Rutland, VT: It Takes a Village to Build a Trail

Volunteers pose in front of the IMBAru before heading into the woods for trail maintenance.
This newly constructed bermed turn will help improve fun and flow, and reduce erosion and trail widening, along the Lonely Rock Trail. Leaves were placed to disguise the construction and to protect the fresh trail from heavy rains during construction and tamping. Notice rocks placed on the inside of the turn to keep riders on the proper line.
Yuko Takeda uses a Macleod to compact the fill placed behind a small retaining wall. The trail had suffered erosion from too much outslope , exposing roots and causing riders to slip down the berm or to avoid it altogether by riding through the muddy hole to the side. The trail just uphill was rerouted to provide a better entrance to the insloped turn into the natural berm, improving the flow. The retaining wall protects the tree's roots and provides a better ascending route.
The trailbuilding powerhouse crew: Tim Vile, Michael Smith, and Shelley Lutz stand atop their most recent project- armoring the tread through this low-lying marshy area. The group muscled in huge rocks to form a causeway that will enable users to stay dry, reduce soil displacement, and keep users from widening the trail.
Riders silhouetted against the view from the Overlook Loop. The Crew had a great time riding with the locals through the trails at Pine Hill Park, stopping frequently to take in views, admire art projects, and discuss continuing trail opportunities

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders Chris Bernhardt and Jill Van Winkle held a successful trailbuilding workshop at Pine Hill Park in Rutland, VT August 18-21 in partnership with the NPS Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program. While local trail leaders learned valuable trailbuilding and advocacy skills, the Crew learned about the history and community behind the Park's successes.

Pine Hills Park bustles with activity. On any given day, a steady stream of trail runners, dog walkers, mountain bicyclists and hikers enjoy its trails. Throngs of young people pack the skate/BMX park, filling their summer days and after-school hours with healthy, supervised fun. But it wasn't always so.

For years the park sat as undeveloped city land. While many locals enjoyed the area for fishing, hiking, and mountain biking creating many trails along the way, it was also a haven for partiers, vandalism, and illegal hunting. When a backdoor development boondoggle threatened park access, Michael Smith realized he needed to go public with his secret stash.

For the past several years, Michael has worked with Rutland Recreation Director Cindy Wight and Jim Tasse of the Rutland Area Physical Activity Coalition to create a multi-use trail system in the park. In the process, they realized that the Park wasn't just about trails, it was about community. To that end, they've brought out groups of high school students, involved the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and, when they encountered a boggy area near the trailhead, solicited volunteers from the local technical college to design and construct a boardwalk. They've even brought art students to the park to do "found art" installments along the trails. A successful workshop with the Trail Care Crew helped garner added publicity for the Park, while providing the volunteers with the tools to improve and expand the popular trail system.