BRATTLEBORO — More grass, less pavement - find a way to reduce the bus turnaround.
Covered pavilion (like Kiwanis shelter at Living Memorial) for picnics/concerts.
Ensure access/amenities for all strata of townspeople.
Incorporate paved space for skaters/bladers/BMXers, either within the park or just make it legal to skate the park.
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A riverfront walkway that spans several miles: this will make it an ideal recreational venue for walking, bicycle riding, running, in-line skating, etc. In addition, please include picnic areas and beachfront access to swimming in the river and perhaps an outdoor theater for plays, concerts, etc. This is long overdue.
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What a stupendous project! It is thrilling to think this could be happening in Brattleboro! Thank you!
Concern: Parking for cars, bus, etc. Could there be a fleet of electric golf carts or similar vehicles to ferry people to the park?
Ideally, parking would be a minimum amount of blacktop. Another solution might be either underground or adjacent, next to the railroad tracks, not near the river.
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Meandering, accessible walk/bike routes (alternative transporatation), combined with habitat restoration (ecosystem and education component) plus play/performance/hangout space might support multi-use popularity. Can photovoltaic cells be installed as a second layer? Would school classes take advantage of “teachable” ideas?
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Think big - beyond the current boundaries of the project! There are opportunities for more connections up and down the river. These could alleviate congestion with only one entry level.
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So many good ideas, it is hard to choose one that is best. The key is multifunctional and flexible space that can be used in a number of ways - outdoor movies, summer dancing, chess tables, water preservation, a safe place for kids to go, gather, and try (entrepreneurial stand, marketplace) and for organizations to use for various events (like StoryCorps). Forward thinking would tie in what makes Brattleboro great. We need more shared, interesting, multigenerational spaces. We need interesting public art and space.
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No more parking - we have enough. Art shows, kiosks with finger food, seating and shade. Boardwalk. Keep it totally public! Emphasize communal character of Brattleboro.
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Mural project directed by the youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs.
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The riverfront should have:
• Walkways along the river.
• Seating.
• Places to dangle your feet in the water.
• Places for children to swim.
• Paths for enjoying the river and greenway.
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Go see the Ithaca, N.Y., farmers' market structure along the waterfront of Cayuga Lake. It's a truly beautiful, functional space.
Brattleboro could build on that idea and build a very flexible space that could also serve as a gathering, performance, and storytelling space in partnership with major institutions such as the museum, library, schools, etc.
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I think we should use the river for a lot of things like boating and kayaking or fishing. -Kai, age 5.
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Open-air multiuse plaza for music, dancing (like Saturday night swing outdoors at Lincoln Center in New York City), art exhibits, rallies, festivals, political debates, and other community uses. Riverside trails for walking. Solar panels for energy generation. Benches for reading. Tables for dining. Public restrooms. Shaded areas. WiFi. Garbage receptacles!
Use green pavers - pavers with empty centers that permit plant growth. Used for green parking in France and available here.
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Some amenities for people using the train service. And please - let the skateboarders use the new Crowell Lot skatepark. Skateboard wheels make a lot of noise, and the riverside should be peaceful.
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Please let it be something wonderful. What an opportunity for this town to have such a fabulous site available to develop.
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Sculpture park? Where is the public art?
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Docks and river walk and performance space - “Little San Antonio” in Vermont.
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Bike/walking path all the way to Putney! Go to Boulder, Colo. to see how this could be done.
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Whatever gets created should be for the community - to enhance our environment and be usable for daily community betterment, not as a draw or destination for travellers going through the area. Building a Better Brattleboro focuses too much on them.
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Create a peaceful setting. However it is used or designed, it should provide a space to retreat from the noise and congestion of Main Street.
Boating is a great idea, but wouldn't it be great if we could create one waterway in the world free of motorized use - just one, please. It's not too much to imagine.
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Consider putting pedestrian/bicycle paths under bridges. I've seen these in Vienna across the Danube.
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Combine Bike Stop/Rails to Trails and Riverboard Walk so that there will be a trail where you can bike and walk by the riverside and through the trees.
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What about a sidewalk/bike path on Vernon Street toward Morningside and beyond toward Vernon?
I like the outdoor music idea.
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Don't replicate things that already exist in Brattleboro. There are already several good performance spaces and several festivals. These are good things to support – so support the ones that already exist!
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Reformat the parking lot next to the garage so that the buses can turn around there!
The park on the river should be 90 percent green space with minor parking by the road.
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Keep in mind the housing project to be built over the new Brattleboro Food Co-op building. Residents there will want something that will make their lives more liveable, healthy, sustainable, and happy.
Also, is the flooding issue being addressed?
If a music venue (public, free, accessible) is created, will there be a problem with noise? Perhaps limiting music to acoustic would prevent noise conflicts.
Swimming lessons for residents (especially low-income youth). Could Boys & Girls Clubs run a summer water program?
Any possibility for a demonstration project for hydro-powered facility?
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Let's not forget future high-speed rail! A boardwalk with a stage/performance space would facilitate a festival (or two).
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Have a cleaner world for us and all living things.
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Save/preserve/restore wild natural space (non-human usage).
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River museum: history of the river, river industry, flora and fauna of the river. Boat dock for riders up and down the river.
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I have loved the Connecticut River for all of my adult life, having lived along it in western Massachusetts and Vermont. I am thrilled to see Brattleboro putting its creative energy toward opening up its riverfront to stimulate local economy, vibrancy, and appeal.
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Connect the trails. Bike and walking paths all along both sides of the river.
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Food and outdoor seating next to the river. Indoor seating with a nice view for winter and food carts for nice weather. More reasons to splurge!
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I think this is such a great way to bring the river back to Brattleboro.
Mount Wantastiquet is a spiritual force for many of us who live here, and I think that this park should bring that out to its fullest. Meditation and tai chi classes sound great. It would be good to think about ways to mitigate noise from the bridge - perhaps some very natural-looking solar-powered fountains.
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Whatever is placed here, it would be wonderful to see it built as a model of sustainable energy and building practices. I envision solar-powered street lamps and maybe a solar-powered stage and covered dining area. Also, perhaps a wastewater recycling facility like the one designed for that rest area off Interstate 89. Maybe even solar hot water for showers, after people take a dip in the river from a new dock.
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There should be an esplanade/walkway all along one riverfront and an elevated one on the east side of the buildings on Main Street. The emphases should be on recreation and appreciating nature. Many of these other project ideas could be incorporated.