lower section

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Rice Farm Road Trailhead Access

West River Trail Rice Farm Road TrailheadThere will be a court hearing on the subject in the Newfane Court House 9 am on August 21st, 2017.

As many of you have seen, a plastic fence has been put up at the Rice Farm Road trailhead. About three years ago, Mr. Melvin Mayo purchased the lot and buildings above the trailhead on the West River Trail. As confirmed by the courts, he purchased only 2 acres down to the former West River Railroad. However Mr. Mayo is claiming ownership down to the river, based on the Dummerston tax map, which is incorrect.

People have been using this beautiful trail along the West River since at least the 1930s when the railroad tracks were taken up. So, the fence and the attempt to block the public from using the trail negatively affects many people in our community. There will be a court hearing on the subject in the Newfane Court House 9 am on August 21st, 2017. Please feel free to come to the public hearing and to add your stories about the trail in the comments section below.

Posted on behalf of Lester Humphreys, Friends of the West River Trail.

*11/12/2017 Court Rules in Favor of West River Trail http://www.reformer.com/stories/court-rules-in-favor-of-west-river-trail-group,524346

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The West River Trail & Trail Talk

West River Trail, mountain laurelHappy summer! The West River Trail is open during bridge construction! Please take care at the Brattleboro Marina Trailhead construction intersections. During upcoming bridge demolition, construction personnel will be stationed to provide warning to pedestrians when work is occurring overhead.

Trail users should exercise extreme caution at intersections between construction access and the trail path. As an additional safety precaution, please keep pets on a leash, especially in the construction zone.

The next trail talk will be held August 5, 2017. Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead at 8 am and the talk will begin at 8:15 am. For more Information, please contact Bonnie Clark, Public Relations Officer, at bclark@pcl.com.

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Sunday June 25 Trail Work Day 1-5 PM

WRT trail wildflowerIf you like and use the trail, we need your help!

Please come help repair the damage from last Monday’s storm.  If you have a shovel or iron rake, please bring it along.  Meet at the Fox Farm Rd Trail Access and stay as long as you like.  Hope to see you there!

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West River Trail Work Day

West River Trail mountain-laurel June 2016Save the date!
Do you love the West River Trail?
Please come help out at our Volunteer Trail Work Day scheduled for Sunday, June 25, from 1-5 PM. Meet us at 1 at the Fox Farm Rd Trail Head and stay as long as you like.
Bring work gloves, water, insect repellent, loppers. We’ll have shovels and other tools. We’ll be working on improving drainage in some wet areas and trail clearing where needed. Email lowersection@gmail.com for more information and to let us know you’re coming. Thank you!

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New Lower Section Map

 

We’ve published a brand-new map of the Lower Section of the West River Trail, with lots of trail information on the back. It folds down to pocket size for convenient use on the trail. Pick up your copy at the Marina Restaurant, Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce, River Garden, Brattleboro Bike Shop, Burrows Specialized Sports, West Hill Shop, Guilford Country Store, Route 91 Welcome Center, local hotels, and other locations. Many thanks to C&S Wholesale Grocers Print Shop for donating the printing of the map and to Jeff Nugent, Senior Planner, Mapping & GIS, Windham Regional Commission, for creating the map.

View and download the map on the WRT Lower Section Map Page.

 

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I-91 Bridge Construction Trail Talk Saturday August 13th

artist rendering of new bridge (photo courtesy FIGG)

Curious about the new I-91 bridge? The next trail talk will be held Saturday, August 13th. Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead at 8 am and the talk will begin at 8:15 am.

The West River Trail is open during bridge construction activity. There are intersections between construction access and the trail path, and users should exercise extreme caution at these intersections. As an additional safety precaution, users of the West River Trail are reminded to keep pets on a leash in this area. Please use caution while passing through the scaffolding protection system. The system restricts the overhead clearance to 8 feet.

If you would like additional information, or would like to receive bridge construction updates via email, please contact Bonnie Clark, Public Relations Officer, at bclark@pcl.com.

Enjoy the trail!

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Successful Trail Workday + New Picnic Table

New Picnic Table on the Riverstone Preserve

Thanks to Jim Webster’s carpentry talents, there is now a picnic table on the Riverstone Preserve for all to use.  It’s made of white oak and very pretty! Thank you Jim!

When heading north on the WRT, once you are on the preserve take the 1st trail. It leads to the water’s edge.  As you get close to the shore, you will find the picnic table on a little rise to the right of the trail.  Bring a picnic or just sit a spell.  Let us know if you used it and how you like it!

Drainage Work Accomplished

Eight enthusiastic souls showed up for trail work at the Fox Farm Road Trail Access at 9 am Saturday July 23.  John, a new volunteer who lives right in the neighborhood showed up with his Kubuto excavator, which was invaluable.  Jenny, a hard worker from West Brattleboro, was also a new volunteer.  Thanks to both of them!  Paul, Lester, Jeff, Kathleen and Jim, veteran volunteers, also showed up, led by our intrepid trail work leader, Jason.  The excavator helped us dig better drainage ditches in several areas that tend to overflow.  A new 6″ plastic culvert was placed where an old rusty one was removed, and one culvert was extended with new pipe.  We trust that when we finally get rain, trail users will see these sections of the trail stay dry or drier.  Unfortunately, none of us remembered to take photos of the excavator and it’s driver, or the rest of the work crew and the work that was done.  Sorry about that!!!

Thank you to everyone who worked that day to improve the trail for all users!

West River Trail Workday Sat July 23

wrt bridge july 2013Please join us this Saturday, July 23, 9 AM for a trail workday!

 We will be installing 2 culverts and cleaning some drainage ditches to improve drainage in heavy rains and do more work on removal and control of invasive plants.

The trail is in very good condition this year.  Our work will help keep the trail dry and easy to use.  Come help out for a couple of hours this Saturday morning! We will have fun and hope to have some refreshments.

Important:  This trip will be meeting at 9:00am. We will be  meeting at the Fox Farm Rd access.

Directions:  Fox Farm Rd is near the intersection of Black Mountain Rd and Rice Farm Rd. Fox Farm Rd is a right off of Black Mtn Rd from the Rice Farm Rd direction.  It is a left turn off Black Mtn Rd from the World Learning direction. Once on Fox Farm Rd, the trail head is a short distance down the road on the right.  Look for a group of volunteers congregating.

Bring: footwear for working in wet ground, gloves, a water bottle & bug spray. We have plenty of tools.  If you prefer to bring your own, we suggest: iron rake, hoe, or shovel.  Please label your tools clearly.

We look forward to working with you to improve the trail!  Thanks!

For more information, contact: Jason Cooper at jason.cooper10@gmail.com

 

Scaffold Protection System Erected on the West River Trail

Vermont I-91 Bridge ConstuctionTrail news from the Brattleboro Reformer on July 7th, 2016.

A scaffold protection system is being erected on the West River Trail at the bridge intersection to protect trail users from debris and dropped items from the segmental work overhead. Please use caution while passing through the scaffolding. The system restricts the overhead clearance to eight feet. Along the trail there are intersections between construction access and the trail path, and users should exercise extreme caution at these intersections. As an additional safety precaution, users of the West River Trail are reminded to keep pets on a leash in this area.

The next trail talk will be held July 9. Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m.

Full article available at http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_30101899/brattleboro-interstate-91-west-river-bridge-update.

Photo is of the Interstate 91 West River Bridge project as seen from the air in March 2016. (Kristopher Radder — Brattleboro Reformer)