Community Heard: Greenwich-Stamford Multi-Use Trail Shelved

In a significant win for local advocacy, the Old Greenwich Association (OGA) annual meeting on Tuesday, February 3, brought the news many residents had been waiting for. Commissioner of the Department of Public Works (DPW), Jim Michael, officially confirmed that the controversial trail project connecting Binney Park to Stamford's Bocccuzzi Park is being sidelined.

The decision comes after a tidal wave of community feedback, with Michael admitting that 64% of residents voiced opposition to the plan. Commissioner Michael noted that while he wouldn't say the project will never return, DPW is not proceeding in the immediate future. The announcement was met with a spontaneous round of applause from the gallery.

While the large-scale trail is stalled, other pedestrian-friendly projects are moving forward. DPW is still conducting a study of a wider sidewalk along Forest Avenue between Binney Park and the Civic Center. Also being assessed is a sidewalk segment (specifically a sidewalk, not a wide trail) along Shore Road between Tomac Road and the Stamford Line. Additionally, a design is moving forward for a sidewalk along Shore Road connecting Sound Beach Avenue to North Crossway. Commissioner Michael noted that easements—contracts to access private property—remain a significant factor and a challenge for all these proposed segments.

Between the Lines: Old Greenwich residents can now breathe a sigh of relief. For now, the quiet charm of the local streets remains intact.

Video here