Bike Walk Avon CT is a volunteer organization made up of area residents and businesses whose mission is to advocate for the promotion, expansion and maintenance of safe and attractive paths for non-motorized transportation within our community.
Avon Town Officials
Avon Town Council
Farmington Valley Trail Council
East Coast Greenway
Bike Walk CT
Avon Land Trust
The town of Avon was settled in 1645 and became known as the Northington section of Farmington. In 1825, encouraged by the success of the Erie Canal, construction of the Farmington Canal was begun, with the hopes that New Haven could successfully compete with the bustling Hartford river port. The canal would facilitate passage of goods from southern CT to central MA. The town was ideally located at the intersection of the Albany Turnpike (connecting Hartford, CT with Albany,NY) and the Farmington Canal (connecting New Haven, CT to Northampton, MA). Hoping to partake in the industrial boom of the time, the town became incorporated in 1830. The canal was completed in 1835, however never turned a profit, therefore by 1847, the route was converted to a railroad passage known as the "Canal Line", which continued to be used in town until 1987.
Around the same time the national rails to trails movement was getting traction under the guidance of the Rails-to-trails Conservancy and a group of local volunteers, the Farmington Canal Rail-to-Trail Association successfully worked with local governments to begin conversion of the path into the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. This trail still follows the 81.2 miles of the original canal. In 1992, the Farmington Valley Trails Council was formed to increase public support and awareness of this project and the first 6 miles of the rail opened in 1996. It continues to be an ongoing collaborative project. Of note, 47.6 miles of our trail has become part of the 3000 mile linear park called the East Coast Greenway connecting the eastern seaboard from Key West, FL to Calais, ME. In 2019, a group of Avon volunteers formed BikeWalkAvonCT to continue the work of these visionary trail advocacy groups.
Co-Chairs: Fran Gurtman & Steven Mitchell
Social Media: Lynne Anderson & Chip Walters
School Liaisons: Amy Finch, Deb Chute, Viet & Nancy Tran
Avon Town Council Chairperson: Dan Polhamus
Avon Town Council Liaisons: Heather Maguire
& Anthony Weber
Avon Assistant Town Manager: Grace Tiezzi
Farmington Valley Trail Council Board Liaison:
Diana Moody
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