FAIRFIELD, CT — The Town of Fairfield Conservation Commission will dedicate a new open space trail in honor of longtime local conservationist Joy Shaw during a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
The ceremony will take place at the Perry’s Mill Ponds Open Space trailhead at 798 Sturges Road. Members of the public and media are invited to attend.
The new Joy Shaw Trail will extend from the Perry’s Mill Ponds Open Space, running parallel to Sturges Road to Mill Hollow Park and Open Space.
The dedication recognizes Shaw’s decades of work protecting Fairfield’s natural areas and waterways and promoting environmental education. Shaw helped establish the first trail in the Perry’s Mill Ponds area to guide students through the local floodplain more than 50 years ago.
“This dedication celebrates not only Joy Shaw’s lifelong work on behalf of river conservation, but her legacy of courage and advocacy that shaped the Fairfield we know and love today,” said First Selectwoman Christine Vitale in a statement. “Joy serves as an example to all of us to take a stand to protect what we love, and proves that a single individual can be a powerful force for good in the world.”
Added Conservation Director Tim Bishop, “What Joy Shaw has accomplished in her lifetime for the Town of Fairfield’s natural resources is impressive and single-handily the reason why the Conservation Commission’s open spaces at and surrounding Perry’s Mill Ponds exist for everyone to enjoy decades later. On behalf of the Conservation Commission and the Department, we thank Joy for all she has done and continues to do for the Town’s natural environment and not only educating, but inspiring, the future stewards who will continue her passionate work.”
The event will include remarks, a ribbon-cutting, and an optional walk along the newly named trail.
About Joy Shaw:
In 1966, Fairfield resident Joy Shaw bravely stepped in front of a backhoe to protect the Mill River watershed. That act of courage led her to organize neighbors and form the Mill River Wetland Committee (MRWC) dedicated to safeguarding the river’s floodplain and educating the community about its ecological importance. Working with Nature Conservancy and local officials, her advocacy led to the Town of Fairfield’s purchase of the Perry property as open space in 1967. She then partnered with Mill Hill School to pilot an environmental education program about the river’s ecology. Fairfield Public Schools subsequently adopted it and established it as the River-Lab program, which continues today. Through her lifelong commitment to environmental education, she has inspired generations of children to appreciate and protect the Town’s natural beauty and fragile natural resources.
The Town of Fairfield thanks all those who helped to make this project possible, including the Conservation Department, the Mill River Wetland Committee, and the dedicated volunteers who teach our children about the importance of a healthy river ecosystem in partnership with Fairfield Public Schools.
Event Details:
What: Trail Dedication in Honor of Joy Shaw
When: Wednesday, November 5, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Perry’s Mill Ponds Open Space, 798 Sturges Road, Fairfield
Who: Conservationist Joy Shaw, First Selectman Christine Vitale, MRWC Chairman Jon Dilley, Conservation Department Director Tim Bishop, Committee Members
Open to the press and the public.