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Shoreline citizens are working hard to develop the Shoreline Greenway Trail from Lighthouse Point on New Haven Harbor to Hammonasset Beach in Madison with an immediate goal of establishing the first section of the trail on the ground in 2003.

During the first year, more than 400 citizens have carried out extensive walking, mapping, and planning sessions, and all shoreline citizens are invited to support the effort and join the trail organization by calling or contacting any of the chairmen: Kimber Walter, East Haven, 467-3994; Ginny McParland, Madison, 245-8669; or Chip Angle, Trail Chairman, 453-6065.

Or you can find out about activities and also join by visiting http://www.shorelinegreenwaytrail.org. To join, click on "How Can I Help" and then "Online Interest Form." The email page includes a schedule, and you can attend any of the events or meeting and sign up.

Since the fall of 2002, trail groups have had the dedicated consulting services of John Monroe, one of America's great trail builders. He is Director of the Connecticut Rivers and Trails Program of the National Park Service, U.S. Interior Department.

The Shoreline Greenway Trail is a tax-exempt corporation. Town groups have a majority on the new corporate Board of Directors, and in April, 2003 the new corporation held its first annual meeting, celebrating a year of achievement and elected officers and board members.

The trail has been supported in proclamations and letters by all state legislators representing the four towns, by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman, by the selectmen of Guilford, Madison, and Branford, by the mayor of East Haven, and many civic, recreation, and land preservation groups.

Less than two years ago, citizens organized under the auspices of the Guilford Preservation Alliance to develop the trail for non-motorized recreation and transit through East Haven, Branford, Guilford and Madison. Their stated mission is to provide a trail that is safe from motorized vehicles, will facilitate connections with railroad stations, village centers, schools and other trails, and will be accessible to adults of all ages, youngsters, walkers, hikers, baby-carriage pushers, commuters, joggers, cyclists, cross-country skiers, and all who love the outdoors.

The trail will also connect to the East Coast Greenway now under development so that in the future a local resident will be able to bike, jog or walk on a greenway trail from the Connecticut shoreline all the way down to Florida or up to Maine.