News (2010)

Removed all graffiti from entire 9 miles of Vernon’s Rails to Trails.

The Vernon Greenways Volunteers received a $4,360 grant for the purchase of 1,400 yards of stone dust and recycled processed gravel to facilitate the construction of a 1.0 mile Walking Trail in the Hockanum River Linear Park.

The Vernon Greenways Volunteers will: weed, redesign, fertilize and add plants, where necessary, to plant beds that have long been ignored. A Vernon Greenways Volunteer will then “Adopt” an individual planting and agree to maintain it. The locations of renovations are: Taylor Street, Elm Hill Road, Washington Street, Phoenix Street, Warren Avenue, Maple Street, Hartford Turnpike, Center Road, Regan Road and West Street

The Vernon Greenways Volunteers will provide an outing for an expected 20 middle school age students (60 total including parents and teachers) associated with BESB from all over the state. Activities will include: fly fishing with the Ct Fly Fisherman's Association, bait fishing with the Rockville Fish and Game Club, a tour of the revamped Braille Trail, a barbecue picnic lunch, hands on exhibits from the Ct Fly Fisherman's Association and the Rockville Fish and Game Club and games.

We'll open with the outlook for 2010 and hold an open forum at the end. In between, instead of a featured speaker, we'd love to get a conversation going on what the Rail Trail was like, "Before it was a Trail". The public is welcome. So, come and join us. Bring your memories and stories. Refreshments will be served.

On December 15, 2009, the Vernon Greenways Volunteers was presented an Outstanding Service Award from the Vernon Parks and Recreation Department and the Town of Vernon.

On December 8 and 29, 2009 Vernon Greenways Volunteers and Vernon Parks and Recreation employees combined to install seventeen aluminum braille signs.

Legislation (2010)

No new legislation

News (2009)

The policy is based on research by a Vernon Greenways Volunteers Committee which confirmed that "the most littered item in America" is the cigarette butt.  The policy will be phased  in by location.  Temporary informational signs will be installed by the VGVs as each location come on-line.  Parks and Recreation will install permanent signs later 

Between April 2, 2009 and May 14, 2009 separate work parties were formed to: 

• Create 30 new Braille rope poles

• Install new poles, and reroute trail

• Put in erosion control because of Valley Falls Road runoff

• Plant 104 native shrubs on this two acre site

• Install deer netting around plants

On Monday, April 27th at 7 PM, the Vernon Greenways Volunteers will conduct their annual Spring Kickoff Meeting at the Town Teen Center.  We'll discuss the outlook for 2009 and hold an open forum.  Featured speaker Rose Hiskes will discuss "Invasive Plants in Connecticut and Why We Need to Control Them."  Rose is an Diagnostician and Horticulturist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and a member of the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG).  The public is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

VGV Recycle Group begins monthly pickup for the season on April 25, 2009 at recycle bins we maintain at Church Street, Dart Hill South and Valley Falls Park.

Five Vernon Greenways Volunteers will take responsibility for keeping the hiking trails (Dark Hill South, Dart Hill North, Walker's Reservoir, VCMS and Valley Falls) clear of brush and grass.  Vernon Parks and Recreation will provide equipment and safety gear.  George Arthur will conduct a training class on use, safety, maintenance and techniques of the heavy duty string trimmer. 

A $3,100 Green Power Grant was awarded to plant two acres of native trees/shrubs/plants adjacent to the Braille Trail at Valley Falls.  This project is a partnership with The Friends of Valley Falls who are replacing the Braille signs, rope and paving a hilly section of the Braille Trail with a DEP Grant.  The planting will begin in the spring of 2009.

On June 6, 2008, the Vernon Greenways Volunteers was one of sixteen  organizations statewide recognized by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Greenways Council with an award. The award was presented at their annual 2008 awards ceremony. 

Legislation (2009)

No new legislation

News (2008)

On June 21, 2008, we used eleven gallons of paint to remove extensive graffiti from the Rockville Spur Extension of the Rail Trail immediately below the I-84 overpass. Our goal is to keep this area graffiti-free. If you see any graffiti in this area in the future, please report it to us at bellinghamdl@att.net.

New Parking on the Rail Trail

The Vernon Parks and Recreation Dept. and the Vernon Police have approved five new parking spots available where the Rail Trail crosses Rau St.  If you use this area please park between the signs.

Where: Route 30 to Tankerhoosen Road on Rails to Trails.

Why: Due to DOT reconstructive work on the I84 bridge that crosses Rails to Trails.

When: For a period of six months

starting October 15.  After about six months, a walkway will hopefully be provided to assist in re-opening the trail.  

Update: (4/1/2008)Construction expected to be done by end of June (subject to favorable weather conditions).  Trail expected to open shortly thereafter.

Update(5/6/2008): The trail will be opened at night between 5pm and dusk during the weekdays and for daylight hours on the weekends.  It is urged that the public use caution as construction is still in progress. 

Update(9/20/2008): Construction expected to be completed and the trail opened full-time by October 15.  The trail will be resurfaced soon after.

Recycle Bins

Vernon Greenways Volunteers installed four permanent recycle bins (bottles and cans, only) at Valley Falls Park (2 bins), Church St. and Dart Hill South Park during 2008.  Vernon Greenways Volunteers collect and transport the recyclables to the Transfer Station on Hockanum Blvd.

Rails-To-Trails On-Site Paper Maps

Vernon Greenways Volunteers, in conjunction with Vernon Parks and Recreation personnel and the assistance of Vernon's GIS unit, redesigned the on-site map.  Vernon Greenways Volunteers have agreed to absorb the printing cost of these maps, saving the town an estimated $800 annually.

Dart Hill North Recreational Trails Grant

The Friends of HRLP of Vernon has been awarded a $10,000 Recreational Trails grant from the CT Department of Environmental Protection to create a node for the Dart Hill Trails at the Water Pollution Control Facility.  The effort will include construction of a small parking area, making trail improvements in the area, and construction of a kayak launch site.

Regional Grant for Maintenance Equipment 

A grant administered by the Windham Region Council of Governments has been made available to eight towns (Andover, Chaplin, Columbia, Hampton, Lebanon, Windham, Coventry, Bolton, Vernon) for the purchase of heavy equipment for Rails-to-Trails maintenance. The grant will provide a utility maintenance vehicle, a small excavator, and a trailer for transport.  Each town pays a fee of $500 per year for participation.  This is intended to be a good example of cost-effectiveness through regional cooperation of municipalities.  

Legislation (2007)

We have recently sent messages to Vernon's State Legislators expressing our support for two bills. One bill requires all ATVs to be registered (Bill HB7277) and a second expands the list of bottles that require a deposit (Bill SB1289).

ATV Bill

Message to Legislators

Bill HB7277

Parks and Recreation Trail Vehicle Memo

Update: We have received positive responses from Reps. Janowski and Lewis, as well as Sen. Guglielmo.

Results:

The ATV Bill survived the Environment Committee, but died in the Transportation Committee

Bottle Bill

Message to Legislators

Bill SB1289

Update: 

Rep. Janowski - Against

Rep. Lewis - Noncommital

Sen. Guglielmo - No Response as of 5/8/2007

Results:

The Bottle Bill passed the State Senate, but never came to a vote in the House.