The
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT), is a multi-use
rail trail located in
Connecticut. Sources vary on if the FCHT includes an additional in
Massachusetts. Portions of the original canal still exist, such as an historic "lock house" dating from the time of the original canal, as well as retaining walls,
canal locks (elevators for boats), old sections of canal, and other features. In
Cheshire, Connecticut, the only restored lock along the original Canal line has been incorporated into the Lock 12 Historical Park.
Trail status The route of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is not yet completed (88% completed in Connecticut, 68% completed in Massachusetts if Massachusetts is included). The FCHT is divided into either two or three sections: • Southern: New Haven-Cheshire, Connecticut • Northern: Southington-Suffield, Connecticut • Massachusetts (sources vary): The last gap is the northern section of 5.3 miles through
Plainville.
Northern section As of October 2018, the FCHT extends uninterrupted from Northwest Drive in Northern Plainville to the Massachusetts border in Suffield (24.6 miles). As of October 2018, the Southwick rail trail in Massachusetts is complete, while the trail in Westfield is complete to the Westfield River Bridge, totaling 8.5 miles. There is a gap extending from north of the Westfield River through Southampton to Coleman Road (8.4 miles). The rest of the trail is complete through Easthampton into Northampton (7.3 miles). State funding for design of a Southampton Greenway from Coleman Road to the junction of Route 10 and Moosebrook Road was awarded in 2022.
Farmington Canal State Park Trail Farmington Canal State Park Trail forms a portion of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in the towns of
Cheshire and
Hamden. The site of the greenway was originally used by the native Quinnipiac tribes as a path prior to its expansion as a road by the colonists. A canal construction project began on July 4, 1825, with the first sections opening in 1828. On June 22, 1836, the Farmington and Hampshire companies were in debt and transferred their ownership to New Haven-Northampton Company, resulting in a loss of more than $1 million in investor capital. In 1847, investors in the company petitioned the state for the right to build a railroad. The approved railroad was constructed in one year on the banks of the canal for a total cost of $186,000.33. Rail service lasted until the 1980s, when Guilford discontinued service. The Farmington Valley Trails Council was founded in 1992 to preserve the canal by converting it into a park. Part of the Farmington Canal State Park trail was dedicated May 22, 1994. The developed section within state park boundaries runs south from Hart Street in Southington to Todd Street in Hamden and includes the
Farmington Canal's restored Lock 12, located south of Brooksvale Road in Cheshire. ==References==