New Paugussett Trail Manager

Photo of Polly stolen from CFPA's Facebook Page

We're delighted to welcome Polly Buckley, the new

 CFPA Trail Manager for the South section of the Paugussett Trail. Her section starts near at Indian Well State Park and extends south all the way through Shelton Lakes to Buddington Road. It's the section that was created by the Trails Committee a few years back. 

Polly has been active with CFPA since 1989 and brings a wealth of experience to Shelton. She's an experienced Trail Manager, having filled the role for the Quinnipiac Trail, the Naugatuck Trail, the Iron Trail, and the Hatchery Brook Loop Trail. 

Several stretches of the Paugussett Trail run through open wet areas that are quickly overgrown in early summer, so when CFPA accepted this new section of trail, it was with the understanding that the Trails Committee would continue to work on keeping these difficult areas clear. Stretches under the powerlines, for example, are routinely mowed and cut back by Trails Committee crews. And work parties held in the Shelton Lakes area lead to parts of the trail getting cleared out.. 

But the less-traveled sections of the Paugussett tended to be overlooked each summer while the Trails Committee prioritized busier trails like the Rec Path and Turkey Trot Trail during the growing season.  Eventually the trail would get cleared out, but for a time it could get really overgrown. Having a designated CFPA Trail Manager means that someone will be looking out for the entire trail. 

CFPA manages about 825 miles of CT Blue-Blazed Trails, so they have adopted a system of volunteer Trail Manager for each trail or section of trail.  The Paugussett Trail has three sections for maintenance purposes, each with a designated CFPA Trail Manager: 

Monroe section: Bob Blackwell
Shelton North (Monroe border to Indian Well and Tahmore Trail): Teresa & Terry Gallagher

Shelton South (Indian Well falls parking to Buddington Road): Polly Buckley