House Republican Press Release

October 23, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Representative Frey: Ridgefield To Receive $50,000 For Recreation Trail

State Representative John H. Frey, R-Ridgefield, today announced the Town of Ridgefield will receive a $50,000 grant to develop a recreational trail at the new Recreation Center complex. Funding will develop the first phase of the project, which will later include construction of the 4,500-foot trail.

The 10-foot-wide trail will be suitable for many outdoor activities including, hiking, biking, rollerblading, walking and jogging. Long-term plans for the recreation center also call for an outdoor pool and tennis courts and the trail will traverse the facility. It will tie the center to the town’s existing Rails to Trails walkway and feature views of a pond and Ridgefield Brook, providing access to passive recreation pastures and wetlands as well.

 “This is excellent news for our community,” said Rep. Frey. “The trail will be something that can be used by a wide variety of people and serve as a key part of the recreation center. I’m thankful Governor Rell was supportive of the town’s request for this funding.”

Rep. Frey said that Parks and Recreation Director Paul Roche also was to be commended.  “Paul and I have talked about increasing the number of trails in town for years, particularly trails suitable for biking.  The Danbury Road site is ideal and Paul deserves credit for pursuing this project.”

The Ridgefield facility is one of 18 projects in Connecticut that will receive funding under this year’s recreational grants program.  The maximum award amount was $50,000.  The grant money is made available through the National Recreational Trails Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.  Funds are distributed to the states through a formula established by Congress. 

Connecticut’s portion of the funds is awarded to applicants through a competitive process administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the State Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee, which represents a broad spectrum of trail users.

Funds for the Recreational Trails Program are drawn from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax.  Grants are offered each year through DEP’s State Parks Division.