Trailblazing the East Coast: A Journey of Greenways - EP 6

🚀 In this episode of Trails, Transit & Transformation, host Craig Della Penna sits down with Bill O’Neill, retired engineer, principal at Fuss & O’Neill, and one of the early champions behind the East Coast Greenway. Often called the Father of the East Coast Greenway, Bill reflects on his decades of work connecting communities through trails, family involvement in multi-use path planning, and the powerful economic and cultural ripple effects of greenway development across New England and beyond. From the inaugural Boston-to-D.C. ride to cross-border collaboration with Canada, and even the creation of Connecticut’s Greenway license plate program, this conversation captures the passion and persistence behind a movement that redefined how America connects its people and places.🎧 Hosted by: Craig Della Penna 👤 Guest: 🏡 Bill O’Neill – Retired Engineer, Founding Advocate of the East Coast GreenwayBill O’Neill is a seasoned advocate for multi-use trails in Connecticut and Rhode Island, with a focus on the East Coast Greenway. He served as the former chair of the Connecticut Greenways Council and has been instrumental in advancing the Charter Oak Greenway in Manchester, Connecticut. O’Neill has also been involved in the development of the William C. O’Neill Bike Path in Rhode Island, previously known as the South County Bike Path, which repurposes a former railroad corridor into a recreational trail. His contributions to trail development have been recognized in various local media outlets.💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ How Bill O’Neill’s family helped shape the East Coast Greenway’s early years ✔️ Behind-the-scenes stories from the inaugural Boston-to-D.C. Greenway ride ✔️ The evolution of cross-border cooperation with Canada’s trail network ✔️ How Connecticut’s trail census and ROI studies influence funding decisions ✔️ Why trails drive local economies and revitalize small towns🎵 Whether you’re a trail builder, planner, or cyclist, this episode will leave you inspired by the persistence and creativity behind America’s greenway movement.💼 Connect with Bill O’Neill:🌐 East Coast Greenway → https://greenway.org🎧 Follow Craig Della Penna:🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/🌐 Website →https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/