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Tri‑town trail options and Belmont Trail updates discussed; pocket-park grant rejected over ADA concerns
Summary
Planning commissioners heard updates on a regional shared-use trail (initially the Tri-Town/now 'Quad' idea), progress on the Belmont Trail routing, and that a pocket-park grant application was rejected for limited ADA access.
Commissioners received several project updates and announcements during the meeting, including regional trail planning, local trail routing and a rejected pocket-park grant.
Planning Commission member (name not provided) said the pocket-park grant application did not succeed because reviewers raised concerns about limited ADA access and the park’s proximity to the river. “They were concerned about, ADA access. It was too limited. They've always been concerned about it being so close to the river,” the member said.
Commissioners also discussed a regional shared-use trail that began as a Pittsford–Proctor–West Rutland idea and has expanded to include Rutland Town; speakers called it a “Tri Town” route and joked about renaming it for four towns. The presenters said project managers are pursuing a scoping and preliminary design study for a fourth route option that would use a section of West Proctor Road.
Planning Commission member Marybeth (last name not specified) provided an update on the Belmont Trail, saying staff are identifying exact routes and coordinating options that may link to the larger regional trail. Marybeth said planners expect some portions to be off-road or separated from highways, but that some sections may follow road shoulders or existing corridors. She said the route could traverse Northwood Park and Pine Hill Park and noted existing carriage-trail and mountain-bike routes would require substantial development and surfacing to serve all users year-round.
Speakers cautioned that the larger trail project involves many landowners and that no concrete route from West Rutland to Castleton had been finalized; the presenters described the effort as in “very early” and “idea stage.” They also flagged environmental and state-agency constraints, noting that the Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area is a sensitive area the state does not want a trail to cross.
No vote or formal action was taken; presenters said planning and landowner outreach will continue.
