FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2013
Contact through Friday: Mike Kanarick, Mayor’s Office
802.735.7962
Contact on Saturday: Jon Adams-Kollitz, Parks and Recreation
802.233.1168
Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Parks and Recreation to Host Path to Parks Public Ride
Mayor, Parks and Rec Director Jesse Bridges, DPW Director Chapin Spencer to Join Two-Wheeled Tour
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that the Department of Parks and Recreation will host a Path to Parks Public Ride to engage the community in activity and conversation on the rehabilitation of the bike path in the context of the creation of a City-wide plan for the future of Burlington’s parks. The Mayor will be joined on the two-wheeled tour by Parks and Recreation Director Jesse Bridges, Public Works Director Chapin Spencer, and representatives from the design and engineering firms working with the City on both the bike path design and the Master Plan. Members of the community are invited to join the ride and to offer input on the future of the path and parks.
“Exciting improvements are coming to our beloved parks and bike path,” said Mayor Weinberger. “This Saturday, grab your helmet, hop on your bike, and join us for the first-ever, BTV rolling public discussion about the future of our bike path and our parks.”
To accomplish this bike path work, the City has hired the nationally-recognized design team from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) of Ferrisburgh, Vermont, to design and fully permit the bike path. VHB has designed bike paths in New England, including the 1.6-mile urban Piscataquog Trailway in Manchester, New Hampshire and the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail from Swanton to St. Johnsbury, Vermont. In addition, the City is crafting its first-ever comprehensive Parks Master Plan and has engaged both Heller + Heller Consulting and Sasaki Associates to work with its team on creating this plan.
“We all know that it’s time to widen the path and repave the surface,” said Parks and Recreation Director Bridges. “Our goal for the ride is to raise our collective sight lines to get our community looking up from the path conditions and out at our surroundings. This will help us develop ideas for creating along our bike path a sense of place, community gathering points, pocket parks, and connection opportunities between the path and our parks.”
WHAT: Path to Parks Public Ride – to engage the community in activity and conversation on rehabilitation of the bike path in the context of the City-wide Parks Master Plan
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2013, 9:30am to 12:30pm
WHERE: Start: Howard Center overflow parking (Champlain Parkway near intersection of Pine Street and Queen City Park Road – see map)
Finish: Leddy Park Arena, 1093 North Avenue
WHO: Mayor Miro Weinberger
Jesse Bridges, Director of Department of Parks and Recreation
Chapin Spencer, Director of Department of Public Works
Design, Engineering, Consulting Team members
EMBED: Media encouraged and invited to participate in ride – itinerary below
BONUS: Ride will conclude with food from and a sneak peak at the Beach House, Amir Kuckovic’s new destination dining venture at Leddy Park Arena
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Path to Parks Public Ride: Parks Master Plan + Bike Path Rehabilitation
Event Outline, Saturday, October 5, 2013
Rules of the Ride:
- Stop at all stop signs
- Move across intersections as a group
- Ride single file on streets
- Stay to the right side of path
- Watch for pedestrian & opposing bike traffic on path
- Keep path clear at all group route stops
Path to Parks Public Ride flyer
Path to Parks Public Ride Route
9:30 AM - Stop 1 (Start Location): Howard Center Overflow Parking Lot
Where’s the Path? Where’s the Park?
10:00 AM - Stop 2: Green North of Oakledge Park Pavilion near entry
Where Should I Go?
10:20 AM - Stop 3: Lakeside Park
Looks Nice, Can I Stop Here?
10:40 AM - Stop 4: Green Space at North End of Barge Canal Bridge
Wow, Could this Be a Place?
11:10 AM - Stop 5: Waterfront Park, Stop 1 – North of Local Motion (before College Street)
Is this an Obstacle Course?
11:30 AM Stop 6: Waterfront Park, Stop 2 – Events Grounds (near mid-point of bike path diagonal)
The Heart of the Path? The Heart of the Park?
12:00 PM Stop 7: North Beach (bottom of overpass)
I See the Resources, How Do I Get There?
12:20 PM Stop 8 (Final Stop): Leddy Park (green in front of arena)
Show Me the Resources, I Can Get There…
12:30-1:00 PM - Q&A
Break into small informal groups for concluding conversation with consultant team members &
enjoy refreshments at the Beach House (inside Leddy Arena)
1:00-1:45 PM - Return Ride
All riders are welcome to join staff & consultants in a return ride back to the Howard Center…
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THANK YOU FOR RIDING WITH US TODAY!
For more information on these projects, visit:
www.burlingtonvt.gov/ParksMasterPlan/
www.btvbikepath.com/
Related upcoming event! Bike Path Conceptual Improvements Public Meeting
Tuesday, October 15, 6:30-8:30 PM
Burlington Police Department Community Room (1 North Avenue)
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