Bolinsky Announces $170,000 State Grant for Construction of Housatonic Rail Trail, Newtown Extension

NEWTOWN, CT — State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-Newtown) hailed a $170,000 CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 2026 Recreational Trails Grant awarded to the Town of Newtown to support continued construction of the Housatonic Valley Rail Trail (HVRT) Extension.      

Construction is already in process to join the new trail, with the existing Pequonnock River Trail at Newtown’s southern border with Monroe.  When this section is complete, it will connect Newtown to trails as far south as CT's Beardsley Park & Zoo and, potentially, bring users to the Bridgeport shore. 

“Investing in recreational trails is an investment in the vitality of our community, and will bring visitors,” said Rep. Bolinsky. “But before anyone could turn a shovel of dirt and begin, we had to secure necessary agreements from the property-owner, the Housatonic Railroad Company (HRRC), the CT Department of Transportation (DOT), and the United States DOT, for the right to access an existing, unused railroad right of way spur of the Maybrook Line.  If this sounds complicated, that’s because it was!  But – our Newtown Delegation found willing partners in HRRC and Connecticut’s DOT.  The whole process began with a simple walk in the woods, and ended with a no-cost, perpetual agreement making this trail a reality.  We’re very thankful to the Railroad for their generosity, as well as to our town attorney, and to CT DOT for their guidance.”

We’re also grateful for the incredible advocacy of Newtown’s Bike & Trail Committee, especially long-time advocate Greg Carnrick for his passion and persistence in seeing and pursuing a dream, for the support of Newtown’s Economic Development Director, John Voket, and to DEEP for their $170,000 grant award, as well as their vision for an interconnected network of trails.” 

DEEP’s visionary “Recreational Trails Program & Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan” process, is to be administered through the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG).  Newtown’s State Delegation has also submitted a letter of enthusiastic support for the future identification, alignment, and facilitation of connections among Newtown's many multi-purpose trails being linked with the 750-mile Empire State Trail, by way of the Maybrook Rail Trail, to the 81-mile New Haven to Northampton, MA Farmington Canal Trail, and beyond. 

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