Thanks to APD and the Upper Valley Trails Association, we now have a wheelchair- accessible path from the APD/MRG parking lot, opposite the Alice Peck Day Homestead, down to the Mascoma River Greenway. The surface is hard-packed and will eventually be paved. Thanks to all who made it happen!
Posted in Good News!, Mascoma River Greenway Updates, Progress!
The yellow dots define the land approved for purchase. It is on Mascoma Street, just west of APD and adjacent to the Slayton Hill underpass. (You can see a white car emerging from the underpass in this view.)
Posted in Good News!, Next Steps, Progress!, Uncategorized
The first of six benches purchased for the Mascoma River Greenway has been installed near the path leading down from the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital campus. The bench is dedicated to the memory of Leo C. McKenna whose wife, Christine, is an enthusiastic supporter and user of the MRG. Watch for other benches to appear along the trail as soon as weather permits their installation by the Lebanon Recreation and Parks Department.
Downtown Tunnel and Pocket Park ( Hanover Street Bridge Overhead)
By this time next year, the currently closed-off downtown tunnel should be reconstructed with connection made between the MRG and the Northern Rail Trail. Read the Valley News report on the Lebanon City Council decision.
Former Lebanon Recreation and Park Director, Cindy Heath, has been the main mover on the enhanced landscaping of the MRG pocket park by the tunnel in downtown Lebanon. She and a team from Upper Valley Rugby Club did great work in the park Wednesday evening.
Here’s Cindy’s report on this energetic team of volunteers:
This is work that needs a strong back and stamina, and the club members were definitely up for the task. It’s amazing how much was accomplished in just two hours by this community service minded group!
Posted in Events, Good News!, Next Steps, Progress!, Thank you!, Work Day
Lebanon is graced with the beautiful, winding Mascoma River . . . but there are very few places where one can actually appreciate that beauty. The MRG is one of those places. Above is a view from the western end (behind the movie theaters) looking east.
Have you seen the western end now that it has been paved? Smooth sailing for bikes, skate boards, roller blades, baby strollers and many other modes of non-motorized transport.
Western end (behind movie theaters) looking west
A project like this pocket park on the MRG makes one aware of the generosity of this community. So many beautiful plants were dug and donated from gardens around town and farther afield. Folks donated their time and energy, and it is gratifying to know that many local businesses grant volunteer time to employees during the work day. (The MRG has benefited greatly for a number of years by these volunteers.)
On Wednesday, donors and volunteers showed up at the pocket park with carloads of beautiful plants. Among the volunteers was Jake Jasinski and his Mom Linda. Jake was the Eagle Scout who had envisioned this pocket park and worked with others to build the picnic tables and benches.
The group laid out the plants in a pleasing design and then went to work digging, planting, watering. In a matter of a few hours the park was transformed.
Cindy Heath in the foreground, Jackson, Henry, and Linda in back, digging and planting.
Cindy is the organizer and energy behind this extension of last year’s pollinator garden into what will be a fully landscaped park. The many hostas, flowering shrubs and trees, and ground covers will also be a boon for pollinators.
Henry Homeyer, the Upper Valley’s “Gardening Guy”, donated his time and expertise to the project. Here he is planting a beautiful little Japanese maple.
The planting day team: Cindy, Paula, Henry, Linda, Jake, Jackson, Pat
Before
After
Posted in Good News!, Progress!, Work Day
