The City of Middletown is sponsoring a Connecticut
Trails Day hike at the Katchen Coley Mountain Laurel Preserve on Sunday, June 2,
2019 at 10 am. This property is dominated by the Connecticut State flower, the
mountain laurel, and consists of moderately sloped terrains. All ages are welcome, as are leashed dogs.
1. The property lies in a large greenway in
Middletown. Greenways are corridors of land designated by the city and/or state
to be permanently protected from development. They are important for protecting
natural resources and habitats, as well as providing recreational opportunities
for residents.
2. The property is dedicated to Katchen Coley, an ardent
advocate for conservation, and a dynamic Middletown resident. Katchen Coley,
who passed away in 2013, spent over 40 years advocating tenaciously for land
preservation and environmental protection on behalf of the City of Middletown, and
at the State and Federal levels. She was a mentor to many and sometimes used
unique methods, such as bringing several loaves of Bernie O'Rourke's bread to
Senator Joe Lieberman as a gift when she was on an environmental mission in
D.C. She knew he really enjoyed the Irish Soda Bread!
3. Preservation of this property protects the land
around the Blue Trail in the Maromas. You may not know that a number of
properties adjacent to the Blue Trail are privately owned, and therefore the
trail is vulnerable.
More information about the property will be available
at the meeting place. Meet at 10 am at the preserve on Bear Hill Road in
Middletown. Please bring water. Suggested footwear-sturdy shoes. Dogs are
allowed on leashes.
Resourceful as Katchen was -- and she truly was amazing -- I think she brought Brian O'Rourke's soda bread as a bribe. Even she couldn't conjure up the late Bernie O'Rourke to bake bread for her.
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