A $4 million bicycle path from Binney Park to South Stamford? Why?

nature’s wonderland

Admittedly, it would make it easier and safer for our neighboring city’s children to bring home stolen bicycles from Old Greenwich, but is there any other (good) reason for spending this kind of money to help Greenwich riders bike from Binney to a park in Stamford that they otherwise would never visit?

The Representative Town Meeting in Greenwich will consider spending $338,000 to design the trail — which is planned to connect Binney Park in Old Greenwich to Boccuzzi Park in southwest Stamford — at its next meeting.

If the RTM approves the planning money, the Department of Public Works will be required to hold at least one hearing for neighbors to share their thoughts about the project. If the RTM rejects the request, the plan could be postponed or abandoned.

The multi-use trail will, if created, be a way for people to hike and bike between the two municipalities. The trail would be 2.6 miles long, with 1.9 miles in Greenwich, according to preliminary documents submitted to the RTM.

If the project progresses, it could cost nearly $4 million to build the trail over 12 to 18 months, [before standard government overruns — Ed]  according to preliminary DPW estimates.

Here’s the route: missing is an explanation of why a Greenwich bicyclist riding from Binney would choose to turn left at the intersection of Shore Road and head to Stamford, when he could bear right and continue on to Tod’s Point instead. I doubt many would consider the Stamford option more than once, just for variety; is it the taxpayers’ responsibility to entertain bored bicyclists seeking a new “adventure”? For four million dollars? It would be cheaper to simply buy them a subscription to NetFlix, or, better, tell them to suck it up.