Service and Community in the Valley
A reflection from americorps service member abby bell
Abby Bell and MRP Board Member Jon RIckard at the new Cloud Water Farm bikepacking campsite
One of the first things I noticed when I started my service in January was the unique sense of community and collaboration that exists here in the Valley. As the months have gone by, it has only become more and more apparent; Mad River Path is a community project in every sense of the phrase. There are countless people who contribute to the work that goes into maintaining and developing the Path, often behind the scenes. There are our stewards, who monitor a section of the path every week to keep it clean and safe. There is Eamon, who mows the grassy trails. There are board members like Jon, who lends his time and expertise in construction to projects like the Cloud Water Farm composting toilet. There are our partner organizations, who collaborate with us and support us. There is our small but devoted team of staff, who are committed to growing this sense of community even more through on-the-ground connection. And, importantly, there are community members who donate their time and money to make all of this work possible.
As an AmeriCorps service member, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to many different aspects of this work and witness this sense of community firsthand. Almost every morning, I’m out on the trails, weed whacking one section at a time and seeing how people use the path. During our summer programs, I helped kids foster connections with each other and with nature. For events, I support the many logistics that go into bringing people together in a meaningful way. Whenever there is a maintenance project, I am there ready to learn how to use a new tool and lend a hand.
There is so much more to a trail than what you see when you’re walking on it. Behind every bridge, boardwalk, mowed trail, event, and program are people who have given their time, skills, and resources to make it possible. I’m grateful to be one small part of that effort this year, and to have the opportunity to see just how much can happen when people come together around a place they care about.
Dogs on the Path
In response to a new dog ordinance from the town of Waitsfield, we are installing 20 redesigned dog owner information signs at the trailhead kiosks:
These temporary signs will replace the signs installed in 2024, reflective of the previous “dogs under control of the owner” town policy. The temporary signs will be up by August 28. We are looking forward to being a part of the conversation between the town officials and the trail users regarding effective ways to implement the new dog policy. Once we have clarity on the ways and means from the town, we will design and install permanent signs.
In the meantime, since the beginning of June, 90% of the dog signage in the towns of Warren, Fayston, and Waitsfield has been stolen from the trailheads. Neck of the Woods school has supplied their own signs, which have been repeatedly stolen as well. Last week, the Little Free Library at the Heart of the Valley boardwalk was vandalized. This amounts to over $4000 in theft and damage.
These assets are maintained by volunteers and paid for through community fundraising. Unfortunately, this is the way someone in our community is choosing to express themselves. If you are them, or know of them, please come forward so we can engage in honest and direct dialogue, rather than incur unnecessary costs and losses to our already very limited resources.
This Place Is For the Birds!
A new interpretive panel has been installed at the trailside gazebo on Wait’s Way in time for the new school year. The panel was designed and illustrated by a local artist, Jeannie Nicklas, in collaboration with Waitsfield Elementary School students. It was installed by Path volunteers, with funding provided by the MRV Recreational District. Thank you, everyone, for working together and for involving the children!
The Work Has Started on Kingsbury Greenway!
Tears roll down my eyes as I watch a group of six professional trail-builders lay out a beautiful, smooth path in place of rough single track. The first section of Mad River Valley active transportation corridor is emerging from dreams to reality in front of me, and that is pure magic!
The long-anticipated accessibility improvements have started on the Kingsbury Greenway in Warren. The work includes re-routing, widening, grading, and surfacing the path between Riverside Park and the Wabanaki Recreational Area. Other components of this project include an art mural installed earlier this summer by the students and staff of Mad River Arts, and the Clay Brook Bridge rehabiitation, led by Path board member Jon Rickard and volunteers. The trail work is being done by Timber and Stone, Vermont’s premier trail-building company based in Montpelier.
As I watch nimble, low-impact machines and their master operators making swift progress towards Kingsbury Bridge, I reflect on the past three and a half years of hard work, envisioning, building the coalition of support, scoping, permitting, and fundraising, all leading to this pinnacle moment, and I am filled with gratitude to countless board and committee members, town and state officials, volunteers, donors and partner organizations, the entire community that made this project possible.
We expect to complete the entire project by the end of September. Visit the Implementation Plan page on our website to keep up as we progress through this project.
Left to Right: Ryan Baxter, CJ Scott, Josh Ryan, Avery Ryan, Tommy Zschau, Matt Hawes
Have You Filled Out the Trail Use Survey Yet?
Take our quick survey to help us access crucial local, state, and federal funding!
This summer and fall, Mad River Path is conducting a recreational economic study through trail counters at five key locations as well as a trail use survey. The data from this study will help us to secure federal, state, and local funding for the completion of the Mad River Path. Please help this important community initiative by taking 3-5 minutes of your time to complete the survey!
CLICK HERE to take the survey if your primary residence is in the Mad River Valley.
CLICK HERE to take the survey if you are a visitor, non-resident, or second home/vacation home owner or renter.
Thank you!
