By Dona Menton

It isn't hard to fall in love with Norwalk. You just have to spend a couple of hours walking along the waterside trails and through the many parks that seem to pop up out of nowhere. And walk we did. The tour, sponsored by the Norwalk River Watershed Association and led by local conservationist Tom Aikenhead on Saturday December 2 from 10 to 12, helped to bring participants an awareness of the local environment and familiarize them with the watershed, its positive features and its conservation challenges. Tom enthusiastically led the group of 20 through five local parks in the Norwalk River Watershed.

The Parks Tour started at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, proceeded through Devons Place, a boundless playground, past the historic Pine Island Cemetery, and entered the trail into Norwalk's Oyster Shell Park. The park, protected by the Environmental Protection Agency for future recreational use, offers people a marvelous opportunity to walk alongside the Norwalk River and catch glimpses of wildlife, shore birds, and acres of sunlit marsh grasses, reeds, and golden cat-o-nine tails swaying in the breeze. Wandering the trail as it winds gently along the shore of the river, we wondered why we hadn't visited before and marveled at the pleasure in this seemingly hidden treasure in the midst of our bustling shoreline city. Inviting all with wide vistas, a fishing pier built along the riverfront allowed us to stop to view the river below or to link to the Maritime Aquarium at North Water Street. The trail is an easy and pleasurable place to enjoy a quiet morning stroll. Informative signposts along the way offer historical tidbits and educational information.

Once out of the half-mile loop of Oyster Shell Park and onto the streets of South Norwalk, we enjoyed a different kind of beauty. The history of South Norwalk was honored, as we passed the historic buildings of the Maritime Aquarium, built on the site of a former 1860's iron works factory and the wonderfully preserved 19th-century brick buildings once used as factories and warehouses dependent on the riverfront.

Making our way across the Stroffolino Bridge, viewing the myriad of industry and recreation along the water, we realized how important the Norwalk River is to the heart and soul of the city. Following the trail through Veterans Park, then out along Seaview Avenue we walked by the Mill Pond, where the benefits of the restoration project funded by a Department of Environmental Services grant to Norwalk, were clearly evident. The dredging opened up the pond, restoring an environmental balance for the local marine life and allowing the return of many local birds, including herons, egrets, ducks, and swans, many of which were lazily sunning themselves on fallen trees and waterside resting places.

Stopping next to visit the Third District Park on Edgewater Street in East Norwalk, tucked in alongside the famous Hillard Bloom Shellfish operation and overlooking the river, NRWA's Executive Director Patrice Gillespie gave an informative account of oyster farming and the benefits provided to the watershed and the Norwalk River over the years by Bloom's operation.

The tour finished up with a final stop at Calf Pasture via the Marvin School and adjacent park with panoramic views of the Sound through the treetops and far beyond Sprite Island. The beauty of the Sound waters shimmered in the sunlight as we descended through the park onto the nearly deserted beachfront on this cool December morning.

The Norwalk River Valley is a valuable asset to all residents of Norwalk and Connecticut. Seeing the beauty and yet potential for destruction of this natural habitat immediately brought to light the depth of our individual and collective responsibility to the preservation of our environment.

As a resident or visitor, there is always something new to discover along the trails of the watershed. The Parks Tour route will be on the map of the Norwalk River Valley Trails System that is being created by NRWA. Blazed NRWA trails presently run through open spaces in Ridgefield, Redding, and Wilton, but additional segments are in the works as NRWA works out the details with partner organizations.