The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Greenways Council announced that they are now soliciting nominations for official state greenway designations.
Greenways are an integral part of any community, offering recreational opportunities, providing alternate transportation options, helping to preserve the environment, and supporting economic development. Greenways can make a community a more attractive place to live by connecting living spaces with the environment, and they preserve history and cultivate town pride.
DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty says, “Greenways connect the places we live with the places we love. Located in many communities throughout our state, greenways protect natural resources, preserve scenic landscapes and provide easy access to the outdoors while connecting to a greater system of open space or pathways for the enjoyment of all.”
An official designation by the Greenways Council recognizes a greenway as an open space that not only meets the definition of a greenway, but also enhances the community and is supported by local government initiatives. Designated greenways, both for recreation and resource protection, will be listed in a subsequent revision of the State Plan of Conservation and Development and may receive increased consideration for a variety of grants. There are currently 63 designated greenways in Connecticut.
The Greenways Council will evaluate all nominated greenways for consistency with designation criteria. Those selected for designation will be announced by the Greenways Council in conjunction with their National Trails Day event in June.
The deadline for submission of nominations is May 1, 2011.
The nomination form is available as a word document or PDF and is found at: http://www.ct.gov/dep/greenways.
The preferred method for submission of completed nomination forms is by e-mail to Tenia.Seay@ct.gov, and digital photos and maps are preferred (digital photos of hard copy maps are acceptable). Nominations may also be submitted on CD or other electronic storage device and can be mailed to Tenia Seay, DEEP, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127.
