Plans For Additional Trails Hold Surprise Features At Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

Meandering through a loose maze of imagined wildflower meadows, shade trees, and fitness stations is a tentative dotted line on a map indicating additional trails for Fairfield Hills. The Parks and Recreation Commission members last week took less than five minutes to endorse the conceptual plan. Under consideration by town departments including Parks and Recreation and the Fairfield Hills Authority is a concept for a completed recreational route skirting the campus perimeter with trails surrounding the former state hospital buildings and encompassing the parklike grounds.

Unraveling a rendering provided by Stantec Consulting Services Inc, Parks and Recreation Department Director Amy Mangold’s eyes followed the proposed trail last Wednesday. “I think it’s terrific.” Recreation Commission members quickly moved to support the plan that includes an outdoor theater, seasonal restrooms, and essentially welcomes the public to walk the sprawling grounds.

This week, as Gary Sorge of Stantec Consulting Services Inc explained the design, the Fairfield Hills Authority members moved to accept the trail proposal with variations concerning where and how potential restrooms will be placed, the location and number of workout stations, the placement of plaques identifying historic and natural features, and opted for a public hearing to talk about the plan at 7 pm on June 17, 30 minutes before the regularly scheduled authority meeting would begin.

Mr Sorge described the trail as a feature to “bring people to the campus,” offering an open biking and walking path without interruptions from traffic for a roughly two-and-a-half-mile route. “It’s clear sailing,” he said.

Liking the fact that the trail etched the campus borders, authority Chair Bob Geckle said, “We always maintained that there would not be structures on the perimeter, so I like your idea …”

“By tracing the perimeter, Mr Sorge explained, “You get as much footage as you can.”

Already on site and rolled out at residents’ feet is a paved trail taking people from the Cochran House parking area off Mile Hill South, behind the Newtown Youth Academy, then cutting up toward the High Meadow visible from Wasserman Way. As a hiker looks down at the new youth academy, the meadow’s crest appears ahead. At the top of the rise, hikers emerges from shade and tree cover and can look down toward Wasserman Way. On foot, they will arrive at the cul-de-sac where Mile Hill Road ends.

Newer portions of a trail system will more than double the distance. The trail’s proposed continuation travels from the cul-de-sac, runs parallel with Wasserman Way on Mile Hill Road heading toward Reed Intermediate School, winds through proposed features including banks of flowers, trees, a theater, existing and proposed buildings, and turns the corner at Mile Hill South. The trail continues, taking its course past as many as five exercise stations, seasonal restrooms, and arriving again at the Cochran House.

See the Fairfield Hills website at FairfieldHills.org for updated information.