP has awarded CONH a grant to commence work on the trail near the State Street bridge.
A huge thank you to Donna, Anne, Giovanni and others in City Hall for all the progress on this!
BB
mathurin25 (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
David Budries (Usuario registrado)
I was at the ribbon curing ceremony @ DISTRICT, 470 James Street today, and Mayor Harp also mentioned the trail.
Great work!
db
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
BB (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
The Mayor is making an announcement at 1:30 today about the future of the trail. Come out and show support at John Murphy Drive behind 470 James Street at the the trail head.
Facebook group here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/mill.river.trail/
BB (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
Here is a like to let us know you are going to come to our next, and final work day.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1798709287031004/
Jr Logan (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
zbeat (Usuario registrado)
zbeat (Usuario registrado)
BenHV (Usuario registrado)
Rebecca Bombero, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (Oficial verificado)
Reconocido Rebecca Bombero, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (Oficial verificado)
Lisa Kaston (Usuario registrado)
Christel (Usuario registrado)
Pedestrian (Usuario registrado)