Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan Final Report

Leddy Park COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPORT

Appendix A: Background/Supporting Documents

Appendix B: Site Analysis Documents

Appendix C: Community Engagement Notes

Appendix D: Implementation

1. INTRODUCTION

Leddy Park is a large regional park in Burlington, Vermont’s New North End neighborhood . Its substantial beach frontage, multiple athletic fields, indoor ice facility, vast expanse of natural woodland and connection to the Burlington Greenway attracts a wide range of users .

These features necessitate balancing increasing demand for passive and active recreation with the Park’s sensitive ecological areas, and robust public engagement to ensure any major changes reflect and prioritize the needs of Burlington’s community. This Final Report is a summary of the process that led to the Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan – a compilation of ideas generated through a community-driven vision for the Park’s future.

BACKGROUND

In 2019, with several upcoming projects envisioned at Leddy Park in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront’s (BPRW) Capital Plan, BPRW, with the support of SE Group, held an Open House at the Robert Miller Community Center to provide the public with an overview of current and upcoming projects and garner feedback on various park amenities including: natural resources, events, activities, and programming. The open house was also spurred by community members of the Burlington Bike Park Coalition approaching BPRW with the idea of constructing a bike park in Burlington. While a bike park was recommended as part of the 2015 BPRW Master Plan, this opportunity opened the discussion with the larger community about a bike park specifically at Leddy Park. To build on this information, in the fall of 2021, BPRW and the Burlington Bike Park Coalition hosted an Open House at Leddy Park to continue this discussion and to identify what bike park amenities might be desirable. See Appendix A for summaries from these two Open House events.

Building on this initial feedback, and to best re-prioritize long-term capital project improvement planning given the impact of COVID-19 on recreational uses globally, BPRW hired a consulting team in March 2022 to support the development of a comprehensive plan for the park. The Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan is the long-term vision for the park and a roadmap for community-driven improvements.

The project team included BPRW and other City Staff with local planning and design firm, SE Group, leading the consultant team. Supporting subconsultants included Stantec for transportation engineering, Watershed Consulting Associates for stormwater and water quality expertise, and Ide Ride for bike park design and planning. Over the course of 18 months, the project team dove into the park by: undertaking a thorough site analysis, hosting public engagement opportunities to garner feedback throughout the process, and developing plan concepts.

Ultimately, the Final Plan represents the synthesis of data, feedback, and expertise to meet the overall mission of the Leddy Park comprehensive planning project by balancing social needs, recreational opportunities, and ecological integrity.

Data used for the project includes: review of historical documents and online sources; meetings and listening sessions with City Staff, stakeholders, and the public; GIS spatial data supplied by BPRW; LIDAR imagery collected by the UVM Spatial Analysis Lab in 2022; technical analysis using AutoCAD; in-person field assessments conducted by the consulting team; and data cited in reports and plans. A list of references is included at the end of this document.

The physical data collected during the existing conditions inventory and analysis, combined with the site history, enabled the team to understand the site’s physical limitations and possibilities. The anecdotal information communicated from both the public and the City Team, familiarized the team with the park and what may be lacking. The Comprehensive Plan Final Report is a compilation of this vital background information and an outline of the project process, including: an overview of the history of the site, site analysis, development of project goals and objectives; technical analysis; results of the community engagement efforts, the design process and finally, the final comprehensive plan.

2. INVENTORY & ANALYSIS

THE STORY OF THE SITE

To the Abenaki People this area was referred to as the ‘Nonnigonikon Winooskik’ .

Over approximately 13,000 years ago, when glaciers were retreating from the region, the Winooski River deposited a large sandy delta where Leddy Park is located today. The surficial deposits of fine-textured sediments are common along many river valleys and on the shores of Lake Champlain. Combined with topography and hydrography, the ecology of Leddy Park is unique within the City of Burlington.

It has been 10,000+ years since the Abenaki people and others began to call this area home. The area, originally referred to “Nonnigonikon Winooskik” (The Winooski Site) is considered sacred due to the intersection of land and water within the park.

As European settlement of Burlington grew during the 19th century, the area now known as Leddy Park was used as farmland, which was common in the (now) New North End at that time. The parcel was transected by the Rutland Railroad, which connected Burlington, Vermont to Rousses Point in New York for freight traffic and between New York City and Montréal, Canada for passenger rail. In 1901, the Burlington Tallows Company, a subsidy of the Swift Consolidated Rendering Co. from Chicago, IL, bought the parcel along North Avenue. By 1904, the Burlington Rendering Company (formerly Burlington Tallows Company) was in operation and the site hosted an industrial plant until the late 1960s. The rendering and fertilizer company used the proximity to the Rutland Railroad for transportation of their goods. The former rendering plant was hidden from view at the end of a private cul-de-sac off North Ave on what is now the large parking lot near the ice arena. The treed site provided both a visual and olfactory buffer from neighbors as odors were abundant coming from the plant. These previous land uses suggest potential contamination of soils under and around the parking lot and must be considered as improvements are evaluated. To that point, during the construction of the new Maintenance Facility, which abuts the parking lot, a Corrective Action Plan was drafted to manage soils during construction (See Appendix A).

Based on aerial imagery from 1937, the northeast portion of the park appears to have been cleared for pasture. These areas are now used as athletic fields or were replanted with white and red pines or have reverted to younger, successional forests (Daniel et. al. 2022). The pines closest to the courts were planted in intentional rows, perhaps to prevent erosion of the farm fields’ depleted soils and provide a cash crop down the road. As a fast-growing tree, red pine provides habitat to birds and mammals. White pine, found to the west of the courts, were likely logged, as evidenced by stumps in the area.

The northeast part of what is now Leddy Park was once pasture in 1937 .

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Today, Leddy Park serves as a 75-acre Regional Park in Burlington’s New North End perched on the shore of Lake Champlain. Leddy Park is the largest of Burlington’s five regional parks, zoned as recreation/greenspace (RCORG), and has 1,552 feet of Lake Champlain shoreline access.

In context, Leddy Park is one of ten parks located in the New North End including:

• 2 Regional Parks (>50 acres): Ethan Allen Park and North Beach

• 5 Community Parks (10-50 acres): Arms Forest, Arthur Park, Lakeview Cemetery, Mount Calvary Red Maple Wetland, and Star Farm Park

• 2 Neighborhood Parks (1-10 acres): Appletree Park and Schifilliti Park

Leddy Park is connected to Star Farm Park, Arms Forest, North Beach, and Lakeview Cemetery via the Burlington Greenway. Leddy Park is also part of the Burlington Wildways Trail that connects Ethan Allen Park to the Intervale and the Salmon Hole near the Winooski Falls.

Following worker strikes and loss of revenue in the 1960s, the Rutland Railroad abandoned its passenger service north of Rutland and the State of Vermont took ownership of the railroad right-of-way following the company’s bankruptcy. The tracks were swiftly torn up in 1964.

In 1970, the City of Burlington obtained the property through eminent domain to expand public access to the Lake and waterfront in Burlington. The rendering company had already relocated to Williston, Vermont at the time of the transfer of title. North Beach and North Beach Campground were recorded as being at capacity for most summer days and the growth of the New North End meant that the City needed much more park space to accommodate this residential neighborhood. Nationwide, outdoor recreation was booming due to increased population, rising income, increase in personal vehicle ownership and rising leisure time. In Burlington, the New North End was expanding in residences and people. Nationally, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Commission (ORC) was launched by President Eisenhower in 1958 to assess the supply and demand of outdoor recreation. The report, released in 1962, included the establishment of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in 1965. The LWCF enabled the City to acquisition of Leddy Park through grant funding.

Leddy Park was originally named Wabanaki Park, which was the winning name in a public naming contest (www. mediafactory.org/watch#!/widget/32/episode/195094). The park was later renamed Leddy Park to recognize Bernard J. Leddy, a local judge and parks commissioner. The City secured additional LWCF funds in 1972 for park developments. In 1978, the Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena and large parking lot were built, and Leddy Park continued its recreational evolution over the next several decades with the addition of athletic fields, ball fields, courts, and public restrooms. BPRW received funding from the LWCF again in 2003 to expand and renovate the athletic fields. This influx of funding allowed the athletic fields to double; from one regulation field and two overlapping youth soccer fields, to two regulation and four overlapping soccer fields and a reconfiguration of the softball fields to a larger shared outfield. Renovations were also done to the existing field by rototilling and incorporating 4” of compost to improve the soil, as well as the addition of an irrigation system. A Phase 1 Site Identification Survey was conducted by the University of Vermont Consulting Archaeology Program in 2003 in the area of the field expansion and did not return any historical artifacts.

As one of the city’s largest regional parks, Leddy Park remains instrumental in the suite of Burlington public parks providing public access to the outdoors and recreation to both neighbors and visitors to the City. As such, there is increased pressure on the amenities that serve so many people.

Current uses of Leddy Park revolve around passive and active recreation, including: hockey, ice skating, soccer, lacrosse, softball, tennis, basketball, walking/running, picnicking, gathering with friends and family, enjoying nature, and spending time swimming in the lake or relaxing on the beach. The park is also used by camps, school and other athletic teams, and hosts both private and community events throughout the year.

Facilities located at Leddy Park include: the Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena (named after the 36th Mayor of Burlington); a basketball court; four tennis courts; two athletic fields; a softball field; an outdoor squash court; BBQs; seasonal public restrooms near the courts and fields; year-round restrooms in the ice arena; parking; and access to the Burlington Greenway, Leddy Beach, and Lake Champlain. Non-public facilities located within Leddy Park includes the BPRW maintenance buildings, a City-fleet refueling station, and materials storage area.

Map from the ‘Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Master Plan’ (2015) showing the northern parks in Burlington, Vermont.

ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

Leddy Park is home to an abundance of plant species, unique ecological communities, and some of the oldest trees documented in Burlington. A rapid ecological study was undertaken in 2018 as a first review of the site to understand some of the important plant communities in Leddy Park and any limitations to siting a bike park within its boundaries. In August 2022, Sundew Consultants completed an ecological assessment of Leddy Park highlighting high-priority and lower priority ecological areas to help inform any future expansion of amenities within the park..

Soils in Leddy Park are defined as ‘sand-plain’ which host sandplain forest communities that are becoming increasingly rare in the region. Although commonly found along the Winooski River in Chittenden County, the soils are highly sought after for development and have rarely been left undisturbed. According to the ecological assessment, only 6.7% of pre-settlement Sandplain Forest remain intact in Chittenden County. As development expanded in the New North End, the Pine-Oak-Heath Sandplain Forest, Wet Pine-Oak Sandplain Forest and the Lake Sand Beach ecological communities became isolated remnants within the park’s boundaries and were identified as priority areas for conservation in Leddy Park, measuring roughly 33-acres (refer to Figure 2). Appropriate ecological management and restoration of these valuable communities must be prioritized as they are rare and threatened in Vermont.

The sand-plain soils combined with the site’s hydrology have also affected the topography of the Park. The sandy soils, which can be sediment-filled, acidic and nutrient-poor, can easily become incised by small streams, as demonstrated by the deep gullies to the north and south of the Ice Arena. This topography presents an opportunity to capture stormwater from the neighborhood basin as it drains towards Lake Champlain.

Some trees within Leddy’s sandplain forests are estimated to be

approximately 200 years old .

Per the Ecological Report, some trees within Leddy’s Sandplain Forests are estimated to be approximately 200 years old, including some species of oak, and are part of a healthy stand of historic trees and desirable understory plants. Also notable is a mature stand of white pines approximately 100 years old located near the Sandplain Forest and the softball field that should be protected.

Further opportunities for increasing the overall ecological health in Leddy Park exist where the red and white pine stands are located near the existing tennis courts. The dense monoculture of planted pines provides less biodiversity and shades out native understory plants, creating an opportunity introduce native species or to change the use of these areas. Previously, a forest management plan was developed for the 40 acres of forest and active thinning of the understory trees was undertaken by horse logging in 1994.

Along the sandy bluff shoreline of Leddy Beach, native grasses, sedges, and a shrub layer contribute to the Lake Sand Beach ecological community. There are also views of the Champlain Thrust Fault from the beach. However, the bluffs, which have an unstable sand-over-clay soil profile, are actively eroding from both natural and human activities which makes this plant community increasingly sensitive and often damaged. Two additional factors impacting the ecological communities at Leddy Park, and the habitat they provide, are the informal social trails throughout the park and the prevalence of invasive species that, if not managed, will outcompete the native plant communities.

A desktop review for wetlands indicates a single wetland exists along the Burlington Greenway at the south end of the park. Additional wetland delineation will be required for specific park improvement projects to ensure those projects avoid wetland impacts.

See Figure 2 for plant communities found in Leddy Park. See the Leddy Park Ecosystem Health Assessment in Appendix B for an inventory of plants found in Leddy Park.

WATER QUALITY AND STORMWATER

Topography presents an opportunity to capture stormwater from the neighborhood basin .

Two bioretention areas slow the flow and reduce runoff into Lake Champlain from Leddy Park .

Leddy Park is located on Lake Champlain in the Winooski Basin, making water quality and stormwater management a top priority. As the region continues to develop, runoff from the surrounding urban area, agricultural land, and upstream bacteria and pollutants flow into the downstream systems negatively impacting water health. As a large green space and the last stop for a large area of stormwater from the surrounding neighborhood, Leddy Park is well positioned to reduce the amount of nutrient and sediment loading entering Lake Champlain through green stormwater infrastructure.

In Leddy Park a range of contributing factors impact water quality. Large impervious surfaces, especially the parking lots and the large buildings all add to stormwater runoff. However, the two bioretention areas constructed adjacent to the ice arena parking lot, are a step towards slowing the flow and reducing nutrient and sediment load going towards the Lake.

The site analysis by Watershed Consulting identified key opportunities and problem areas at Leddy Park with regards to stormwater, including: the North Gully, the Ice Arena (impervious area), Upper Drainage Gully (South side), a potentially seeping culvert, improving an outfall at the beach, green stormwater infrastructure in the parking area and improvements at the fuel station.

Most visible to the public is the persistent erosion and active downcutting along the gullies and bluffs on the western edge of the park near the beach due to runoff and groundwater seeps. This runoff deposits sediment into the lake and causes unstable bank conditions. The high erodibility and release of sediment along the banks and gullies is partly due to the sand-over-clay soil profile. Further contributing to water quality concerns is aging existing infrastructure and untreated impervious surfaces that drain in the direction of the lake. More GSI infrastructure is possible due to the pervious soil profile and size of the park.

In context within the local watershed, Leddy Park is surrounded by existing neighborhoods. Runoff from adjacent neighborhoods flows through the park and contribute to the erosion of the northern gully, overall water quality within the park, and sediment discharge into the lake. At the time of this report, BPRW is working with Watershed Consulting to perform an existing conditions assessment of the watershed in the North Gully and to identify potential stormwater treatment practice areas (STPs) throughout the neighborhood northeast of the park that drain into the north gully. Preliminary recommendations will be available in late 2024.

For additional ecological analysis see Figure 3. To review the Watershed Consulting memo and the ‘Leddy Park Erosion and Stormwater Drainage/Outfall Assessment’ see Appendix B.

• Large incised gully with eroded and unstable banks caused by groundwater seeps and stormwater runo

• Active down-cutting along gully discharges sediment into lake

• Occasional elevated levels of E. coli in gully drainage

• Surface water runo along impervious beach access path discharges sediment into the lake

• Excessive impervious surface area behind arena

• Large gully (~20’ deep) caused by erosion through alluvial sand to clay layer beneath

• Caused by untreated stormwater runo and groundwater seeps

• Existing outfall is unsightly, hazardous, and located at a popular entry to Leddy Beach

• Groundwater seep along beach access path indicates potential break in pipe

• Path erosion from heavy pedestrian tra c and water runo

• Rare beach plants and invertebrates impacted by beach raking, informal trails, and high summer use

• Large (~15,000 sf) parking lot with limited stormwater infrastructure

• Historical site use as a rendering plant indicates soils under parking lot are likely contaminated

• No DEC records for area beyond maintenance buildings.

• Existing fueling station does not have a canopy or spill prevention pavement ridging

• One-way paved access roads contribute to site impervious calculations

THROUGHOUT LEDDY PARK

• Informal trails fracture habitat, impact high-priority conservation plant communities, increase invasive species migration, and cause erosion

• Invasive species including poison ivy, buckthorn, nightshade, and bittersweet, etc. compete with native species

• Prevalence of dog waste impacts ecological health and water quality

• High water table with sand over clay soil pro le impedes water in ltration and contributes to active groundwater seeps

• Total impervious surface = 14% (calculated in 2013)

• Mowing of understory as lawns contributes to maintenance costs, emissions and impacts habitat and plant health

Ethan Allen Shopping Center

Thayer Commons

Greenway

Leddy Park Rd North Ave

Leonard St Arena

Lake Champlain

Leddy Park Road splits into a one-way loop near the softball field.

ACCESS & CONNECTIVITY

Leddy Park is formally accessed from North Avenue or along the Burlington Greenway. Informal access to the park is located from the Ethan Allen Shopping Center parking lot, from the Thayer Commons development, at neighborhood access points to the north and south of the park, and along the perimeter of the park from private residences. There is not a park-wide wayfinding system. There are only park entry signs at North Avenue, at the intersection of the inbound and outbound travel lanes, and at the new Pause Place along the Greenway.

Arrival by bike or on foot is from the Burlington Greenway or Leddy Park Road which intersects North Avenue. The interior of the park lacks formal bike infrastructure, and the only formal pedestrian infrastructure includes a 350’ segment of sidewalk along the eastern end of Leddy Park Road at North Avenue. Because of a lack of formal bike and pedestrian connectivity within the park, park users typically bike and walk on the narrow 20’ wide Leddy Park Road. An examination of opportunities for the park by the design team has documented that Leddy Park Road is wide enough for two-way traffic throughout and could benefit from sharrows. However, at the arrival at the ice arena parking lot, pedestrians and cyclists would then be left to traverse the large parking lot to access the Burlington Greenway and Leddy Beach to the west.

Various social trails circumnavigate and crisscross through the park, descend the delicate sandy bluffs, and traverse sensitive plant ecologies and communities, often duplicating each other. These trails are highly used for walking, running, biking, dog walking, and nature/bird watching. A story walk is located along one trail to the north of the large parking lot—installed in collaboration with the Fletcher Free library.

Lighting in Leddy Park is minimally located along Leddy Park Road, near the ice arena, around the perimeter of the large parking lot, and along the small parking lot. The tennis courts have lights with an automatic shut off at 10pm.

Maintenance staff access the ice arena by crossing the Greenway and going to the back/west side of the building for trash removal, etc. BPRW maintenance staff and vehicles also occupy the southeast corner of the arena parking area, adjacent to the grounds/tree-crew buildings and material storage area.

Throughout Leddy Park accessible infrastructure is lacking and universal accessibility is not met. Americans with Disability Act (ADA)-compliant parking spaces are located at the parking lot near the tennis courts, at the large ice arena parking lot, and at the lower entrance to the ice arena. Both levels of the ice arena have an accessible route from the nearest ADA parking space, but the arena does not have an elevator or any other accessible route from one level to the other. The beach can only be accessed via a staircase or one of two gravel and soil pathways located north and south of the ice arena. The last 30-feet of each pathway are prone to erosion and very steep. BPRW’s System-Wide Comprehensive Plan emphasizes Accessibility as a high priority, and universal design principles specifically.

The fire department utilizes the large parking lot for training purposes by tapping into the fire hydrant on the northeast side of the parking area. These exercises contribute to a significant amount of runoff and potential for freezing the path between the parking area and the ice arena.

For additional Access & Connectivity analysis see Figure 4 and the Stantec Memo in Appendix B.

Arrival by vehicle is from North Avenue along Leddy Park Road which splits into a one-way road loop after the first, smaller parking lot located near the athletic fields and courts. The smaller parking lot near the tennis courts has capacity for 52 cars including two ADA spaces adjacent to the sidewalk. The one-way entry road loop passes the softball field and takes a sharp turn into the large parking lot located near the ice arena and the Burlington Greenway. The large parking lot near the ice arena has capacity for 269 parked cars with six ADA spaces located at the upper access path for the Ice Arena and Greenway an additional three (3) ADA spaces located at the lower entrance of the ice arena. Neither the large parking lot at the arena, nor the smaller parking lot, have a formal drop-off.

The courtside parking lot is undersized – there is not enough capacity for parking and drop-off, especially when field sports are being played. When the lot is full, spectators park alongside Leddy Park Road, creating unsafe conditions for circulation. The parking lot next to the ice arena appears to be oversized, although in certain times of the year (nice beach-going day), the lot does fill up. It also fills up during hockey tournaments and events at Leddy Park. The parking area adds a significant amount of impervious surfacing to the park’s 15% cap.

The vehicular exit to Leddy Park Road from the ice arena parking lot continues at the south end of the parking lot near the existing BPRW maintenance buildings which then becomes a two-way road exiting at North Avenue. Due to the hidden nature of the road, some motorists travel at high speeds in this section, a safety and noise concern, illustrating the potential benefit of traffic calming along this stretch. As mentioned above, wayfinding is minimal and orientation to the park is challenging.

Image of water runoff after a fire department training session in the arena parking lot at Leddy Park. Image from Google Maps 2023.

• Vehicular circulation serving ADA parking, maintenance entry, service, and re access

• Vehicular crossing at Greenway for maintenance and ADA access to arena

• 269 spaces in arena lot

• Existing lot design does not accommodate ped/bike circulation and is not easily navigated by vehicles

• Inadequate lighting at night

• Fire Department training in arena lot with high volume water runo

• Unclear pedestrian access and circulation from parking lot to arena primary and secondary entries

• 3 ADA parking spaces enter at rink level

• Arena lacks internal ADA circulation between levels

• Arena entries to restroom and snack bar at rink level

• Arena trash and recycling dumpster location requires large truck access

• Parking kiosks installed and in use, starting Memorial Day 2023

• Maintenance area access, parking, fueling station, and planted island

• North access road in good condition, could serve 2-way tra c

• Lacking gravel shoulders and fog lines, and has steep grade change between roadway and existing grade

• Sharp corner at maintenance building where road enters parking lot

•

• Limited way nding and signage

• Existing beach access and trail network is not universally accessible

• Drainage and erosion concerns along various trails including high use trail from Thayer Commons

• No clear and safe bike/ped connection to North Ave. from the Greenway or Leddy Beach

• Complaints from neighbors about vehicles racing along access drive and in arena parking lot

• Lacking drop-o areas for passengers and equipment

• 52 parking spaces regularly over capacity during summer and fall eld and court use

• Lacking gateway treatment and park arrival experience

• Entry signage not clear from North Ave.

• Zoning variance necessary to improve

• Challenging access for cyclists, pedestrians, and people using mobility devices

• South exit road in great condition, could serve 2-way tra c

• Lacking gravel shoulders and fog lines, and has steep grade change between roadway and existing grade

• Less expensive to convert than north access road

• ~350’ of sidewalk along access road before connecting to informal entry at shopping center

• Existing mature trees on both sides of access road

• Overhead utility lines along entry

• Cyclists travel with vehicles on Leddy Park Rd. to connect to North Ave. without sharrows or signage

• Confusing circulation at transition from 2-way to 1-way tra c

RECREATION & WELLNESS

Existing facilities include a basketball court, four tennis courts, two athletic fields, a softball field, and an outdoor squash court .

Leddy Park currently has approximately seven (7) acres dedicated to athletic fields and courts including a basketball court; four tennis courts; two athletic fields; a softball field; an outdoor squash court. From the spring through fall, there is high demand for these facilities as they are used by the community (general public), recreation leagues, recreation programs, and nearby schools. In the 2015 Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Master Plan the City of Burlington’s parks and amenities were rated against national recreation standards to determine the Level of Service within the BPRW system. Level of Service standards assess the number, type, and quality of amenities within a park system to ensure the needs of park users are met. Results of this assessment implied a deficiency in specific amenities where, ‘the primary gaps in BPRW’s Level of Service are in field sports (specifically adult baseball, adult softball, and regulation size soccer/football/lacrosse) and in indoor recreation (such as fitness and indoor swimming’ (pg. 62). Leddy Park affords an opportunity for additional recreation fields given topography, available land, and minimal impact to sensitive ecology.

There are additional challenges with the existing recreation facilities including siting and orientation and responding to new trends. Examples include:

• Drainage and orientation of the existing softball field,

• Shading and tree litter on the existing basketball court,

• Outdoor squash court was not fully completed and is now in disrepair,

• Shading of the recreation fields limits use in spring, and

• Lack of pickleball specific courts.

Adjacent to the basketball court is a restroom building that is open seasonally and does not meet the needs of users. A temporary restroom is available to park users during the shoulder seasons. A playground was once located between the restrooms and the tennis courts but has since been removed. The absence of a playground is a major limitation for Leddy Park as a regional park and any improvements should address a new playground to serve the community. These and other specific analysis items can be found in Figure 5.

Further in the park is the Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena which hosts an indoor ice arena. The ice arena is a major asset to Burlington and scheduled ice time is in high demand. Community members would like a facility with more sheets of ice (currently one full size and one studio) to accommodate hockey tournaments. Yearround restrooms are located on the lower level of the ice arena, however, many park users are unaware of their location and hours.

Along the western boundary, Leddy Beach provides 1,552’ of lake access where people swim, paddleboard, kayak and canoe, relax or walk their dogs on (and in) the beach. The beach is accessed by two informal access paths located at the north and south ends of the ice arena and via a set of stairs that descend from a shaded picnic/BBQ area located west of the ice arena. The existing beach access paths are steep, erode during heavy rains, and do not meet accessibility standards for slope or surfacing material.

Several formal and informal community areas are located within Leddy Park, including the flexible event space and BBQ area west of the ice arena. For the past two summers, BPRW has rented a large tent installed in this area to provide shelter for events and programming, including Beach Bites and summer camps. A shelter has been a long-time request by community members and the tent’s popularity has confirmed that it’s still a community priority for a shelter in the long-run.

Culturally significant areas in Leddy Park include areas where the land meets the water, like the bluffs and along the shoreline of Leddy Beach, that are considered sacred spaces for Abenaki People. The Muslim community also uses the open athletic fields for prayer and ceremony. Facilities to support inclement weather would be beneficial for members of the community, and dually useful for athletic events.

Leddy Park currently has approximately seven (7) acres dedicated to athletic fields and courts. From the spring through fall, there is high demand for these facilities as they are used by the community (general public), recreation leagues, recreation programs, and the nearby schools .

• High annual use of ice rink

• Signage needed for arena amenities that serve the park (year-round restrooms and snack bar)

• High seasonal use of outdoor event space

• Pavilion wanted to support events like Beach Bites to replace seasonal tent

• High beach use during summer months by people and dogs

• 1 story walk in collaboration with local library

• 1 softball eld (undersized)

• High seasonal demand by high school teams

• High water table and sand over clay soil pro le leads to eld drainage challenges

• No existing eld lighting

• ~7 acres dedicated to recreation ( elds and courts)

• Additional restrooms and year-round access demand

• Community excitement about new bike park

• Desire to balance needs of dog owners and those who want to restrict dogs: o -leash prevalence, beach use, impacts to wildlife and ecology, and waste management

• No existing educational site signage (park history, natural and social systems etc.)

• Concerns about noise and partying at night

• High eld demand during soccer and lacrosse seasons

• Pavilion wanted to shelter park guests and belongings

• Space used by community as place of prayer and ceremony

• No existing eld lighting

• Sacred space of Abenaki People - where land and water meet

• Identi ed as a favorite natural area among park users

• Greenway Pause Place to include bike parking, x-it station, outdoor exercise equipment, trash/recycling, and beach access • 4

Squash court (1) in disrepair

3. PROJECT GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Three core principles drove the comprehensive planning process .

Based on the 2019 Leddy Park Open House, values identified by the Burlington Parks Master Plan (2015), as well as a thorough site analysis, the project team outlined three core principles to begin to frame the project process and which were re-worked throughout the project based on updated community conversations.

1. Improve connectivity and accessibility within and to the park.

2. Identify sustainable ecological approaches to any site modifications.

3. Expand recreational and wellness opportunities for all in the park.

Based on both initial public and internal city feedback and the ongoing public engagement, project goals were further detailed with objectives to inform the process and to be a framework for decision-making throughout the design process.

The detailed goals included:

1. Unify disparate use zones within park by:

• Formalizing and improving the existing trail system; and

• Providing safe bike and pedestrian connections between North Avenue, Leddy Park, Leddy Beach, and the Burlington Greenway.

2. Apply climate mitigation strategies based on the Nature-Based Climate Solutions Addendum (2022) to the Burlington Open Space Protection Plan, including protecting, restoring and stewarding natural resources by:

• Identifying opportunities to improve water quality and protect Lake Champlain through green infrastructure to manage stormwater, bank stabilization to protect the beach and erosion control to protect important infrastructure;

• Understanding the ecological communities within the park to manage invasive species, maintain critical biodiversity and provide different habitats for humans and all other species, including maintaining wildlife corridors.

3. Make the park amenities more equitable for all users by:

• Improving universal access throughout the park and to the beach;

• Evaluating current level of service of the existing park facilities at Leddy Park and other nearby parks to identify any needed changes to support passive and active recreation;

• Identifying gaps in amenities to support events, programming and individual use of the park; and

• Assessing parking capacity and safety for improvements to security and revenue generation.

4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

SUMMARY OF OUTREACH

Engagement was integral to this project

Community input has guided the Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan and its process. Past input, from the 2019 Open House and from the 2021 Bike Park served as a valuable foundation for the community engagement efforts around the comprehensive plan, which spanned 2022-2023.

2019 Leddy Park Visioning Project

In 2019 The City of Burlington asked the community a series of questions about their future vision for Leddy Park. An inperson event was held and an online survey was distributed in April of 2019. An estimated 150 people participated. Full visioning meeting and survey results are available at https://EnjoyBurlington.com/Leddy-Park-Comprehensive-Plan/

What we asked. What we heard.

Of all engaged people, data

2021 Bike Park Feedback

In October 2020 a public meeting was hosted to ask about specific preferred features in a bike park design. An estimated 20 people participated in person and 80 people participated in an online survey.

What we asked. What we heard.

Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan

The following outreach milestones contributed to the project outcome and each are compiled in the appendix. BPRW led extensive communication about the project through local media, social media, attending Neighborhood Planning Assemblies and updating the Burlington Parks Commission on a regular basis about the project. Individuals signed up for the BPRW Newsletter were regularly updated on parks projects, including the Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan and individuals were invited to sign up for project-specific updates, which we provided at major project junctures, like announcing a public meeting. Lawn signs and banners were erected on site to highlight the project. Information about the process was also available on site during Burlington’s BIPOC Winter Community Day in January 2023. Postcards advertising the final public meeting were sent to landowners and residents in the abutting neighborhoods. Local coverage by WCAX and the Burlington Free Press helped boost the responses to the online survey when the final plan was made public.

• Stakeholder Summit, April 2022

• Public Meeting 1, June 2022

• Beach Bites, August 2022

• Internal Design Charette, January 2023

• Public Meeting 2, June 2023

In addition, Leddy Park and the comprehensive plan process was the focus of a University of Vermont Landscape Ecology class during the winter 2022 semester. BPRW staff met with the class to tour the site, discuss opportunities and constraints and reviewed their proposed designs. BPRW staff also led a group of Burlington High School students during their City & Lake Semester throughout the park, provided information about the process of a comprehensive plan and sought their input on their needs/wants/desires for the park. BPRW then reviewed their proposed design for the park. The input provided by the students was invaluable as they represent an often underrepresented demographic at BPRW public meetings.

STAKEHOLDER SUMMIT, APRIL 2022

On April 28, 2022, community members from specific user groups were invited to meet with the project team to discuss the comprehensive plan for Leddy Park. Breakout sessions were led by the project team where the 21 participants split into the following three groups: Environmental Advocates, Athletics & Field Users, and Bike Park & Trail Users.

Takeaways

from this listening session included the following:

• The Environmental Advocates were most concerned about site drainage and erosion along the bluffs and gullies into Lake Champlain impacting water quality and habitat health. They supported efforts to increase biodiversity within the park and to remove noxious weeds, such as poison ivy. This group also urged that the large, intact woodland areas be protected.

• The Athletics & Field Users recommended additional recreation facilities be constructed to reduce demand pressures on the existing facilities because they are in extremely high demand. The group also recognized that, while ice time is in high demand, the arena building is often underused and there is potential for the building to better support general park users. This group also advocated for additional lighting in the arena parking lot and in the recreation-centered part of the park.

• The Bike Park & Trail Users focused on the need for trails to be connected to other uses and amenities within the neighborhood and that a trail system should be formalized. They also supported accessibility throughout the park including at the bike park and that the design should focus on safety along the park road, trails, and in the parking lots.

To read notes from the stakeholder summit see Appendix C.

Stakeholder Summit Burlington, VT April 28,2022

Public Meeting #1 behind the ice arena .

PUBLIC MEETING #1, JUNE 2022

Two public meetings were held during the comprehensive planning process. The first meeting was held in the gathering space adjacent to the ice arena on June 2, 2022, where the public was invited to a enjoy a free dinner. At this meeting, the project team shared project materials with participants and listened to community feedback. An estimated 20-30 people participated in person.

Takeaways

from this public meeting included prioritizing:

• A multi-use path connecting the Burlington Greenway to North Avenue,

• An ADA route to Leddy Beach and throughout the park,

• Retention of the natural character of the park,

• Beach ecology restoration,

• Expansion of the parking lot near the fields and courts; and

• A formal drop-off at the ice arena.

To see results from this public meeting see Appendix D.

BEACH BITES, AUGUST 2022

BPRW staff tabled twice at the seasonal ‘Beach Bites’ events behind the arena at Leddy Park to garner feedback from the public on specific questions about future park amenities. Beach Bites is a weekly event for six weeks during the summer which is organized and hosted by BPRW. The event is family friendly, hosts music and food trucks stationed in the event space behind the arena.

On August 3, 2022, approximately 30-40 people participated and results indicated a preference for a future playground to be located near the athletic fields and a large picnic structure over a small one.

On August 10, 2022, two additional questions were asked where approximately 60-70 people participated. Results from this survey indicated a strong preference for an east-west multiuse path connecting the Burlington Greenway to North Avenue. Results also indicated support for selective removal of plantation pines to improve or expand the athletic fields although the margin was slim compared to those who were not in support of pine removal.

To see results from this public meeting see Appendix D.

INTERNAL DESIGN CHARETTE, JANUARY 2023

In January of 2023 SE Group joined BPRW and representatives from the larger City Staff team in a design charette to review results from the first community meeting and to discern next steps for the project. At this charette the team talked and sketched through options for park access, circulation, facilities, ecology, and recreation.

Takeaways from the Design Charette included:

1. The access and arrival sequence are key drivers of the design including:

• Redesigning Leddy Park Road as a two-way road and eliminating the one-way loop.

• Incorporating a multi-use path connecting North Avenue to the Burlington Greenway.

• Creating formal drop-offs at both parking lots.

• Redesigning the arena parking lot to include lighting and landscaping.

• Adding universal access throughout the park including to Leddy Beach.

2. To balance access and recreation needs with ecological health by:

• Pulling programming away from the eroding bluffs and gullies.

• Adding fields and courts in the low ecological conservation areas and moving the bike park from the ecologically sensitive entry drive loop to the southern park boundary.

• Formalizing a trail network and removing social trails.

3. To consider phasing opportunities, and funding strategies:

• Priorities for phase one include the bike park, a restroom, pavilion, and a destination playground.

To see results from this public meeting see Appendix D.

PUBLIC MEETING #2, JUNE 2023

The second public meeting was hosted on June 3, 2023, behind Leddy Arena where an estimated 50-60 people participated in person. This meeting was an open-house format with a formal presentation by BPRW and SE Group. The project team shared existing conditions findings, site analysis, previous community feedback, presented the Overall Concept Design which included alternatives for a few key areas including: the ice arena arrival and drop-off, the organization of fields and courts, and bike park elements. Participants were asked questions about specific design areas within the park and project priorities.

Key

feedback from this event included:

• A preferred playground location,

• Preferred bike park features,

• Lighting and wayfinding location preferences; and

• Park improvements that participants were most excited about.

An online survey allowed the team to collect similar feedback from park users who could not attend the in-person public meeting. The survey was open for two weeks and 726 individuals responded. A significant increase in participation occurred after a local news segment was aired about the comprehensive plan.

Key data takeaways from the meeting and survey indicated the following trends:

• The playground should be located within the recreation area and not near the small parking lot,

• The bike park should include jump lines, flow trails, an asphalt pump track,

• New and additional locations for lighting and wayfinding within the park are welcomed; and

• The community prefers a rustic picnic pavilion.

To see results from this public meeting and the online survey see Appendix D.

Preferred Concept - Overall Plan

5. PLAN DEVELOPMENT

The overall comprehensive plan is the culmination of inventory and analysis, community engagement, and inputs from the City team.

The plan addresses the established project goals and objectives and community needs heard throughout the process. The plan coalesces Leddy Park into a stronger regional park through connectivity and accessibility, sustainable ecology practices, and expanded recreation and wellness. A summary of the comprehensive plan appears on the following pages.

The following pages show the final comprehensive plan for Leddy Park.

Leddy Park

Ethan Allen Shopping Center

Thayer Commons

CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

The following projects focus on elevating the sense of arrival, providing safe and accessible routes throughout the park, and improving the overall sense of connectivity of the different zones within Leddy Park.

1. Enhance Sense of Arrival

• Redesign Leddy Park Road as a two-way road without a one-way loop

• Expand the recreation area parking lot with drop-off, increased parking, and lighting.

• Redesign the arena parking lot with drop-off and lighting.

2. Improve Access

• Install an accessible route to Leddy Beach

• Design an accessible soft-surface park loop trail

• Construct an athletic field access path for users and operations/maintenance.

• Complete the sidewalk along Leddy Park Road

3. Clarify Circulation

• Formalize the trail network.

• Install park wayfinding elements.

• Paint roadway markings

• Design additional formal access points to Leddy Beach

Preferred Concept - Connectivity & Accessibility

• Improve the park entry

• Connect the Burlington Greenway to North Avenue with a bike/pedestrian path

• Create a neighborhood access at Leonard Street.

SUSTAINABLE AND ECOLOGICAL APPROACHES

The following projects are centered on improving the overall health of the plant communities and water quality in Leddy

1. Protect desirable plant communities

• Increase biodiversity by planting native groundcover, grasses, shrubs, and trees

• Remove invasive species

• Avoid removing mature and desired species

2. Improve water quality

• Reduce impervious cover west of the arena

• Install stormwater treatment measures

• Construct a roof over the fueling station.

• Test for water pollutants and bacteria

Preferred Concept - Sustainable Ecological

• Designate south Leddy Beach for ecology restoration and design for ecological education.

• Eliminate social trails to limit ecological impacts

• Install dog waste kiosks at key areas in the park

• Reduce erosion and stormwater runoff.

• Design and install erosion protection measures at gullies and bluffs.

• Study the southern outflow.

Leddy Park

Ethan Allen Shopping Center

Thayer Commons

EXPAND RECREATION AND WELLNESS

The following projects increase the number of recreation facilities at Leddy Park and provide opportunities to extend the recreational and wellness offerings provided at Leddy Park.

1. Add the following facilities/ amenities

• A bike park;

• A regional playground;

• A picnic pavilion;

• A restroom/pavilion/storage building;

• Two additional athletic fields;

2. Improve existing facilities/ amenities

• Redesign the softball field and improve drainage

• Renovate the ice arena

• Designate central Leddy Beach for people

Preferred Concept - Expand Rec & Wellness

• Designate northern Leddy Beach for people with dogs

• Athletic field lighting;

• Dedicated pickleball courts;

• Two basketball courts; and

• Collaborate with the Abenaki Community to design a community space

Abenaki

Burlington Greenway

Athletic Field #1

(Beginner)

BIKE PARK CONCEPT DESIGN

Below is a detailed conceptual plan for the bike park at Leddy Park including jump lines, flow trails, and an asphalt pumptrack with the following features.

Jump Lines:

Jump Lines:

(no gaps)

surface. Includes: drops, table jumps, rollers, berms (no gaps)

(Intermediate)

780’,

pre-engineered kicker ramps, natural surface landings.

Flow Trails:

Flow Trails:

Green (Beginner)

(Expert)

(Expert)

Includes: gap jumps, rollers, berms, hip jumps wall rides, quarter pipe.

Slopestyle (Expert)

or features, 6’-7’ kicker ramps, natural surface landings. jumps, hip jumps, elevated features, wallrides, rollers, berms.

820’, 7 jumps and or features, 6’-7’ kicker ramps, natural surface landings. Includes: gap jumps, hip jumps, elevated features, wallrides, rollers, berms.

or features, 6’-7’ kicker ramps, natural surface landings. jumps, hip jumps, elevated features, wallrides, rollers, berms.

Bike Park Concept Design

600’, natural surface flow/pump trail. Includes: rollers, berms, turkey tails.

Green (Beginner)

600’, natural surface flow/pump trail. Includes: rollers, berms, turkey tails.

Blue (Intermediate)

Blue (Intermediate)

~20,000 square feet, asphalt surface, 4’-6’ tall berms (Intermediate)

675’, natural surface flow/pump trail. Includes: rollers, berms, table jumps, turkey tails.

675’, natural surface flow/pump trail. Includes: rollers, berms, table jumps, turkey tails.

Blue (Intermediate)

Blue (Intermediate)

(Intermediate)

1037’, natural surface flow/tech trail (sections require pedaling). Focus on balance and line choice. Includes: rollers, berms, table jumps, rock gardens, up and overs, skinny bridges, elevated features, turkey tails.

1037’, natural surface flow/tech trail (sections require pedaling). Focus on balance and line choice. Includes: rollers, berms, table jumps, rock gardens, up and overs, skinny bridges, elevated features, turkey tails.

up and overs, skinny bridges, elevated features, turkey tails.

Asphalt Pump Track:

Asphalt Pump Track:

All Levels

All Levels

~20,000 square feet, asphalt surface, 4’-6’ tall berms

Leddy Park Rd

Leddy Park Rd

6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

The Burlington Greenway travels through Leddy Park .

Multiple national, state, and local economic impact studies have demonstrated the positive effects of parks and recreation on economic activity, community health, and quality of life. The availability of recreation spaces and programs can support positive mental health outcomes, attract employers, and reduce healthcare costs.

Leddy Park contributes to these positive benefits through the protection of open space, the developed recreation facilities, and the linkages the park provides to the bike path, waterfront, North Ave, and the New North End. The Paquette Arena at Leddy Park supports skating and hockey programs and hosts regular programming for local clubs, schools, and organizations as well as larger tournaments and events. Additionally, the Leddy Lounge room located upstairs in the facility can be rented out for private events and is a revenue generator for the park. Other existing recreation facilities at Leddy Park, such as the ball fields, also host regular programming and larger events and tournaments. While these facilities represent most of the direct revenue the park generates, the parks’ location, scale, and amenities support a wide variety of economic, health, and quality of life values.

Leddy Park’s adjacency to the waterfront, bike path, and commercial areas of the New North End— is a unique quality that can connect local community members, and the bike path users, to businesses and services in this area. By increasing this connectivity and enhancing the park’s revenue generating facilities, Leddy Park can increase its economic impact capacity while maintaining its core purpose as a locally serving recreation facility and public waterfront access point.

The proposed park improvements include a variety of site enhancements, facility expansions, and wayfinding and signage recommendations. Together, the park improvements will improve ecological health, the park’s natural resources, expand revenue-generating opportunities, and improve visitor flow, allowing cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles to navigate the space more intuitively. The increased capacity of the site to generate revenue through the improvements to Leddy Lounge, the addition of rental pavilions, and the expansion of the recreational fields—will increase the park’s economic impact and the ability of the park to create fantastic recreation opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

PHASING AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The Leddy Park Comprehensive Plan makes recommendations to improve Leddy Park and these improvements have been assessed relative to costs, priorities, and available capital versus additional funding needed to construct projects. Another key factor to the implementation strategy is the dependency of projects to one another - or the “cascading” effect that a project may have that would require other projects to be constructed at the same time. Together, this implementation strategy provides a roadmap for the improvements. The opinion of costs for park improvement projects are based upon current unit pricing from related projects and VTRANS. To see itemized opinions of costs see Appendix D.

Stormwater will be regulated under Stormwater General Permit 3-9050 (2020) and the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program. Existing municipally-owned impervious areas are subject to phosphorus control plan requirements, and therefore, the management of these existing impervious surfaces at the Park should be considered to be a high priority for controlling phosphorus discharges to Lake Champlain. Proposed impervious surfaces will be subject to General Permit 3-9050. For proposed projects at the Park, small expansions of impervious surface will most likely require coverage under General Permit 3-9050 and these expansions will be subject to both water quality and quantity control standards. The applicability of General Permit 3-9050 underscores the importance of planning for stormwater upgrades.

Additional local and state permitting may be necessary pending additional due diligence for each specific project.

The following pages show a summary of recommended projects and improvements at Leddy Park.

Leddy Park projects are organized into seven categories . Refer to Figure10 for site-specific project locations.

A. FUNDED PROJECTS

A1.Bike Park - Flow Trails Phase 1

$75,000

A2.North Gully Stormwater Study $26,500

B. IN-HOUSE PROJECTS

B1. Additional Bike Parking .

Cost to be determined

B2 Dog Waste Kiosks Cost to be determined

B3. Beach Area Designations (Beach Ecology, People Beach, Dog Beach) Cost to be determined

B4. Social Trail Closures .

Cost to be determined

B5. Invasive Species Removal Cost to be determined

B6. Leonard Street Neighborhood Access

C. LOWER-COST PROJECTS

. Cost to be determined

E. LARGER CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

E1 New Maintenance Building Cost to be determined

E2. Restrooms/Pavilion/Storage Building $1,499,120 E3 Picnic Pavilion

E4. Athletic Field #1 $453,628 E5. Accessible Soft-Surface Park Loop Trail $294,875

E6 Accessible Beach Access .

E7. Fueling Station Roof Cost to be determined

E8. Arena Renovation $2,660,000

F. SAFETY PROJECTS

F1. New Entry Road Segment .

C1. Bluff Erosion Control Cost to be determined

C2. Wayfinding $28,000

C3. Existing Entry Road Striping

$6,250

C4. Traffic Calming on Leddy Park Road (each) $10,000

C5. Southern Outflow Study Cost to be determined

C6. Forest Restoration .

D.

CAPITAL PLAN PROJECTS D1 Basketball Courts

Regional Playground

$249,850

F2. East/West Bike/Pedestrian Connector $497,700

G. EXPANDING AMENITIES PROJECTS

G1. Bike Park - Flow Trail Phase II .

G2 Bike Park - Pump Track $575,900

G3 Bike Park - Jump Lines $607,600

G4. Bike Park - Stormwater Treatment .

$51,100

G5. Athletic Field #2 $417,900

G6. Athletic Field Access .

G7. Pickleball Courts and Lighting . .

$325,309

$259,350

G8. Arena Parking Lot and Lighting $1,536,360

G9. Softball Field and Lighting

$1,343,650

G10 Back of Arena Improvements $159,460

G11 Improved Beach Access $351,645

G12.Athletic Field Lighting

$1,435,525

Projects & Rough Costs

Ethan Allen Shopping Center

Thayer Commons

7. REFERENCES

Various reports, plans, documents, and media were referenced throughout the comprehensive planning process including:

• American Planning Association. How Cities Use parks for Economic Development. https://www. brec org/assets/General_Info/Why_R_Parks_Important/Papers/Parks-for-Economic-Development pdf 2002

• Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Master Plan 2015

• Burlington Wildways Ecological Working Group by Alicia Daniel, Kate Kruesi, Jeff Severson, et al. Leddy Park Rapid Ecological Assessment 2018

• City of Burlington, Vermont Open Space Protection Plan 2014

• City of Burlington, Vermont Urban Forestry Master Plan 2002

• Local Park and Recreation Agencies on the U.S. Economy. The economic Impact of Local Parks: An Examination of the Economic Impacts of Operations and Capital Spending https://www.nrpa.org/ contentassets/f568e0ca499743a08148e3593c860fc5/2022economicimpactreport pdf

• More, Muriel E Discover Burlington Parks: Their Story, Their Promise. www mediafactory org/ watch#!/widget/32/episode/195094. 2022

• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: An Addendum to the Burlington Open Space Plan. 2022

• Sundew Consultants, Leddy Park Ecosystem Health Assessment. 2022

• Posner, Steve and Ceroni, Marta. Potential Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation in the Barre Town Forest, Vermont. https://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/Trail_Study_2barre-town-forest-vermont pdf

• University of Vermont Transportation Research Center. Estimating Tourism Expenditures for the Burlington Waterfront Path and the Island Line Trail. https://headwaterseconomics.org/wpcontent/uploads/Trail_Study_121-VT-Tourism-Expenditures-Burlington.pdf. 2010

• Waite-Hendel Environmental Management Historical Map Review & Threats Evaluation Leddy Parking Lot. 2012