New Haven: Historic Walking Tour of the Farmington Canal

Saturday, May 3rd, 2 pm

Explore 200 years of transportation history on the Farmington Canal corridor, from the canal era to the railroad era to the beloved multi-use trail that has been developed since the 1980s (thanks in part to the support and advocacy of Preservation Connecticut). Learn about the engineers, entrepreneurs, financiers, dreamers, and immigrant laborers who built the Canal and made New Haven into the diverse and thriving community that it remains today. We will discuss murals, historic sites and other place-making efforts along the Farmington Canal Greenway that have made the Greenway one of the signature places in New Haven. We will also update you on the progress of “Phase IV” (a new segment of the Trail being constructed in downtown New Haven) and efforts to close the remaining gaps in the Trail in Southington and Plainville.

We will be joined on the walk by a couple special guest speakers including representatives of the Amistad Committee who will discuss how, and why, they commissioned the William Lanson statue on the trail. We will also end our walk at the Newhallville Learning Corridor where we will hear from representatives of the Community Place-making & Engagement Network (CPEN) about their enriching place-making activities on and near the trail.

Aaron Goode, Walk Leader

Anticipated Duration: 1.5-2 hours

Start Location: William Lanson Plaza (intersection of Farmington Canal and Sachem Street)