Biking, Boarding And Blading Around Fairfield Hills

By Jeff White

Through the normally quiet, vacant grounds of Fairfield Hills last Saturday, fourth-grader Andrew Rothenburg raced down the road, his feet balanced precariously on his bicycle seat.

For a bike and roller blade enthusiast like Andrew, the Newtown Youth Services annual Bike, Boards and Blades day provided a perfect excuse to get out an enjoy the mild autumn weather. A total of four distinct courses, varying in length from 1 to 14 miles, were available to families and individuals, no matter what their preferred means of conveyance.

“Newtown is an awesome biking town, with all the foliage and good views,” Andrew’s father said. Andrew’s family just moved to Newtown, and for someone who loves riding his bike, he is unable to ride around his neighborhood for a lack of sidewalks.

Fairfield Hills has always been a favorite biking ground for the Heart sisters, Alex, 10, and Brianna, 5. According to Alex, her family tries to come up here at least three times a month. The network of side streets gives the abandoned hospital a traffic-free isolation, different from Alex’s Fawnwood Road home. “You have to worry about cars,” she explained.

From the very young to teenagers, kids came out to spend time with their families and show off their biking skills. The bikes took different forms: mountain bikes, 10-speeds, bikes with training wheels, tricycles and unicycles.

Bicyclists competed with skateboarders and roller bladers. Andrew Rothenburg dug his blades out of the back of his father’s car.

For Randy Calderone and Tim Gordon, last Saturday afternoon provided a good chance for the two practice their sport, skateboarding, a sport that both believe is not the most accepted in Newtown.

“Newtown is not a skateboarding town,” said Randy, a junior in high school. Both agree that hot skateboarding sites in Newtown include the middle and high school, plus the parking lot of Stop-and-Shop. The two high schoolers prefer terrain that tests their nerves, like old stair railings that they can slide their boards down.

Youth Services board member Bob Shpunt noted a decrease in the number of skateboarders and roller bladers this year. “You don’t get that many blades and boards any more. I think boards have phased out a little bit.

“Biking has begun to be more popular; you see a lot more bikers on the road. This [day] gives us an organized way of getting people together,” Mr Shpunt said.

The O’Conner family of Scudder Road has been biking in town for a few years now. The favorite spots for four-year old Dylan, besides the O’Conners’ driveway, is Dickinson Park.

Donna O’Conner wishes Newtown had an extended track for bike riding. “I’d like to see Rails to Trails [in Newtown] like in Monroe,” she said, referring to the Newtown neighbor’s effort to pave abandoned railway tracks to make extra long bike tracks.

Bikes, Boards and Blades day utilized the same routes that have been used over the past three years. Members of the Youth Services board took a ride of their own around town when originally planning the bike routes. A key aspect in route design, according to Mr Shpunt, was keeping main street crossing at a minimum.

The result was two courses that made use of the Fairfield Hills property, while two other paths — one 9 miles and another 14 miles — stretched out across town.

Food stations were set up, with student volunteers manning the two food stalls around Fairfield Hills, and still two others at isolated stations along Boggs Hill and Brushy Hill roads.

Every participant qualified for a prize, ranging from water bottles and key chains to show laces and sunglasses. There was also a raffle drawing for a brand new mountain bike, skateboard and a gift certificate for G P Cheffields.

Although the event was a key fund-raiser for Newtown Youth Services, Mr Shpunt acknowledged that the day was designed more for fun. Although the turnout was lower than in past years, fellow board member Bob Stowell pointed out that those who were out enjoying the warmer-than-average temperature were having a good time. 

And for 2-1/2-year-old Nolan Fisher, the day was a chance to throw on a pair of sunglasses, hop on a tricycle, and ride like the wind.