Winter 2012-2013

Looking Back at Ice on Fire 2013...

Last Sunday (January 27, 2013), the community came out to partake in the winter celebration at  North Branch Nature Center, Ice on Fire. The day was filled with sledding, snowshoeing, laughter, flying of kites, storytelling, ultimate frisbee, hot chocolate, and a spectacular bon fire that ran into the evening. We remember this year's events with laughter and memories, but look forward to Ice on Fire 2014!

For pictures from this year's Ice on Fire, like us on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/MontpelierParks

 


A Special Thank You...

Thank you to all of our volunteers who worked with our Park's staff to prepare for Ice on Fire this year. Several youth programs braved the cold temperatures to help build the igloo, snow tower, Christmas tree maze, the story telling circle, the snow sculpture of the bear, the archway, the snow chair, and the sledding hills. We applaud you for your hard work and will let you know that the community appreciates it as well! Thank you to: Norwich University Cadets, Community Connections, Barre Vo-Tech, and the VYCC. 

 
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

 
Norwich Cadets
 

 Fall 2012 Projects

This fall has been a record when it comes to trail work at Montpelier Parks. More than half to almost all of the trails in Hubbard Park had gravel and woodchips put down. The Old Shelter Pavilion retaining wall also received a face lift. This included hours of hard work from all of the Montpelier Parks Staff in bringing in new railroad ties and replacing all of the old ties. A hemlock cap was also installed on the ties making lovely sitting spaces for park users.  Here are the projects to also look forward to this fall!

 

Invasive Plant Trail Sign Placement

  

There is a new trail under construction at the North Branch River Park! This trail is designed to help hikers learn about Vermont's invasive plant problems. New informational signs will be installed to help hikers identify and learn about the Who, Whats, When, Wheres and Whys of invasive plants. Tree transplanting will also be very active at this trail encouraging Vermont native plants to take over and to shade out and chase away the invasive plants on that trail. Look forward to the upcoming signs! 
 

Street Trees on Downtown Vermont 

This fall brought some great opportunities for transplanting street trees all over Montpelier. a total of 18 street trees have been planted in the past couple of weeks on Barre Street, Main Street, State Street and Stone Cutter's Way. Montpelier Parks believes that Montpelier should be beautiful and what better way to do that than by using nature? Street trees also increases healthy air and a generally healthier attitude. There are about 12 more trees that will be planted in the next couple of weeks! Tree transplanting is best to do in the fall because trees become dormant and transplanting them in their dormancy increases the chance of survival. Interested in volunteering to transplant trees? Call the Parks Office at (802)223-7335. 
 

Community Gardens

Montpelier Parks is very proud of their two community gardens (National Life Community Garden and Vermont College of Fine Arts Community Garden). This fall will bring great events to both of the gardens. We received a free Garden Shed a couple of weeks ago that will be donated to the National Life Garden. Some repairs are going to be needed in order to make this shed reliable and functional for the gardens. The Vermont College of Fine Arts Community Garden has been receiving some special attention this fall. The fence was fixed up and Stephanie Olsen, the new AmeriCorps *VISTA has been meeting with the gardeners in order to organize the garden to meet its full potential! 

 

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                                         Spring Projects at the Park 2012

This spring (and summer) we have had many projects and people in motion.  Our storm damage crew tackled North Branch Park and restored numerous culverts and the headers, tails and retaining wall around them, areas that were badly damaged by "Irene" last summer.  Many trips to Frank Mitchell's Quarry of Plainfield were required to acquire the stone we needed for the culverts.  In addition to the work at North Branch, the crew has been focused on the rejuvenation of the Peace Park.


                         Peace Park Recovery                                                            Culvert Repair : installing capstones/ storm damage repair


Groups from Union Elementary, Unitarian Church and Montpelier Tree Board volunteers helped out in Hubbard Park and the downtown area.  Union Elementary helped us spread woodchips on trails, picked up trash and raked pine needles off the main road.  The Tree Board spread compost on downtown trees.  The Unitarian Church helped our staff with various trailwork.  

 Parks Director Geoff Beyer with                                                       Union Elementary School Group receiving instructions for their community service project.
 Unitarian Church Group


In May, AmeriCorps service members from VYT, VYDC and SerVermont came to the Park to perform trailwork, tree transplanting and one crew installed fence posts at the new community garden on Northfield Street.  



Thanks to all who helped out and continue to help make Montpelier Parks beautiful!




                            

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 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.

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