We’re thrilled to share that Governor Ned Lamont and CT DEEP announced the award of a $100,000 planning grant to the Town of West Hartford for the Tri-Point Greenway concept. If realized, this greenway will expand the Trout Brook Trail and create safer connections for walkers and bikers between Hartford, West Hartford, and Newington. This grant is part of a larger statewide initiative to enhance recreational trails across Connecticut, with $10 million allocated for various projects statewide. More details can be found in the CT DEEP official announcement.
We appreciate the vision of the Tri-Point Greenway, originally proposed by Casey Moran of the Hartford Liveable Coalition in January 2024, which builds on existing and planned trails by local governments. We also appreciate the Town of West Hartford Director of Engineering, Greg Sommer, who collaborated with Bike West Hartford board member Tom Martin on this grant proposal in March 2024. Bike West Hartford proudly submitted a letter of support with the Town of West Hartford’s application, and we are eager to support this and future efforts to create safer transportation for all in our region.
The vision for the project is to make two key connections to bridge the gaps between existing trails:
- Trout Brook Trail to South Branch Trail: Create a 0.95-mile safe link for pedestrians and cyclists from West Hartford’s Trout Brook Trail to Hartford’s future South Branch Trail extension.
- Elmwood to Newington Junction Gap: Plan for a trail connection from the Trout Brook Trail to Newington Junction to provide a multi-use greenway along two different options: Piper Brook (2.25 miles) or Route 173 (1.5 miles).
The next large milestones as outlined in the Town of West Hartford’s March 2024 planning grant application are:
- October 2024: Select a consultant
- May 2025: Finalize the planning study
- Fall 2025: Complete final design
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Town of West Hartford, the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) for their support and collaboration on this project. Their dedication to enhancing our region’s trail system is invaluable, and this grant marks a critical step toward making the Tri-Point Greenway a reality.
Again, a huge thank you to West Hartford leadership for making this happen! 👏👏👏
Explore the interactive concept map.