Samuel M. Peretz Park at Bridebrook
1 mile
East Lyme Grace Trail®
Movement, meaning, and community — side by side.
East Lyme Grace Trail®
A sun-drenched 0.8-mile paved loop where the vibrant energy of a town sports complex meets the quiet intentionality of a meditative walk—creating a space where 'life on the go' and 'life in reflection' move side-by-side.
About This Trail
Set along the active perimeter of Samuel M. Peretz Park at Bridebrook, the East Lyme Grace Trail® is where town life finds its center.
It is a space where the rhythm of a tennis match or a soccer game exists just a few feet away from a profound personal pause.
Designed by local yoga instructor Rachel Baer as a gift to her neighbors, this trail proves that you don’t have to retreat to the deep woods to find peace; you can find it right here, between the storybook pages and the sounds of the park, woven into the very fabric of East Lyme.
ACCESSIBILITY
• Flat, paved 1-mile loop
• Wheelchair + stroller accessible
• Easy, continuous walking path
• On-site parking at Peretz Park
• Suitable for all ages + abilities
AMENITIES
• Little Free Library along the path
• Story Book Trail integrated into route
• Nearby tennis courts + recreation fields
• Interactive QR codes
LANDSCAPE
• Open park setting at Bridebrook
• Perimeter path with varied views
• Seasonal greenery + open sky
• Integrated within active community space
EXPERIENCE
• Self-guided five-question reflection
• Walk full loop or pause at any point
• Designed for solo or shared use
• Used for reflection, conversation, or reset
• Accessible year-round
POWERED BY COMMUNITY
Each Grace Trail becomes a reflection of the community that surrounds it. While the questions remain the same, what unfolds along the path is shaped by the people who walk it—through shared moments, personal reflections, and the ways individuals choose to show up for themselves and one another.
A Grassroots Community Trail
The East Lyme Grace Trail began as a local initiative—brought forward by resident Rachel Baer and supported by a network of community members, local organizations, and the Parks & Recreation Department.
Created as a gift to the town, the trail reflects a shared effort to make space for reflection, connection, and mental well-being within an everyday setting.
From its installation through ongoing care, the trail continues to be shaped by the people who use it—through contributions, participation, and a collective sense of stewardship.
This foundation of community involvement is what allows the trail to remain active, accessible, and meaningful over time.
A LEGACY OF MINDFUL STEDARDSHIP
The East Lyme Grace Trail® stands as a premier example of what happens when one resident decides to champion the well-being of their town
Developed by Rachel Baer during the height of 2020, this path was a direct response to a community in need of more compassion and peace. By collaborating with the Parks & Recreation department, Rachel transformed a standard athletic perimeter into a "Living Classroom" for the soul.
This trail isn't just a town asset; it's a blueprint for how personal advocacy can turn a local park into a vital anchor for mental and spiritual health.
LIFE ALONG THE TRAIL
Along the way, simple moments begin to stand out—what you notice, what you feel, and what stays with you.
FOOTSTEPS
& LIFE
This trail winds through a lively town green filled with movement, laughter, and everyday community life. Walkers of all ages pass through its questions as part of their routines — before games, after gatherings, and during simple evening strolls. Grace Trail lives where life is happening.
NATURE'S
RHYTHM
Set within an expansive park alive with activity, the rhythm here is human — steady footsteps, children playing, neighbors greeting one another. Along the path, a Little Free Library and a Storybook Trail invite stories to unfold as people walk, read, and reflect together.
HELD BY
COMMUNITY
Well walked and actively cared for, this trail reflects a community that shows up. Books are shared, stories are read along the path, and neighbors of all ages return again and again — gathering, moving, and connecting together.
TALES FROM THE TRAIL
Beneath the open sky of Bridebrook Park, the air is filled with the sounds of pickleball paddles, distant whistles, and the turning pages of a storybook.
Made Meaningful Here
A place where the landscape is defined by human connection—where a "Gratitude" pause happens just as a soccer goal is scored.
In East Lyme, grace isn't a destination—it's part of the routine. You see it in the neighbor who stops at a sign before their tennis match, or the family that pauses at the Little Free Library to exchange a book before finishing their loop. It’s the "Walk and Talk" sessions where strangers become neighbors, discussing life’s twists and turns while moving through the park.
This trail proves that you don't have to leave your life to find peace; you simply have to find a new way to walk through it.
I came for the walk, but I left with a different perspective. There's something powerful about being asked the right question at the right moment.
Rick O
Father & Local Business Owner
The Grace Trail has a way of weaving itself into everyday life. Long after the walk is over, I find myself returning to the questions and approaching my day with more gratitude and intention.
Rachel
Yoga Instructor & Grace Trail Licensee
The Grace Trail gives people permission to pause. In a busy world, that simple invitation may be one of the most valuable things a community can offer.
Tori L
East Lyme Community Member
Shared Beyond the Trail
From local food pantry donations to generations of families reading together on the path, the East Lyme trail has become a beacon of neighborhood resilience—proving that one step and one question can shift the culture of a town.
FOUNDING PARTNERS
This trail reflects a joint effort between municipal parks departments and local community organizations. By investing in the town’s shared green spaces, these partners have created a lasting resource that encourages daily wellness and family-centered reflection.
