Tom Holahan Fund for the Mill River Trail

Tom Holahan was passionate about giving back to New Haven, the city he loved. His wife, Susan, recalls his declaration soon after they met — “There is only one city in the U.S. worth living in and that is New Haven.”  

A longtime community advocate and volunteer, he represented the East Rock neighborhood as an alder. A teacher by profession, he also helped lead the effort to re-open the carousel at Lighthouse Point Park and co-founded the New Haven Peace Commission. He even ran for mayor.

Among the many civic projects Tom championed, one of his top priorities was building a linear trail along the Mill River. An outdoor enthusiast, he wanted people to experience the natural beauty of the river and access a green space running through one of the city’s most heavily industrialized areas.

Following Tom’s death in 2007, the trail project went dormant for several years until it was rediscovered and reinvigorated in 2014 by dedicated volunteers building on his original vision. Several segments of the trail have been completed, and the goal is to connect Criscuolo Park in Fair Haven with East Rock Park, continuing into Hamden and linking up with the Farmington Canal Trail. The vision includes canoe launches, art projects, and learning spaces for nearby schools, as well as paths for walking, running and biking. Completion of the trail is targeted for 2030 under the New Haven Greenway 2030 plan.

Susan is honoring Tom’s memory with the Tom Holahan Fund for the Mill River Trail, which will support ongoing community engagement with the trail. The fund will provide a reliable and flexible income stream to sustain stewardship and engagement activities including supplies, equipment, plantings, educational events and possibly community interns or art projects.

Susan is also committed to non-profits in New Haven, including many years directing and volunteering with Literacy Volunteers, and currently as a volunteer ESL tutor at Wilbur Cross High School. She is working with Mill River Trail Volunteer, J.R. Logan, who shares Tom’s passion for New Haven. Together, they are encouraging like-minded outdoor enthusiasts to contribute to the Fund.

For more information about volunteering for the Mill River Trail, visit www.millrivertrail.com or contact J.R. Logan at info@millrivertrail.com.