New Hartford residents can now take a
lovely, short stroll along a trail by the
Farmington River in town center thanks to
the cooperative efforts of Land Trust board
members and volunteers, an aspiring Eagle
Scout, and town leaders and staff. Generous
donations to the Land Trust by the Beekley
and Heath families as well as a $6,300
grant from the Farmington River
Coordinating Committee made the new
‘Riverwalk’ possible.
In 1993, Fenno Heath and the late Mason
Beekley approached the Land Trust about
holding the one and one-half acres where
the Riverwalk is located until the Town of
New Hartford might want to create a park on
the site. The Land Trust accepted and
began annual clean-up efforts on this former
Heath family parcel where two old houses
had been demolished.
Land Trust board member Tom Klebart
accepted the assignment to steward this
land donation and, two years ago, talked
with town officials about the potential for a
town park on the property. The Land Trust
then formed a Riverwalk Committee that
included town representatives to move the
project ahead. The group decided that the
Land Trust would keep the property and
create a trail to tie in with the town’s planned
riverside walk.
Klebart’s son, George, in order to earn his
Eagle Scout badge, enlisted Boy Scout
Troop 19 to help make the land accessible
to community members. Land Trust board
members also pitched in to clean up the
site. After removing lots of garbage, downed
trees, and excessive undergrowth, some
selective tree cutting was done and the
Town works department dug up the base for
the new trail. Riverside Nursery donated
flowering shrubs to plant at the site and
Hoffmann Hardware gave materials. Using
a rented Bobcat and equipment lent by Land
Trust leaders, Troop 19 completed the first
portion of the walk in June and the Land
Trust finished laying down processed gravel
on the rest of the trail in September. The trail
is now ready for visitors.
There are two entrances to the property just
off Main Street in downtown New Hartford:
across from the New Hartford Post Office or
behind Town Hall on the left (northwest)
side of the parking lot. You may visit anytime
during daylight hours. The Land Trust is now
seeking donations to place named benches
along the trail. To find out more, call Ron
Eigenbrod at 738-4136.
The wonderful generosity, vision and
community spirit of the Heath and Beekley
families made the new Riverwalk possible.
Many thanks to the many individuals, town
representatives, organizations, and
businesses that contributed time, talent,
funding and materials to help transform the
site into an asset for all New Hartford
residents. Last summer, the Land Trust
sponsored a free jazz concert at the site and
will bring back the Eric Mintel Quartet for a
repeat performance on Sunday, August 7,
2005. Mark your calendars!
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