Mad River Path Newsletters

As I begin my 10th month as director of the Path, I have several observations and reflections about my job and about the present condition and future plans for the Mad River Path and the MRPA.

CURRENT CONDITION OF TRAILS: All in all, the trails are in good shape and many of them experience a high level of use.

Warren Path – Recently part of a study of future potential trails on town owned land in Warren. Consultant Joshua Ryan of “Timber and Stone” observed the following maintenance needs: culvert work, streambank work, stone relocation, trail drainage issues. Needs a sign w/membership info., maps, donation box, sign-in box.
Kingsbury Bridge Greenway – There is a large tree blocking the trail, mowing is now being done on the Whiteside property by Bill Peatman, Sugarbush is weed wacking a part of the trail and weed wacking work still needs to be done on several other parts of this trail. One puncheon has a board that is starting to rot. Anna Whiteside has expressed desire to eventually sell this parcel and would like to keep the Path on the property if possible. She will keep us in the loop of her plans. Needs a sign w/membership info, newsletter, maps, donation box, sign-in box.
Village Path – Replacement trail behind Betsy Brothers needs to be built. Needs sign/Kiosk with map of whole path, bulletin board for work parties, membership forms/newsletter, sign-in box, donation box.
Greenway:
1. Expensive to maintain. Yearly mowing cost is approximately $3500.00. Town of Waitsfield contributes $1500.00 per year. A low/washed out culvert (Todd Seymour’s mower got stuck in it), is scheduled to be repaired by Kingsbury Construction. There is a large branch hanging over a portion of the trail. I have called Adam Whitney for a estimate to remove it.
2. Greenway – Bridge by Wimbles that is owned by VAST is in need of repairs and relocation. Probable time frame for this work is next summer. MRPA has expressed desire to help with relocation.
3. The two Greenway trails are our most popular trails. One sign is needed at the parking area behind Small Dog, one sign at Tremblay Road parking area and one at the beginning of the East Side of the Greenway across the bridge from the parking area. Each of these signs should have a map, sign-in box, membership information and donation box.
4. Prayer Flags on the Path – Part of the Festival of the Arts. On Friday, Aug. 17th and Sat. Aug, 18th from 10 – 2 there will be a prayer flag painting event on the West Side at the kiosk across the field from Hartshorn’s farm stand. Sally Sweetland has volunteered to help out.
Mill Brook Trails:

New bridge over Chase Brook is finished and is a work of art. New trail that was roughed in by the VYCC from the bridge to the Catamount Trail connector was not completed. Needs to be finished. Bridge ramp needs gravel.
Tucker Hill Inn trail relocation needs to be done.
Trail relocation by Hoopes needs to be done.
Wet section of trail behind Mill Brook Inn needs new trail surface – possible work party for Boy Scouts.
Trail maintenance that needs to be done before this trail can be officially re-opened: hole in Sauerman bridge ramp, replacement of boards in ramp, leveling of bridge near parking area, removal of old puncheon (nails, rotten boards) beyond clay slide, many wet areas that need water bars or gravel.
Signage: New sign by Chase Brook Bridge.
Two classes at the Fayston Elementary School have agreed to become trail adopters for the new VYCC-built trail. We have been given a grant for $500 from the Vt. Rec. Trails department to start this program as soon as school begins.

FINANCIAL PICTURE OF THE MRPA: In January I put together a preliminary budget for the 2007 fiscal year. Many of the figures that I put into the budget were based on guesstimates from previous years. The budget was presented to the board but was not discussed or approved. We are coming up with a shortfall in memberships numbers as I had initially estimated around $9000.00 for membership income based on prior year reported number of members. Currently we only have about 75 members and have taken in $3500.00 in membership dues. If we continue with an estimated profit of $5000.00 from the Mad Dash, our yearly income is far behind our yearly expenses.

MAD DASH: It looks like this will be a successful year for the Mad Dash based on past years of this popular event. A great deal of work needs to be done by every board member to ensure a profitable bottom line.

MAD RIVER BYWAY: A lot of energy is being spent on partnering with the Byway. We will soon be approaching landowners and spreading the word about the need to have legal easements on the trails. I am in favor of preserving our trails in perpetuity, but am concerned about the additional workload that will be required to keep landowners happy and trails in top condition. I am also wondering about the workload required to write the grants or do the fundraising necessary to come up with the financial ability to follow through with this plan.

MRPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: I would like to hear from each board member and find out what is working for you and what is not working for you. Please let me know your thoughts about your ability to volunteer for trail work, your ability to talk to potential path supporters and how would like the Path to look in five years. Please send me an e-mail or give me a call in the next week or so.

NEWSLETTER: It is time to put together another newsletter. This one will be sent out with regular first class postage so we can see which addresses are no longer current or need to be updated.