Photo- Rainie KellyThanks to volunteers Donn Cann and Bob Leach for the heavy-duty clean up of tires and other trash on the western end of the MRG . . . and to Recreation & Parks Facilities Manager, Doug McGrath, for hauling it all to the landfill.
“Throw away?” There is no such thing as “away.”
Posted in Thank you!
“Members of the Upper Valley Rugby Club complete the season at the MRG Pocket Park with mulching, raking, and general clean up. The UVRC has adopted the Pocket Park and its members are becoming quite knowledgeable about planting, fertilizing, mulching, and general plant maintenance. We couldn’t do it without them!” – Cindy Heath
Posted in MRG Pocket Park, Thank you!
On October 26, the Lebanon Parks and Recreation Department organized a workday on the Mascoma River Greenway. Volunteers from the Valley Bible Church in White River Junction joined trail enthusiasts from Lebanon to help install five more benches along the MRG, bringing the total number to six. In addition, volunteers pulled weeds which were encroaching on the trail, applied preservative to the wooden railings and helped to anchor the umbrella sculpture which sits near the Mascoma River. Going forward, there is a hope that the City can recruit individuals and organizations to take responsibility to maintain a short section of the trail on a year-round basis. – Rainie Kelly
Thanks to all who vounteered! Good to know the shifting Umbrella sculpture is now anchored in place!
Posted in Good News!, Thank you!, Work Day
The folks in Lebanon Recreation & Parks wear many hats, and today, some were wearing their bench-installation hats. Thanks to Doug McGrath and Krissy Flythe, we now have a bench installed on the western end of the MRG, near the umbrella sculpture, and almost ready for use. Rest and enjoy the beautiful view of the river!
A small crew of volunteers set out on Saturday to rescue the MRG from encroaching weeds . . . goldenrod, Japanese knotweed, jewelweed and other hardy plants were taking over the trail.
BEFORE
Jewelweed spilling out over the trail
AFTER
Trimmed and tamed.
Thanks to Bart Guetti for these photos and to all who turned out to help.
On these hot summer days, getting sufficient water to thirsty pollinator plants along the MRG can be a challenge, especially at Dysfunction Jct. where there is no easy parking. Bart Guetti, head of the Friends of Lebanon Recreation and Parks, and willing waterer, has been watering the new plants by way of bike with saddlebags. Thank you Bart. A perfect solution!
Posted in Good News!, Pollinator Corridor, Thank you!
Wonderful to have the youthful energy of the UV Rugby Club applied to the MRG pocket park today. They planted, composted and mulched, sowed grass seed, and applied more wood chips under the picnic tables. They put the finishing touches on the park. A big thank you goes out to this good-humored and energetic group. Thanks also to Cindy Heath who designed and spearheaded this pocket park landscaping project! It is accomplished and it looks great!
Update: The U.V. Rugby Club has voted unanimously to adopt the pocket park. They will help provide maintenance, including frequent watering of the new shrubs and trees. Thank you U.V. Rugby Club!
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
They came, listened to a bit of history and the Mayor’s proclamation (honoring MRG Co-Chairs Paul Coats and Frank Gould) . . . and then headed to the MRG and strolled, biked, roller bladed, scooted, ate ice cream, listened to music, viewed the newly installed sculptures, and scattered wildflower seeds along the trail. The day was perfect and the spirit was joyful!
Omer & Bob’s did bike safety checks and fixed minor problems.
A good-humored Lebanon Police Officer, Lt. Matt Isham, delivered ice cream treats along the trail.
Lebanon’s Rollerblade had a van-load of rollerblades for folks to test drive.
So many families with young bike riders, scooters, strollers, some with dogs . . . and a host of others enjoying this beautiful day. Thanks goes to APD for hosting this event and for their donation of a permanent parking area for the MRG. Thanks also to Omer and Bob’s for the bike safety station, to Rollerblade for the test drives of their rollerblades, and to the pop-up musicians who addded grace notes to our day. We greatly appreciate the organizing efforts of MRG Campaign Committee Chair Rainie Kelly and APD’s Kelly Pippin for this event. And we would not have been here but for the hundreds of volunteers and generous donors who have made the MRG a reality!
Posted in Events, Good News!, Thank you!
