New Trails Master Plan Charts Future of Recreation at Expanded Mono Pond State Park
Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) and International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Trail Solutions, announced the release of the Trails Master Plan for Mono Pond State Park, a comprehensive vision for a sustainable, connected, and community-driven trail network across the park’s newly expanded 650-acre landscape in eastern Connecticut.
Located approximately 25 miles east of Hartford, Mono Pond State Park was once a 218-acre reserve. Through a partnership led by Trust for Public Land with the State of Connecticut and the towns of Columbia and Lebanon, more than 400 additional acres of forestland at risk of development were permanently protected in 2020, tripling the size of the park. The expansion safeguarded forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitat while creating a major new opportunity for outdoor recreation and conservation in the region.
The expanded park is also positioned to connect directly to the Air Line State Park Trail, a designated Connecticut Greenway that spans more than 50 miles and supports hiking, biking, and equestrian use.
The new Trails Master Plan outlines a vision for approximately 13 miles of thoughtfully designed new trails, along with selective decommissioning of unsustainable routes and the creation of three distinct recreation zones to enhance visitor experience while protecting natural resources.
“Mono Pond State Park represents what’s possible when conservation and community vision come together,” said Walker Holmes, Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Trust for Public Land. “With thoughtful planning and investment, trails can become powerful engines of prosperity and well-being. We’re proud to help ensure that residents and visitors alike will be able to explore, connect with nature, and enjoy outdoor recreation here for generations to come.”
Trust for Public Land engaged IMBA Trail Solutions, the professional trail services arm of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, to lead development of the plan. The project marks IMBA Trail Solutions’ first trail planning project in Connecticut and reflects extensive collaboration among local and statewide partners, including CT DEEP, the Towns of Columbia and Lebanon, the Friends of Mono Pond State Park, the Columbia Open Space Committee, the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), Air Line State Park Trail Alliance, and local residents.
“The outcome at Mono Pond stands as a great example of what can be achieved through planning and collaboration between state and local agencies alongside advocacy organizations,” said Ama Koenigshof, IMBA Trail Solutions Director of Planning & Design. “It triples the acreage and creates a regional outdoor destination accessible by thousands of local residents. This project also exemplifies the balance needed in many places, particularly where population density is high, of striking an equilibrium between preserving natural resources and creating recreation access. We’re proud of the outcome and especially the connectivity with nearby, existing parks and trails.”
“We couldn’t be more grateful to our partners at IMBA, the Trust for Public Land, and CT DEEP for making the Mono Pond project a reality,” said Mick Ferraro, Director of Communications & Outreach for the New England Mountain Bike Association. “This is the kind of collaboration NEMBA strives for, one where mountain biking and conservation go hand in hand, and where the whole community and all user groups win.”
Planning began in September 2024, when the IMBA Trail Solutions team conducted an initial site visit to assess conditions, meet with stakeholders, and engage with community members to understand local priorities and recreational needs. This work informed development of the concept plan.
In April 2025, the team returned to begin detailed trail design, translating the concept into buildable alignments. A second round of community engagement in November 2025 helped identify priorities for phasing and implementation.
The resulting plan proposes a trail network organized into three distinct experience zones:
- Hiking-Focused Zone – Trails designed to highlight Mono Pond’s scenic views, natural features, and interpretive opportunities, offering an immersive nature experience for walkers and hikers.
- Shared-Use Zone – A central network accommodating hikers, runners, and mountain bikers, providing connections between key access points, neighborhoods, and natural features.
- Mountain Bike-Focused Zone – Purpose-built singletrack designed for riders of all skill levels, incorporating natural terrain features and opportunities for skill progression while minimizing user conflicts.
The plan also identifies appropriate access points and trailheads to support these zones, ensuring clear, convenient, and well-distributed entry points for park visitors.
“Thank you to Trust for Public Land for bringing together DEEP, local communities, trail organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to balance conservation and recreation to develop a thoughtful vision for the future of Mono Pond State Park,” said Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino. “Through careful planning and meaningful community engagement, this plan lays the foundation for a sustainable trail system that will serve visitors for generations.”
The Master Plan also reflects growing national research on the economic benefits of trail systems for rural communities.
According to a recent Trust for Public Land report, “Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking,” natural-surface trail networks can generate significant economic activity while improving community well-being. The study found that mountain biking visitors spend an average of $416 per trip at local businesses such as restaurants, lodging, and retail establishments.
By integrating sustainable trail design practices, community priorities, and environmental stewardship, the Mono Pond State Park Trails Master Plan provides a first-of-its-kind, long-term framework for a high-quality, connected, and accessible trail system that will serve a broad spectrum of users and strengthen outdoor recreation in eastern Connecticut.
Community members interested in learning even more about the accessibility of the trail and how other areas are creating accessible hiking and biking trails are invited to attend the free screening of Best Day Ever on Thursday, July 30 at the University of Hartford. Interested participants should RSVP here.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
About International Mountain Bicycling Association
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a 501c3 nonprofit that creates, enhances, and protects great places to ride mountain bikes. IMBA is focused on Leading With Trails, growing the quantity and quality of mountain bike trail communities, so everyone has access to close-to-home riding and recreation as well as iconic backcountry experiences. Since 1988, IMBA has been partnering with communities worldwide on trail advocacy, education, stewardship and sustainable trail solutions.
