Gavin Arneth remembers the view after getting off his bike and looking downhill at Main Street. A member of the Newtown Bike & Trails Committee, Mr Arneth was remembering an iconic scene of church steeples and the flagpole visible from Nettleton Preserve off Castle Hill Road, which rises above Main Street and its intersection with Church Hill Road.

“I walked the Fairfield Hills trails today. We’re fortunate to have the trails,” said Maureen Crick-Owen, who had attended the January 15 committee meeting. That evening, committee members and attendees each recounted a favorite Newtown trail memory for the benefit of National Park Service advisors Stephanie Stroud and Stephan Bastrzycki. The guests, members of the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, are currently assisting the committee to plan for future stewardship and projects at local parks and trails.

Representing Newtown Forest Association (NFA) was Harvey Pessin, who noted that Al’s trail “runs across a lot of our properties — we’ll cooperate as best we can,” in any trail revitalization or upgrade efforts.

Parks & Recreation Department Director Amy Mangold has “so many memories of hiking and horseback riding in town.” Her department, along with the town and Fairfield Hills Authority members, has worked in recent years to improve and expand trails at Fairfield Hills.

“It’s exciting. I never imagined how popular the trails at Fairfield Hills would be,” she said.

A familiar sight to travelers on Wasserman Way passing the Fairfield Hills campus are the many walkers, joggers, children on bikes, and leashed pets.

Committee advisor Paula Burton spoke about an “interesting experience at Fairfield Hills.” She said a “huge dump of snow,” with six-foot drifts “was gorgeous,” as she went snowshoeing.

Naming a “centennial watershed trail” as his favorite was Chaz Forester, who “went out snowshoeing. It was so beautiful and quiet, and branches were hanging.”

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Pat Barczak has been in town for 40 years, he said. He lives off of Grand Place near Queen Street, which borders open fields leading to a portion of Fairfield Hills behind Reed Intermediate School. He enjoys “cutting through nearby trails.”

“The waterfall in the Lower Paugussett [State Forest] is like a crystal cathedral,” said Ken Kerin. The waterfall is deep in the woods along trails leading from the cul-de-sac where Great Quarter Road ends.

Committee member Geordie Elkins also enjoys wintry hikes.

“I like hiking and walking trails in the snow — it’s so quiet,” he mentioned.

Snowshoeing at Holcombe Hill, which is another prominent NFA property off of Great Hill Road, is a favorite for Greg Ritzinger.

Peter Cloudas, also a committee advisor, said “It’s hard to name a spot.” He noted that “snow records activity — what nighttime creatures are doing.” He went out with a “lamp” and recalls seeing “a light” that he thought was a “predator creature.” The next day he went out in daylight and saw “big cat paws” that had followed him along a ridge.

Committee Chair Brid Craddock enjoys cross country skiing at Holcombe Hill. During one visit, she said, she “kept seeing a dog. Everywhere we went, he went, and I realized I was being monitored by a coyote.”

March 8 Open House/Symposium

On Sunday, March 8, from 11 am until 1 pm, at Newtown Community Center, members of the committee plan to host an outdoor recreation open house/symposium. Residents are invited to drop in at any time between the listed hours.

A flier states, “Come learn about initiatives for improving walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding and more.” It also explains the NPS assistance grant: “Newtown Bike and Trails Committee was recently awarded a grant from the National Parks Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. Come learn about this exciting work and how you can be involved in improving bike and trail opportunities here in town.”

Volunteer opportunities include trail and GIS mapping, a trail ambassador program, a trail census program, maintenance crews, and a Friends of Newtown Trails Society.

Upcoming events and activities include a children’s bike lending program, a bike-friendly community initiative, bike repair clinics, family bike nights, and guided hikes.

The Newtown Bike & Trails Committee supports development, maintenance, and enjoyment of interconnected sidewalks, trails, and roadways for recreation and nonmotorized transportation uses. The committee promotes safe way for residents to travel, connect, and enjoy the town and the surrounding area on foot, bicycle, or horseback.

Find them on Facebook, or at newtown-ct.gov. Contact the committee at Newtown Bike and Trails Committee at 203-448-0758.