Community Corner

East Coast Greenway Fundraising Bike Tour Stops in Farmington

The town of Farmington is planning to add signage on the Farmington Valley Canal Heritage Trail, which comprises 45 miles of the developing bike route from Maine to Florida.

Cyclists riding 307 miles from Hartford to Philadelphia this week stopped in Farmington Monday morning as part of a fundraiser for a 2,900-mile east coast bike route from the Maine-Canada border to Key West, FL.

Bicycle Friendly Farmington and the East Coast Greenway Alliance gathered at the Red Oak Hill Road entrance to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail that morning to not only support the East Coast Greenway route efforts, but also to kickoff a bike trail project planned in Farmington. 

The town of Farmington will be adding "wayfinding signage" to its section of the trail that "can be used by experienced bicyclists to help guide them along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, connecting Simsbury to New Haven and beyond to Florida or Maine," according to a statement from the town.

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is part of the East Coast Greenway route for about 45 miles, according to the East Coast Greenway Alliance's website. 

Forty-five bikers are participating in the East Coast Greenway Alliance's annual Week-a-Tour until Aug. 24, committing to raise $500 each for the East Coast Greenway route, according to the organization's website.  

Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano told the Hartford Courant that the organization is also working with the Farmington Valley Trails Council on the local section of the bike route project. 

So far, more than 800 miles, or about 28 percent, of the trail has been completed and it "will eventually be entirely on greenway separated from car traffic," according to the alliance's website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here