Committee explores a nonprofit or 'friends' group to support the Naugatuck River Greenway

Committee staff raised the possibility of forming a nonprofit organization to support the Naugatuck River Greenway, outlining potential benefits (donations, membership revenue, foundation grants, volunteer programs) and downsides (ongoing administration, insurance, board management).

"You can receive donations. They could be tax deductible," said Kate Pippa, senior transportation planner, describing how a nonprofit could run memberships, unlock foundation grants, and provide fiscal sponsorships for local activities. She reviewed examples from across Connecticut — including the Shoreline Greenway and the Farmington Valley groups — and presented the Hop River Trail Alliance playbook: identify a small set of deliverable projects, create bylaws, incorporate, and start with modest startup costs.

Kate cautioned that many successful groups formed around established, completed corridors and that the Naugatuck River Greenway is still under construction; that reality changes roles for fundraising and stewardship. She described alternatives to incorporation, such as a "friends" group or fiscal sponsorship by an existing nonprofit to accept grants while the group builds capacity.

Several members, including Rista Malanca, expressed interest in forming a smaller workgroup to explore next steps and identify partners and timeline for incorporation if the committee moves forward. The committee asked interested members to contact Kate to form a planning subgroup that will report back with recommendations.