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On Friday, May 29th, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council hosted a Bird & Hike event along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Hamden, CT. This gathering was part of Black Birders Week, a nationwide initiative during the last week of May that highlights and brings together expert and novice birders of color. The hike was led by Vanessa Daye and Yaw Darko from CLCC, Regional Saint Fort Colin from Sovereign Land Trust, and Jameson Davis from the African American Society #024. 

Thirteen participants gathered on the canal trail, which borders Six Lakes—a local park with a history of industrial pollution that raises ongoing environmental justice concerns for area residents. Though the entire 102.5-acre parcel is fenced off, attendees observed the wetlands and its wildlife, including geese and red-winged blackbirds, from the trail. The six interconnected ponds create a rich habitat, making it easy to momentarily forget the site’s troubled past.

Justin Farmer, a representative of the Six Lakes Park Coalition, shared the area’s difficult history: “The site has been owned by corporations that used to test and dump munitions on the parcel. Chemicals continue to pollute the water, soil, and air for the Black and Brown residents living nearby. There are few greenspaces in southern Hamden, yet we have Six Lakes Park here and it has been completely closed to the public since 2013.” The Six Lakes Park Coalition envisions a fully remediated public park, accessible for neighborhood recreation and community use. However, this goal has been decades in the making, and there may be many more years of advocacy ahead.

While the vision for Six Lakes Park remains a work in progress, residents can continue enjoying the canal trail, a successful “rails to trails” story. Reginald Saint Fort Colin from Sovereign Land Trust shared “The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail was transformed from a former railroad bed and canal towpath into a paved mixed-use trail that is beloved by bikers, hikers, runners, and especially birders”. The corridor of plants alongside the trail supports a variety of bird species, including Northern Flickers, Blue Jays, Crows, Catbirds, and Cardinals. This abundance of wildlife offers a meaningful connection to nature, even in the shadow of environmental challenges.

For many attendees, this experience was eye-opening; despite their familiarity with the canal trail, they had not known the story behind the fenced-off Six Lakes Park, nor had they noticed the diversity of birdlife along their route. In bringing together residents and advocates, this event exemplifies the goals of the Bird and Hike program: connecting underserved communities to local conserved lands. By pairing guided exploration with environmental education, participants found new ways to engage with and appreciate a familiar green space, deepening their understanding of the role environmental conservation organizations play in their community.