The path began as a greenway, made possible by the Neill family in Waitsfield who gave permission, and continues to give permission, for a path easement along the edge of their fields by the Mad River.
It grew to include a section in Fayston known as the Mill Brook Trail and then a Waitsfield Village trail section and one by Warren's River Side Park, another section by the Kingsbury Iron Bridge and around Sugarbush's snowmaking pond, an Irasville section and a Warren School section.
Every additional foot of path represents an enormous amount of volunteer effort. Someone had to approach the property owner to discuss an easement. Others had to attend to the legal paperwork of the easement and others had to plan the route. Still others actually did the work to create the path, clearing trees and brush.
Each step of the way, it has been members and volunteers who tirelessly show up for work parties, who help build bridges, cut fallen trees, mow brush and undertake whatever needs to be done. There are the regulars, the hardcore handful who show up for everything and there have been hundreds of volunteers who have helped out over the last two decades.
Support for the path comes from almost every sector of the community, from businesses, to individuals, to towns, schools, and service groups such as Rotary. It is an important asset to the Mad River Valley and one that is entirely a citizen initiative.
Kudos to the current board of the path and the current volunteers, and kudos to all who have served on the board in the past as well as past volunteers. And kudos to the landowners who share their land with their neighbors.
Your collective efforts make The Valley a better place to live and one where all of us can take a walk along the river, or through the woods, or around a pond.
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