The Mascoma River Greenway

Tell me, is there anything lovelier . . . than a sunny day in May? Wildflower books in hand, we set off on the western end of the MRG, walking the trail from the Powerhouse to Riverside Park.   It was fun to identify flowers in bloom and to note the ones to come.

Anemone quinquefolia

Celandine

Violets

Canada Mayflower

Starflower

Golden Alexander

Wintergreen – wonderful aroma!

False Solomon’s Seal

Barren Strawberry

Apple Blossoms

There were also pussy toes, beech drops. wild strawberry, blue cohosh, colts foot, honeysuckle, bellwort, blueberry, lots of dandelions . . . and more to be identified. And there was more wildness upon reaching Riverside Park watching the death-defying antics of the skateboarders!

A springtime clean up the MRG between High Street and APD offered more than beer cans and cellophane wrappers today – lots of new life!

Greater Celandine

Violets

Wild Strawberry

Garlic Mustard

White Violets

Ground Ivy (AKA Gill-over-the-ground or Creeping Charlie)

Dandelions

Dear Friends of the Mascoma River Greenway,

You have done it!! Your contributions to the Greenway have reached within 98% of the GOAL. The slapshot is headed to net! Only $37,500 to go.  Help score one for Lebanon and the Upper Valley with a tip-in before the ice melts.

Physical labor continues through this spring, summer and fall to remove the rest of the rails and ties, secure the bridges, improve the trail surface, and celebrate accomplishments. Some of the labor will continue to be volunteer, much will be contracted. We’ll keep in touch so you can come out to help when needed.

Now the important message— You may have heard of the Revisioning Plan for downtown Lebanon, brought about by the degraded condition of the former railroad tunnel  which runs under the mall area. There is currently a survey being taken by the city to get citizen opinions on three possible downtown renovations.

The city and the MRG need your support. Please take the survey to help improve our community. Only one of the projected plans includes the tunnel; it would keep bikes and pedestrians on the trail and off the streets.  The other plans would close the tunnel and create alternative routes on and across streets. There are attractive options, such as a pedestrian bridge across the Mascoma River, pictured in some plans but not others. When you fill out the survey, you can include thoughts on individual pieces of the plans which could be melded together.

The MRG is being created to connect Lebanon and West Lebanon, by bicycle, on foot, with baby strollers, in wheelchairs, on roller-skates and skateboards. Take the survey, and help communicate that the MRG needs to be a safe path through the downtown area.

Finally, please mark your calendars, Thursday, April 7^th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at City Hall Council Chambers, we will have a presentation on the final construction plans and budget for the MRG construction. I hope you can join us.

Thank you for your continued support and participation.

Frank Gould, Mascoma River Greenway Co-Chair

One of the many joys of Upper Valley life is the spirit of volunteerism.  The MRG has benefited greatly from that willingness to lend a hand.  The work has often been hard, hot, and dirty . . . and yet done with enthusiasm and camaraderie.

Some employers, such as King Arthur Flour, Simbex, RSG,  and Hypertherm, offered paid time for this community service.

The Vital Communities Leadership Team put in a long, hot day of dirty work . . . and look at those smiles!

The Upper Valley Trails Alliance High School Trails Corps was a great group of teens who worked a number of summer days removing tons of ties.

Lebanon Girl Scouts have sold cookies to raise funds for the MRG.

Volunteers have hosted house parties so that friends and neighbors could learn more about the MRG

And many, many individuals have shown up for work days.

Thanks to all you wonderful volunteers for your efforts on behalf of the MRG!