- Details
- Category: Past Issues
5 Mile
River gains
'stewards'
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Conservation and stewardship took a giant step forward last week as three towns in the Quiet Corner --- Putnam, Thompson and Killingly --- won a state Greenways designation.
Putnam's Economic and Community Development Director Delpha Very said the announcement, made by state officials at the town's Rotary Park Bandstand, is one more check mark on Putnam's goals on its Plan of Conservation and Development.
Thompson, in coalition with Killingly and Putnam, had applied for the designation with the state Department of Environmental Protection for the 5 Mile River.
Last week the state DEP deputy commissioner, Susan Frechette, announced the award for stewardship of the Greenways. Frechette also took the opportunity to announce the awards made to other towns in Connecticut.
Very said, "Putnam was honored to be chosen as the eastern Connecticut host" for the announcements.
In addition to the Greenways award, Putnam also officially cut the ribbon on the River Trail extension, which runs from the Breault pedestrian bridge down to the new Riverview Marketplace farmers' market.
Very said, the Greenways award "makes the distinction that Putnam, Thompson and Killingly use this (5 Mile River) as a natural resource. That it should be preserved."
The acknowledgment of the Quiet Corner's stewardship will also open funding potential in the future, she said. Should a project along the 5 Mile River need funding, the Greenways designation will give that project "points" in gaining the money.