Shelton, Connecticut
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Ten Years of Trails   1994-2004
A Timeline

Prologue:
1940's: The Paugussett Trail traverses the entire length of Shelton. Over the years, most of it is cut off by development. Four miles of the trail remain in Shelton. Ironically, the trail is cut off by a street named "Thoreau Drive" after the famous naturalist, Henry David Thoreau.  There is also a short trail at Riverview Park overlooking the Housatonic River which may date back to the 1800s (when people would line the banks to watch rowing races), but it falls into disrepair as the bank becomes covered with trees, blocking the view.

Early 1990s: The Conservation Commission and Open Space Committee envision a Shelton Lakes Greenway anchored by a paved Recreation Path that connects downtown Shelton to Huntington Center. The idea is supported by just about everyone at the City and backed by the formal Open Space Plan of 1993. Well over one hundred acres in the Shelton Lakes region was already held by the City, but was not yet being used for anything. Over the next ten years these groups work hard to ensure that the Rec Path route is saved from development. They continue to do so. Nicholdale Farm is acquired by the Shelton Land Trust as a result of the Iroquois Gas Pipeline being built. Scouts use the land and create one mile of public trail there.  

 Bill, Tom, Bob & Terry - med.jpg (47189 bytes)

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:

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.