Exciting Features, Events Coming To Popular Avon Hiking Hub

AVON, CT — Amid weekend plans to celebrate Earth Day via a special trails clean-up event at the Avon Public Works Trailhead, there's also a new feature for folks to enjoy as well.

The local community is tentatively planning to gather on Saturday, April 26, at the trailhead (located at 11 Arch Road) to rid the site of any debris (both natural and man-made).

Volunteers are invited to meet at 8:30 a.m. at the trail, which is part of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.

Folks are asked to bring gloves, rakes, and other garden tools and bags will be provided.

The weather forecast is calling for rain on Saturday, so there's a good chance this event will end up taking place on Sunday, April 27, the event's rain date.

Bike Walk Avon CT, the Farmington Valley Trails Council, and the Avon Recreation and Parks Department are sponsoring this event.

When people do, eventually, gather at the trails, they might notice something new at the trailhead that was installed earlier this month.

A new cedar pavilion is now complete, offering a shady rest stop and coverage from unexpected summer storms for those using the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.

Meanwhile, two benches (donated by members of the public in memory of loved ones) will be installed soon.

"This is the first of several improvement projects to be completed along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail this spring/summer," wrote the Town of Avon in a release.

"Keep your eye out for a new water fountain at the Sperry Park trailhead, safety lighting inside the Route 44 underpass, the replacement of the stone dust running path along the length of the trail in Avon, and signage upgrades."

Officials said all of these projects are being funded by a grant from the Connecticut Recreational Trails Program administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.