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Date: 2/26/2020
CHICOPEE – Some Chicopee residents have expressed concerns for the planned Connecticut Riverwalk & Bikeway to members of the city council, citing questions about maintenance and public safety, but the project is planned to move forward.
The city council, at the request of several abutters, will conduct a public meeting about the rail trail through its Public Works Subcommittee.
Lee Pouliot, the director of the city’s Planning Department, explained to Reminder Publishing, the recent city council vote about the project was another step forward toward the completion of the project. He anticipates the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) would be publicly bidding for the construction of the path next month. Although MassDOT has not yet released a timeline, Pouliot believes the bidding process would take two months, with another month dedicated to crafting a contract. Construction may start in either June or July, he added.
The trail would go from the Medina Street boat ramp area to Nash Field in Willimansett – about 2.4 miles, Pouliot explained. It will be next to the river with the levy separating it from residences, he added. It will not be connected to the Springfield leg of the path.
Anne Dobek, the owner of Annie’s Driving Range and Chip & Putt on Chicopee Street, told the councilors at their Feb. 18 meeting there was a petition with the names of 350 people who are not in favor of the project. She is worried about the public safety implications of having the path behind her driving range.
Resident Dennis Pirog said while he was neither in favor or against the path, he wanted another public meeting. He believes the public should know about security measures such as cameras.
Noting there are similar paths from New Haven, CT, to Canada, Pirog asserted, “We’re going to be connecting one crime area with another crime area. What’s going to happen in-between?”
At a previous city council meeting, Councilor James Tillotson asked if the Chicopee portion of the walk was going to be connected to Springfield and expressed his concern that criminal activity from Springfield would come to Chicopee via the walkway.
Pouliot explained that while there is an intention to connect the various walks along the Connecticut River, there is no funding to do so.
The idea that crime follows such bike and walkways is “one of the largest misconceptions nationally” about such projects, Pouliot added. He said that nationally there has been a decrease in crime near such pathways because criminals don’t want to be seen.
As far as property values go, in some communities they go up because of the pathways, while in others they go down slightly, Pouliot said. Nationally, many families are attracted to living near them, he added.
Pouliot said a public meeting could address a number of the concerns voiced by residents. He said the path is a public park, which means, like other city parks, it is only open from sunrise to sunset. There are not plans for lighting at this time.
In terms of maintenance, the area right now is already being mowed because it is on a flood plain by the city, Pouliot added.
To answer a question about first responders being able to have access to the path, Pouliot said it is being designed to support some emergency vehicles.
He said that to date, the Chicopee leg is “one of the last pieces for construction.”