Yestermorrow
It's almost done! With a few finishing touches in spring 2022, this new 1 mile+ trail loop will be complete! Its climbing turns up the hill will bring you to a loop among beautiful hardwoods and conifers next to rock outcroppings and exposed ledges. We can't wait to see you at the grand opening when the flowers are in bloom.
stewardMRV
With our awesome partners, we began #stewardMRV to make sure our public and private recreation access sites are taken care of and sustained well into the future. In year one, we built two shelters to house portalets and trash/recycling bins. A site steward program was also started, which will grow next year. And there's more to come! Many thanks to the MRV Chamber for their leadership, and the following sponsors for their support: Bourne's Energy, Lawson's Finest Liquids, and the MRV Rotary.
Irasville Common
Thanks to the tenants of the Irasville Common Condo Association, we extended Fiddler's Walk to Rt 100! It's an important link to make sure people can visually see how to walk or bike in the downtown area. We eve built a new rain garden with Friends of the Mad River to protect the river and nearby wetland. We appreciate funds from the MRV Recreation District for this project!
Wildlife Library
The brand new Little Free Library along the Hosford Highway boardwalk was a hit this year! Many nature books came and went over the months. We hope folks are enjoying the books. If you borrow a book, please return it when you're done with it. You can also donate nature related books anytime!
New Picnic Tables
Looking for a lunch spot? There are two brand new picnic tables hand built by Charlie! One is at the Mill Brook Trail trailhead at The Swanson Inn and Mad River Veterinary Hospital, and the other is in the orchard at the Flemer Field behind the Waitsfield Town Office. Enjoy!
Vegetation clearing
Keeping paths and trails clear of vegetation is a never ending activity from May through September! Like every year, we are out there with weed whippers and mowers keeping the grass, branches, and other plants at bay. Clearing the vegetation keeps it more enjoyable and reduces the risk of ticks!
Stocking Dog Poop Bags
We make sure that folks walking dogs have no excuses to leave dog poop on the path! About a dozen dispensers are kept filled at trailheads across the MRV. Nearly 5,000 bags were used this year! We also built two mobile stations.
StoryWalk® on the Path
With families looking for fun activities to do outside this summer, MRP continued our partnership with MRV Libraries to set up waterproof pages of children books on posts along path sections.
Big Plans for Irasville
With several partners, we applied for the statewide VOREC grant to make some significant trail access and visitor information enhancements in Irasville! If we receive the grant, a trail connecting the Blue Stone to Localfolk will be built alongside new Rt 100 crossings and a temporary sidewalk (which we hope will become a permanent sidewalk). The idea is to make it safer to walk, run, and bike between downtown and the trails. Thanks to the MRV Recreation District for their leadership with the grant application. Learn more!
Our Beaver Friends
We partnered with VT Fish & Wildlife to install a beaver baffle to protect the Hosford Highway boardwalk and make sure the beavers stay happy. These beavers are helping to control flooding in the Mad River, created new habitat for wood ducks and many other species, and are helping keep water in our underground aquifers. Learn more!
Continuing floodplain restoration
Working with the Waitsfield Conservation Commission, Friends of the Mad River, and Intervale Conservation Nursery, we've been tackling invasive Japanese knotweed and honeysuckle in the Town-owned Austin Parcel. A few years in now, we're seeing amazing results as this area has transformed back into a natively vegetated floodplain. Thanks to our trails manager, David, for his commitment to this work along MRP's Austin Walk!
The Bird & the Bats
In partnership with Yestermorrow, bird and bat house kits were built and sold! More than 30 bird house kits and two bat box kits were purchased. Ten bird houses and one bat box were donated to the Mad River Path and installed. It's a part of our work to enhance habitat for local wildlife along the path network.
Planning
We're always planning for new sections. Talking to landowners, exploring terrain, inquiring with folks, keeping an eye on real estate, and scouring maps is a year-round endeavor to work towards our mission.
Maintenance & Improvement Projects
There are always repairs and erosion control work that pops up, or a generous path host needs an improvement done. We try to be quick to address all that the path needs to be the best gateway to the MRV great outdoors!
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