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Norwalk River Valley Trail Plans Demo Ceremony In Wilton

WILTON, Conn. -- The Norwalk River Valley Trail will mark the start of construction on its  “demonstration trail” on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. in Wilton.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on the trail at Gaylord Drive North on the northbound side of Route 7 near the junction with Route 106 (Wolfpit Road) in Wilton. Sen. Toni Boucher, Rep. Gail Lavielle, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, and Wilton First Selectman Bill Brennan will be among the dignitaries in attendance.

The public is encouraged to come. Parking for the public is available at the commuter parking lot  just north of Orem’s Diner. Visitors are encouraged to proceed to the ceremony via the Wolfpit and Route 7 crosswalks and the short section of trail to Gaylord Drive North,

The NRVT envisions a 38-mile multi-purpose route from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Rogers Park in Danbury. Breaking ground on the demonstration trail will mark a significant step forward. Sections of the NRVT that piggybacked on pioneer projects and existing trail are already in use in Norwalk and Wilton.The demonstration trail marks the first construction under the NRVT name, and the first new trail in several years.

The demonstration trail will run one-half  from Route 7 to Raymond Lane, and will be the first section of the east-side “Wilton Loop.” It will offer residents of the five NRVT communities a chance to experience what much of the finished product will feel like – a 10-foot-wide packed cinder trail that is ideal for biking, walking, running and wheelchair access. The demonstration trail will include 155 feet of boardwalk.

The demonstration trail will take 6-8 weeks to complete, weather permitting. It has been designed by Vermont-based Timber and Stone LLC to fit the land’s natural contours and features, which will minimize disturbance and tree loss.

The demonstration trail was made possible by donations from the community, notably a $125,000 "challenge grant" from Betsy and Jesse Fink and a $50,000 contribution from the Jansen Family. The NRVT anticipates completing the rest of the east-side Wilton Loop up to Pimpewaug Road in 2014. The involvement of the community is essential to raise the estimated $1.6 million needed for the project.

People interested in contributing to the construction of the NRVT Wilton Center Loop, or the project as a whole, can send a tax-deductible contribution to "The Friends of the NRVT" P.O. Box 174, Georgetown, CT 06829.  

For general information about the NRVT, contact info@nrvt-trail.com, or call Patricia Sesto, Chairman of the NRVT project at 203-563-0180. More information on the NRVT is also on Facebook.

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