Mad River Path Association
Supporting Community, Ecology, and Health through Public Pathways
In This Issue
Sidewalks in Waitsfield
Annual Celebration
Volunteer Opportunities
Workshop: Hiking & Walking with your Dog
Attention (Amazon) Shoppers
Calendar of Events
Stay in Touch
Join Our Mailing List

Like us on Facebook

Path Conditions

Austin Walk: OPEN

 

Kingsbury Bridge GreenwayCAUTION Work on the new Kingsbury Bridge continues. Although the Path and the parking area remain open to path users, please exercise caution as heavy equipment is operating in the area.

 

Kingsbury Farm Path: OPEN 

 

Mad River (West) Greenway: OPEN

 

Mill Brook Trail: CAUTION  The Mill Brook Trail is open.  However, you will experience some remaining winter blow down and occasional damage to the bridges.  Please walk and bike with caution. 

 

Snowmaking Pond Path: CAUTION Work on the new Kingsbury Bridge continues. Although the Path and the parking area remain open to path users, please exercise caution as heavy equipment is operating in the area.  

 

Warren Path: OPEN Work on the extension of the Warren Path from the school to the Village will be ongoing this spring. 

 

Waitsfield Village Path: PARTIAL CLOSURE Due to damage from the winter, the boardwalk from Carroll Road to the Skatium is temporarily closed while we carry out repairs.


April 2014
Greetings!

You may notice some differences in this newsletter.  We have recently switched email distribution services, so if this newsletter has reached you in error, we apologize for the inconvenience.  If you know of someone who should receive this newsletter and hasn't, please let us know.
 
More Sidewalks Coming to Waitsfield!
Sidewalk from Valley Players to Farr Lane approved!
 
At its meeting on April 14, the Waitsfield Selectboard unanimously voted to accept a $369,500 grant to construct a new sidewalk from Valley Players to Farr Lane in Waitsfield Village.  This marks the final piece of Waitsfield Village's sidewalk network.  The new section of sidewalk will connect with a section scheduled to be built this year from Old County Road to Valley Players and will include a new crosswalk across Route 100 in front of the church.  This latest sidewalk project is projected to be completed in the next four years.

The Path Association is grateful to the more than 20 people who attended the April 14 Selectboard meeting to show their support for sidewalks.

Annual Celebration!
You are invited!

Please join us for the Mad River Path Association's Annual Celebration, on Thursday, May 22 at the Mad River Barn from 5:30-7:30.

The event is a chance to hear what the Path Association has been up to, what we are planning for the upcoming year and mingle with fellow Path enthusiasts.  Light appetizers will be served and the event will feature guest speaker, Chapin Spencer, founding Executive Director of Burlington's Local Motion.

The event is free and open to the public!

Volunteer Opportunities Galore!
We need your help this summer to keep the Mad River Path system up and running in a safe and fun way. Below are two fun volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in being notified about these or other volunteer opportunities, please send us an email and we will add you to our volunteer roster to receive notices of upcoming volunteer events and opportunities.

Volunteer Path Stewards

Do you regularly visit a section of the Mad River Path System? Please consider volunteering to become a Path Steward.

 

Path Stewards are regular people who we depend upon to keep an eye on the Path System and help keep the Path System safe and fun to walk on, bike on and visit.  Join us for a volunteer training, over dinner, on May 15. 

 

Read more about being a Path Steward

 

Trail Workdays  

Do you enjoy working as part of a team and getting your hands dirty? Come out and help with a Trail Workday.  Drop us an email and let us know you're interested in helping out and we will let you know when the next Workday is scheduled.  Or, simply check out our Facebook page, where we'll post upcoming Workdays. 

 

Workshop: Hiking & Walking With Your Dog
Workshop: Hiking & Walking With Your Dog, Pet Tech Tips on How to Have Fun & Be Safe on the Trail™

 

Please join the MRPA for a 90 minute workshop, lead by Fayston resident, Lora Hoopes, owner of Kneading Companions Animal Massage (Lora also happens to live on the Mad River Path's Mill Brook Trail!). The workshop is designed to educate the pet owner about pet emergencies and dangers that exist while hiking with your dog. Whether you are a hiker, backpacker, dog walker or just like to take your dog for a walk, this presentation is for you. The workshop costs $25 and advanced registration is required.

  

Click here for more information or to register.

 

Attention (Amazon) Shoppers!
Support the Path Association 

   

Shop Amazon and help at the Path Association at the same time by shopping through Amazon Smile? It is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and best of all it won't cost you anything extra! Next time you plan to make a purchase from Amazon, follow these easy steps:

  1. Click here (which you can also find on our website) or visit smile.amazon.com;
  2. Make your purchase;
  3. Sit back and watch Amazon donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the MRPA!
Event Calendar
May 15, 6-7:30 - Volunteer Path Steward Training at McCullough Barn (across from the Fayston School); RSVP to path@madriver.com, so we make sure to have enough food for everyone 

 

May 22, 5:30-7:30 - Annual Celebration at the Mad River Barn

 

June 5, 6:00 - Hiking & Walking With Your Dog, Pet Tech Tips on How to Have Fun & Be Safe on the Trail™ ($25 fee)

 

May 22 - June 5 - StoryWalk� on the Warren Path: The Birdwatchers by Simon James

 

June 5 - June 19 - StoryWalk� on the Warren Path: Mole Music by David McPhail

 

August 28 - September 11 - StoryWalk� at the Chase Brook Town Forest: Lost by David McPhail

 

September 11 - September 25 - StoryWalk� at the Chase Brook Town Forest: Leaves by David Ezra Stein

 

September 26 & 27 - SIPtemberfest!

 

October 12 - 19th annual Mad Dash 

Happy trails from the Mad River Path Association!
 
Sincerely,
William Flender
Executive Director