BRIDGE
Brief * Relevant * In Depth * Guided Education

Downtown Trails as Community & Economic Development Engines 

co-hosted by

- Laura Brown, Community & Economic Development Director, UConn Extension 
- Aaron Budris, Senior Regional Planner, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
- Jack Walsh, former President & CEO, Valley United Way 

9:00 am - Networking Breakfast   
9:30-11:30 am - Program:

TRAILS AS COMMUNITY ASSETS 

• Economic & Public Health impacts
• Collecting usage & spending data to improve trails

USING THE DATA TO GUIDE YOUR EFFORTS: Naugatuck River Greenway Impact Study

• The NRG is a 45-mile long trail connecting 11 communities along the Naugatuck River
• The impact study focuses on the potential economic impacts that the completion of the Greenway will have on the region
• How communities are using the data to drive planning & economic development efforts

ENSURE YOUR TRAIL IS USED!

• Examples of how downtowns are capitalizing on their trails 
• preparing businesses for trail users