Prepping the Tree Maze for Ice on Fire, January 29th 2-5pm
Work on Hubbard Park-North Branch Connector Path and Nature Center Trail
Big Thanks to Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) for coming to Hubbard Park. In early December, with a crew of 10 people, VYCC worked a combined 160 hours. They helped us reconstruct a damaged retaining wall along the Statehouse path. A large portion of their efforts were geared toward trail maintenance in Hubbard Park, improving the drainage by digging swales and installing culverts. Some brave souls took on the tedious task of wire-brushing bridges and removing slippery material, making them safer to walk across.
National Life Trail in Progress
After getting approval from National Life Group, Montpelier Parks, with the help of VYCC, Department of Labor, Green Youth and volunteers, commenced trail work at the National Life trail in the summer of 2011. The trail is located at the intersection of Route 2 and Northfield Street. With the help of a highline grip hoist, approximately 35 stone steps have been set in place on what will eventually be about a mile of hiking trail. There are other pirate trails connected to the one the Parks is working on. The next step is to build a safety railing along a steep portion of the path and to hopefully set 100 more stone steps. Enthusiastic volunteers have put a lot of energy into the project and the end result will be its own reward. This is a great spot in an easily accessible area and is across the street from Peace Park biking and walking path. It has been an engrossing task that once completed, will be a fresh asset to Montpelier.
Late summer Park Storm Damage Report
Trees across tower road. Silt covering Peace Park Greg White, new VISTA member, removing silt
Except for the peace park, most damage to the parks from the recent storm was in the form of fallen trees blown over by the combination of significant rain and then wind. We have so far removed well over 25 trees that had fallen across trails and roads. Major additional damage was averted in Hubbard and North Branch Parks by staff using advance notice about the storm's strength to clean out debris from swales, culverts and ditches along trails and roads before the storm. In addition, on Sunday during the storm staff also patrolled park roads and trails and cleaned out drainage on the verge of overflowing as a result of debris. Only three culverts had significant new damage. The peace park suffered significant damage as it was apparently under at least four feet of water. The peace park area and labyrinth are under another several inches of silt, with some new river bank damage, additionally two picnic tables and a wooden bench were swept away. River bank damage was kept limited by staff and volunteers having planted numerous shrubs in the river bank this summer.
Please report trail problems and/or fallen trees to gbeyer@montpelier-vt.org. Volunteer help is always appreciated!
Summer 2011 Volunteers For Peace (VFP)
Work Completed: This year's International Volunteers For Peace group has done a tremendous amount of work:
- Storm damage restoration work on the Peace Park, reset labyrinth bricks four inches higher to match new level created by silt; repaired and refinished benches, cleared out silt from the flower beds; and invasive management.
- Trail restoration work on Riverside Trail in the North Branch River Park and on the main trail that connects with East Montpelier as well as restoration work on the trail that goes through the natural area in the center of Hubbard Park.
- Landscaping improvements at entrance by Hubbard Park drive, improving drainage issues and aesthetics.
The Volunteers: This year's VFP crew includes
- Lisa Beneke (Germany),
- Gary Hutton (Ireland),
- Hyunwoo Park(South Korea),
- Undine Kaeppel (Germany),
- Minjoo Lee (South Korea),
- Zoe Sierens (Belgium),
- Antoine Simon (France),
- Aleksej David Tilman (Italy),
- Abdelghani Zaari (Morocco)
Right: VFP at the Tree Nursery.
Tower Composting Toilet Completed and Open
11/28
The old tower outhouse has been replaced by a "state of the art" composting toilet. Lumber from the milling project described below was used to build this structure. Thanks to the help of Will Eberle, Eric Clifford (Americorp member) Park staff, Rici Perdue, David Rathbone and numerous volunteers, including Grade 5 students, teachers and parents from Union Elementary School who spent part of a community service day finishing up landscaping around the foundation.
Removal of hazard trees and thinning of over crowded spruce plantation
If you have been in the park recently you have probably heard chainsaws and seen people milling lumber. This is part of an effort to maintain a healthy forest in Hubbard Park. By removing hazard trees we are keeping the park safe and other healthy trees from getting damaged. We have also been selectively thinning some of the thicker stands to promote healthy growth for years to come. For more information on forest thinning click here
In an effort to utilize the trees we have cut, local sawyer Wayne Richardson was hired to mill the trees right here in the park. Most of the lumber milled was sold for a post and beam barn being built in Northfield. The money generated from the lumber is going to be used to fund the replacement of the aging outhouses in the park. (see below) There is still lumber available for sale in the park and all proceeds go to park improvement projects.
New Composting Toilets Fall 2010
Replacement of the aging outhouses has begun with the building of three new composting toilets at the New Shelter, the tower area and at "Seven Fireplaces". These toilets are being built and designed by Will Eberle a local eco-builder, the parks Americorps service member Eric Clifford and Parks Director Geoff Beyer. The Alternative Graduation Program from U32 and Montpelier High School provided students and helpful funding for this cooperative effort. Will is providing his skill and knowledge to build beautiful post and beam structures as well as education for the students involved. The structures are being built with traditional mortise and tenon construction. To find out more about mortise and tenon construction
click here.
A composting toilet is different from an outhouse. This composting toilet design has two large chambers where human waste will be composted into soil. One chambers stays in use while the other is able to take years to let the composting do its magic. It is a clean efficient way to deal with waste. Three new composting toilets were finished and put into service in the fall of 2010.
Above clockwise from upper left: Eric Clifford, Will Eberle showing proper sharpening techniques for the hand tools, the first assembly of the structure, Adam Megrath holding up the frame while Will adjusts the sill, Mindy Holzapfel shaving a peg, the pegs used to assemble the frame, Will putting the finishing touches on a mortise, the first composting toilet frame finished and disassembled.
Gould Hill Trail bridge replacement video completed 11/10/09
Hubbard Park Tower Restoration
