There are three ongoing regional conservation efforts occurring now that Ridgefield is benefiting from. Two are inter-municipal trails, one for hiking and the other for both biking and hiking. The third is a land conservation and stewardship program. The Ridgefield Conservation Commission is involved in all three; the Land Conservancy of Ridgefield is partnering in the stewardship program. All three are dependent on community volunteers for their success.
Ives Trail
The oldest of the three projects, the Ives Trail, was initiated more than 10 years ago. It is a hiking trail that travels for more than 20 miles from Ridgefield through Danbury and Bethel to Redding. It is largely complete. A few sections are still being improved but all are passable. This year the public is invited to the annual meeting of the board of the Trail at Tarrywile Park in Danbury on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. A hike of a section of the trail will follow a presentation. More information may be found on the Facebook page of the Ives Trail and Greenway.
Norwalk to Danbury
The other trail project is the Norwalk Valley Trail, which was conceptualized several years ago. When complete it will be a 30-mile trail that will go from Norwalk to Danbury. It is to be bikable with portions that may allow horses and sections that are wheelchair-accessible. Each of the towns that the trail passes over has the primary responsibility for developing the trail in its town. Wilton has moved forward faster than any other town and has completed several lovely sections that are now enjoyed by many. Ridgefield is starting to develop its first section, which will run from the Danbury border to Great Pond. A trail work project on this section is being held on May 9, and a hike over the section will be held on June 6. Information about these events is on the NRVT website.
Regional conservation
The stewardship project is an outgrowth of the efforts of the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership. This group was formed five years ago under the leadership of Bill Labich, who is at the Highstead in Redding. It has brought together most of the land trusts of Fairfield County and some of the conservation commissions to share ideas and look for opportunities to join with one another in conservation efforts. Last year a U.S. Forest Service grant was obtained by the partnership to encourage conservation and stewardship by landowners. There will be a series of meetings to which selected landowners will be invited. This project will not only cross town boundaries in Fairfield County but will also cross the state border and include towns in northern Westchester.
Ridgefield has always had its wonderful outdoor spaces, 2,500 acres of open space and 50 miles of its own trails, both supervised by the Conservation Commission and its volunteer rangers. The new trails will add greatly to what is already here. The stewardship program will improve what we already have. These are exciting opportunities. They all provide opportunity for volunteers and would welcome their participation.
Links and more information may be found on the Ridgefield Conservation Commission website.