BELLOWS FALLS — On Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m., join the public discussion at the Rockingham Free Public Library about Phase 3 of the Bellows Falls Historic Riverfront Park & Trail System Project.
KAS, Inc., an engineering firm, will review Phase 3's main goals. Then the floor will be open for any questions, suggestions, or comments.
To date, the Bellows Falls Historical Society has applied for and received more than $700,000 in federal EPA grants, and other sources, to clean up a former industrial brownfield site and transform it into a historic riverfront park and trail system that connects Bellows Falls Village with the Saxtons River gorge in Westminster.
Phase 1 covered the construction of sidewalks, paved parking, access roadway and an encapsulated multi-purpose field behind the former Adams Grist Mill.
Phase 2 covered the construction of an encapsulated historical interpretive walking trail with a river kayak and fishing access, Old Snow Dump seating and river overlook area.
A wildlife observation deck is named in honor of Alice Hawks, overlooking the Cold Spring Reservoir. The seating fabricated from old railroad wheels was donated by Vermont Railway in memory of Bob Adams and Bob Ashcroft. The trail crossing over the storm water canal was funded by a grant from TransCanada.
Phase 3 covers the Poet's Seat brownsfield that the Bellows Falls Historical Society acquired from the village in a land swap. An encapsulated trail will link the main trail with the Poet's Seat river overlook at the top of the hill.
Some early ideas to explore are the possibilities of creating nature trails, a dog run, labyrinth, ramparts, and a meditation garden, to name a few.
Additional ideas raised in this community brainstorm might be fleshed out and incorporated into the plan. Come add your ideas and suggestions.