KILLINGTON—Killington’s Parks and Recreation Department has a received $45,000 grant from the the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The Recreation Trail Program (RTP) 2017 grant will aid in the construction of 5.3 miles of mountain bike trails located on Route 100. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service announced a $25,000 commitment towards the project. Killington was awarded an RTP grant for the amount of $50,000 in 2016.
The Killington Mountain Bike Club (KMBC) has raised $25,000 towards this project and has agreed to provide additional project support through material, labor and equipment rental donations. Mountain bikers will continue to support the town’s effort in supplying new trails for all levels of riding through offers of supply donations and volunteer labor. The Killington Pico Area Association and the town parks and recreation department will continue to support this project and will petition the community for help and volunteers.
“We are excited to make this funding available — engaging youth in outdoor activities and connecting communities to their national forests,” said Melissa Reichert, recreation program manager for the Green Mountain National Forest.
KMBC members, town residents, and the Killington Mountain School contributed 270 volunteer hours toward the project during Phase 1.
Recreation Director Kim Peters said success of the grant program reflects a strong collaborative relationship.
“The grants I have successfully applied for and been awarded are very strong due to the collaboration efforts between so many organizations, the support of the U.S. Forest Service, KMBC, and Vermont Mountain Bike Association,” she said. “Receiving the second grant and monetary commitment from the KMBC and U.S. Forest Service has made the dream a reality.”
The trails initiative was developed to achieve the goals of the Killington Parks and Recreation master plan and the town’s economic development and tourism strategic plan, which both call for more trail offerings as a way to provide additional amenities for tourists and residents and support the development of Killington’s year round tourism economy.
This trail project is a component of a larger initiative to develop a state-wide connected mountain bike trail system with the Vermont Mountain Bike Association and to make Killington a mountain bike travel destination. The master plan is to connect the Woodstock area through Killington and north to Rochester, in addition to connecting Killington Resort Mountain Biking, the Killington Community Trails, and the Green Mountain Trails in Pittsfield.
The project will support the state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan as well as numerous regional and local land and resource management, recreation, and economic development plans by supporting the growth of the year-round tourism economy and enhancing the quality of life for regional residents and visitors.
“The new trails being built this year will include two miles of intermediate level trails reaching the top of the slope above the current trails,” said Brooke Satchared of Morristown-based trail builders, Sinuosity. “There will be lots of impressive rock features, a scenic view of Kent Pond, and a nice long downhill.”
Construction of new trails and a new parking lot will begin in July 2017, with crews from Sinuosity, town employees, and volunteers.
Photo courtesy Killington Parks and Recreation
The new mountain bike trail system off Route 100 north in Killington expands this summer supported in part by new grant money.
