Politics & Government

Farmington Residents Invited to Give Input on Trails

Community conversation will be held Oct. 3 at the Community and Senior Center.

Farmington residents are invited to join in a community conversation about the town’s trails, public and private, sponsored by the town.

The evening, to be held Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Community and Senior Center, is intended to find out how residents use the town’s trails, their opinions on them and to get residents’ input on what they’d like to see in the future.

The idea originated with Town Council member John Vibert, who asked that the meeting be added to the town’s strategic goals.

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“I’m looking for information about what the trails are, what the plans are, I want to know how people feel about the trails and what they want,” Vibert said by phone Friday. “When I ran for the Town Council three years ago I talked to a lot of people who really treasure the trails and want to see them expanded.

Vibert said a new trail is being planned off Town Farm Road, thanks to the suggestion of a resident, and more opportunities may exist.

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The Oct. 3 program will begin with a presentation by Russ Arnold, Farmington Public Works director, which will detail the town’s current inventory of trails as well as discuss plans for expansion and improvement. 

The conversation will include Farmington’s Rails to Trials, which has a plan for expansion into Plainville, as well as the Metacomet trails, those in the Farmington Memorial Forest and any others residents bring up.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years, the town has been pretty active in open space acquisition. When you get a parcel of land, that’s one of the things you can do with it for passive recreation, is put a trail in,” Vibert said.  

Who does the maintenance on Farmington’s trails will be another subject of the discussion, and how much is necessary. Currently the town makes repairs along the Rails to Trails areas, while volunteers pick up litter.

“For any Farmington resident who hikes, bikes or walks, this evening is a must. This is an opportunity to learn about Farmington’s trails, to comment on your experiences with the trails, and to provide your thoughts about their future,” says a press release from the town on the event. The Community and Senior Center is at 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville.


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