Sold out Ride the State: Connecticut set for Saturday

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - The Farmington Valley Trails Council, Farmington Canal Rail to Trail Association and the East Coast Greenway Alliance are teaming up to host Ride the State: Connecticut, a 56-mile bicycle ride to highlight the need to close the remaining gaps in the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail segment of the East Coast Greenway on Saturday, June 24.

Capped at 150 participants, the ride sold out for the second straight year in just over three weeks. Proceeds from the event will help go toward completion of the marquee Connecticut portion of the East Coast Greenway. 

The ride will begin at 8 a.m. at the southwest corner of New Haven Green (corner of Chapel and College Streets) at the Pierre Lallement Memorial Stone. The ride is scheduled to end at 3 p.m. in Southwick, Massachusetts. 

The majority of the ride, from New Haven to Southwick, Massachusetts, is on the extensive, flat Farmington Canal Heritage Trail system with only a few sections on carefully selected local roads. There will be two rest stops, a support vehicle and a police escort on Route 10.

"Annually, Ride the State: Connecticut brings together many local partners and supporters of the East Coast Greenway for a fun-filled, 56-mile ride. The demand for this year’s event is unprecedented and shows the remarkable support for the East Coast Greenway in our state," said Bruce Donald, Southern New England Manager for the East Coast Greenway Alliance. "This event is a tremendous celebration of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, while also highlighting the need to complete this important active transportation corridor." 

Ride the State: Connecticut begins at the New Haven Green and passes through 11 Connecticut towns before it reaches Southwick, Massachusetts. Most of the trail features off-road travel providing a safe system of linear parks that can be accessed at multiple points. The trails serve multiple positive purposes for their communities and the surrounding region. Only two gaps remain – in New Haven and the Plainville area.

Lunch will take place in Avon, showcasing the brand-new Avon Village Center Project at Climax Road and the intersection of the trail just past Route 44.   

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail passes through the following towns: New Haven, Hamden, Cheshire, Southington, Plainville, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, East Granby, Granby and Suffield.

Connecticut DEEP and the Connecticut Department of Transportation are working together to expand the trail system making use of trails more attractive for residents and visitors to Connecticut, and support for greenways and trails continues to grow. Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced $1.3 million in Connecticut Recreational Trails Program state grants to plan, build, expand and improve eight East Coast Greenway segments, part of record support for trails all over the state.