Mill Pond Park

Mill Pond Park is nice spot to stop and enjoy the North Branch River. It is located on the east side of Elm Street (Route 12), about 1/4 mile past Elm Street Cemetery near the junction with Summer Street. With several hundred feet of river frontage, it offers river views and lovely shade. It also has a boat launch, several wooden benches and a beautiful curved stone bench made by local builder Tino Obrien. If you paddle up river, it's about a mile to the bridge that connects North Branch River Park to the North Branch Nature Center. (Photo by Google Maps. The map below is also adapted from Google Maps.)




Park Rules

  • The parking area at the immediate entrance to Mill Pond Park is intended for loading and unloading boats for river excursions and short park visits. Please do not park here for longer than 30 minutes due to the limited parking space. 
  • Carry out whatever you carry in. Keep our parks beautiful by taking only pictures, and leaving only footprints! 
  • All dogs in Mill Pond Park must be on a leash. This is especially important given the close proximity of traffic on Elm Street. 
  • Please pick up after your dog.
  • No smoking.

Mill Pond Park was added to the Montpelier Parks system in 2004 (see History). In 2005, it was turned into a lovely park with the generous support of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the State of Vermont's Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Thanks

Substantial work on the project was provided by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, a crew from International Volunteers for Peace and some Department of Labor Trainees. Other key volunteers included:  

  • Jane Werly: A huge help planning and planting the park
  • Tino Obrien: Our stone bench hero! The key person behind the making of the beautiful stone bench in the park
  • Tony Facos: Diving help to clean up the river near the park
  • Staff from the Trust for Public Lands who volunteered for half a day to help create the park


Mill Pond Park Side - 1
Mill Pond Bench Vols - 1