by Tom O’Brien
New Milford residents seeking a safe and scenic spot to ride a bike (or go for a run) no longer have to leave town. Late last fall, heavy equipment from the town’s Public Works Department rolled into Sega Meadows Park and re-graded a long-neglected dirt road to create the first non-motorized leg of the New Milford River Trail, a greenway that’s planned to follow the Housatonic River from Gaylordsville to Harrybrooke Park.
What once was little more than roots, rocks, and tall grass, is now a smooth, non-paved, surface that’s ideal for hybrids and mountain bikes, and gentle on runners’ knees. The Sega Meadows portion of the trail runs for 1 1/2 miles from Boardman Bridge to River Road; and from there, the New Milford River Trail continues on to Gaylordsville as a shared use pathway (slow-moving cars allowed).
The distance from the Sega Meadows entrance at Boardman Bridge to the Gaylordsville Country Store is exactly 5 miles, an easy ride for families with young children who are looking forward to ice cream and cld drinks at the store.
Parking is limited in front of the Boardman entrance, but additional space is available across the bridge. There’s also a parking lot at the north entrance to Sega Meadows.
Besides enhancing recreational opportunities for area residents, the New Milford River Trail will be a vital link in the Western New England Greenway, a network of trails in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont that will one day connect Montreal with New York City. For more information, find us on Facebook.