WESTFIELD – MoFroYo officially became the first corporate partner for the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail’s recently launched Trail Blazer Adoption Program, when on March 29 it adopted a nearly one-mile section of the Trail.
The segment extends from the Southwick town line to within 500 feet of the Tin Bridge.
Phase I, completed in October 2012, is the first leg of the 3.2 mile Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, Westfield’s portion of a multi-modal linear park, which follows along a portion of the route of the former New York/ New Haven/Hartford Rail Road (and one-time Northampton to New Haven canal).
“MoFroYo is a perfect first corporate sponsor,” Board Chair, Jeff LaValley, said. “Todd Cieplinski runs a business focused on families, fun, and customer service. Their team approach and camaraderie, as well as their belief in supporting the local community, fits perfectly with our mission.”
“The Columbia Greenway belongs to the community, and we want it to be here for future generations,” LaValley said. “With the support of companies like MoFroYo, it will be!”
In exchange for picking up trash and keeping an eye on the nearly one-mile section of the Trail, MoFroYo will get two signs acknowledging their work.
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“We take tremendous pride in serving the community and providing a positive memorable experience every time someone enters our premises,” Todd Cieplinsk, owner of MoFroYo, said. “The Rail Trail is a true gem for Westfield, and we want to help maintain this asset and to provide a positive first impression as one enters or exits our great city via this route.”
“My family and I utilize the trail every chance we get,” Cieplinski said, “so we are excited and honored MoFroYo was selected; and, we understand the great responsibility that comes with supporting this gateway.”
“I have to hand it to my wonderful staff at MoFroYo and can’t thank them enough for stepping up to provide this community service,” he said. “Since the initial clean-up day, they keep asking ‘when can we do it again?’”
Though MoFroYo is the Columbia Greenway’s first corporate Trail Blazer Adoption sponsor, LaValley said he knows it isn’t the last.
“We have already been approached by other businesses, organizations and individuals in town asking how they can support the Trail,” he said. “It is exciting to know there is so much enthusiasm and excitement.”
Stretching from Southwick to the south, to the Great (Westfield) River Bridge to the north, the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail will eventually traverse downtown Westfield on a mostly-elevated line. The Rail Trail incorporates bridge crossings of all streets in the downtown, with one surface street crossing at Shaker Road.
The Trail ties into the Southwick trail to the south where it becomes the Farmington Valley Greenway, extending to New Haven, Conn.
Phase II of the southern section of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail is currently under construction. This section of the trail resumes construction at the Phase I terminus – just shy of the Tin Bridge – and extends to East Silver Street, culminating in a downtown access ramp. Phase II also incorporates reconstruction of two bridges (Tin Bridge and Dry Bridge at South Meadow Road).
To learn more about the Trail Blazer Adoption Program contact Bob Pac, Director of Maintenance at [email protected], or download information via the organization’s website at www.columbiagreenway.org.
