Opportunities
As with any multi-use trail, a trail along the Merritt Parkway corridor would allow for recreational benefits and health benefits. However this trail would also provide some unique opportunities not found on most trails, which may include:
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Enabling an enhanced method of experiencing the Merritt Parkway and its unique topographic, horticultural, and architectural features that cannot be fully appreciated in a motor vehicle
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Providing educational kiosks that tell the story of the Parkway, including the unique bridges that are the most widely recognized feature of the road
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Providing non-motorized transportation alternatives for the residents living in the communities along the Merritt Parkway for access to town centers and services
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Providing a primarily off-road segment of the East Coast Greenway, running from Maine to Florida as a passive recreational facility
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Providing an east-west connection to north-south trails in the planning or construction phase, including the Mianus, Rippowam, Norwalk, Pequonnock and Housatonic Greenways
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Providing a non-motorized link to existing and proposed trails in Westchester County into New York City
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Providing a non-motorized link to natural, cultural, historic and tourisim resources in the region, such as the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, the Audobon Society in Westport, the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford, and the Modern House tour in New Canaan.
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Economic benefits from increased tourism
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Enhancing the gateway into Connecticut