Middletown Valley, a 50-acre park nestled in the heart of Middletown, has seen notable enhancements with the completion of a new trail extension.
Public Works Director Robert Hanley expressed his delight, stating, “I think it looks great and every time I’m by the Valley, I see people out using the trails. That’s what these spaces are for, to get people out and about in Middletown.” Will Cronin, who oversees the town’s parks, echoed this sentiment, saying, “A number of people have mentioned to me about how great the Valley looks. It’s a great location and when you’re out there, it’s so quiet and relaxing. It’s a wonderful spot.”
Karen Day, Chairperson of the Tree Commission, shared the volunteer board’s satisfaction with the maturation of Middletown Valley. She extended gratitude to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the town for providing funding for the trail extension work.
“We are delighted the trail has been expanded to the newly extended park,” Day said. “The walkways were done with a grant the town wrote from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and supplemented with funds from the town. We hope, when there are funds available, to further expand the walkways and create even more walkways which will connect to the previously created pathways.”
Day highlighted the growing popularity of Middletown Valley and the diverse wildlife it supports. “As I drive by, it certainly seems to be quite a popular site for walkers and we will continue to seek funding sources to expand upon what has all ready been done and to hopefully build on our planting plan,” Day said. “Right now, however, allowing the natives to grow has created a wonderful habitat that supports pollinators, birds and wildlife. It’s a wonderful place to catch a view of migrating birds and butterflies.”
“I think it looks great and every time I’m by the Valley, I see people out using the trails,” public works Director Robert Hanley said. “That’s what these spaces are for, to get people out and about in Middletown.”
The Valley trails are popular with residents and visitors alike. The trails encourage outdoor activities and promote community engagement.
The new trail section is part of the 50-acre Middletown Valley property that was purchased by the town for conservation in 2004. The area was previously known as Kempenaar Valley. The walkways were done with a grant the town wrote from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and supplemented with funds from the town.
Longterm, local officials have said they’d like to link Middletown Valley to a town wide system of walking paths from lower Aquidneck Avenue to the Sakonnet Greenway Trail system around Newport National Golf Club in the northern section of the community. The hope is to create a safe route for trail users to get around without having to access the major roads in town.
“Middletown Valley is one of those projects I think everyone is really proud of in Middletown,” Town Planner Ronald Wolanski said. “It’s cherished by the people who live around it and so many others in Middletown. It’s just one thing that makes our community great.”
Read more about this project here.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
