Vermont Business Magazine After four years of organizational discussions and capacity building, the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA) executed its first trail easement on January 14, 2019. Working with Carol and Ollie Boles, the trail easement permanently protects that final segment of a proposed 3 mile trail off Robinson Road in Strafford.
The trail easement is part of a larger project that has protected almost 650 acres of forest and agricultural land in that area. In January 2018 the Alliance for Vermont Communities worked with the Upper Valley Land Trust to permanently protect the 380 acre+ “Manning Property” which includes a 3 miles trail. The UVTA trail easement completes the trail loop. In addition, the Alliance for Vermont Communities will work with UVTA to develop a trail connection to the neighboring “Ashley Property” which adds over 260 acres of woods and trails to the growing trail network.
“This is a huge milestone for the Upper Valley Trails Alliance” said Russell Hirschler, UVTA’s Executive Director. “In 2015, the UVTA Board decided that trail easements would be a great tool to support the expansion and conservation of the growing Upper Valley trail network and that vision has finally come to fruition”.
A grant has been submitted to the Vermont Recreation Trails program to fund the trail construction. If funds are awarded, trail construction will begin in the summer of 2019.
Furthermore, “projects like this require strong community partnerships and this should be celebrated” said Hirschler “and UVTA is proud to be a part of it”.
Photo Credit: Upper Valley Trails Alliance (Russell Hirschler, Ollie Boles, Carol Boles)
The Upper Valley Trails Alliance is a charitable 501©(3) non profit organization. UVTA advocates for the use, maintenance, and development of trails in the region. Through education, outreach & stewardship we connect people and places through a regional trail network, lead a coalition of local trail groups and advocates, and promote active lifestyles through trail use in all seasons.
Source: Upper Valley Trails Alliance. For more information, please visit www.uvtrails.org.