25th Anniversary
Take a look at the TAM and you will see just how much can
come out of an inspired vision had 25 years ago. Starting with just a couple of paths on Chipman Hill, the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) now traverses through four townships, Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT) land and town parks, Middlebury College land, private land and over the Otter Creek (twice). The trail you see today and the greater sense of shared place and community embodies two decades of planning, hard work, and collaboration. Beginning last February we began this monthly series in the Addison Independent, focused on the TAM’s history and unique aspects of each section of the trail. It has been fun and inspiring to reflect on how the TAM came to be, what it means to people in our community and what has been required to keep up with the monumental maintenance and improvements over the years. We have journeyed through the TAM’s founding vision with Amy Sheldon on the Means and Chipman Hill sections; learned some TAM history from Bud Reed and Bill Roper through Wright Park and Otter Creek Gorge sections; and enjoyed reading the personal experiences and observations from Josh Phillips, Peter Schnider, and Gioa Kuss through the Jackson, 97’, and O’Neil sections. Last month we gained insight into what it took to build the Boat House Bridge from Christy Lynn and John Derick. Finally, we draw the loop to a close and look at the final section, passing through Murdock and Battell Woods.
Trail Around Middlebury – our ‘Emerald Necklace’ Factoid
Trail Section: Jeffrey Murdock Nature Preserve and Battell Woods Distance: 2 miles Trail Heads: Creek Rd. or Seminary St. Ext. Features: Open fields, woods and bike trail networks.
The two-mile section of trail from Creek Road to Seminary Street Ext. would not be what it is today without the cooperation of a variety of landholders who each granted easements allowing for the trail to pass through their properties. Heading east from Creek Road the TAM passes a small housing development, the Middlebury Union Middle School and heads into the Jeffery Murdock Nature Preserve. Students and teachers utilize this section as an outdoor classroom and cross-country running ground. Once across Route 7, the trail goes through Middlebury College land and into Battell woods, which offers fantastic mountain biking and easy park access for residents of nearby Buttolph Acres and downtown properties. Over the years many volunteers have given their time to the trail, but none so much as John Derick, MALT’s Trail Coordinator. John has been a constant driving force, embodying dedication to this natural resource. We will honor his devotion over the past quarter century at the conclusion of the upcoming TAM Trek. In many respects, if it wasn’t for John the TAM might not exist for all to enjoy today. Looking ahead, past and present MALT executive directors and board members have formed a TAM endowment committee and are in the midst of a campaign to raise $125K over two years. The committee is almost halfway to reaching the goal with over $56K in cash and pledges dedicated to what has been named the John Derick TAM Endowment Fund. Just as it took many people to make the trail what it is today, it will take that many and more to ensure the future of the TAM is continuously strong and vibrant. And so we ask for your support to help endow this unique community asset well into the future. Please join us in celebrating the TAM at the 11th Annual TAM Trek next Sunday, September 28th. It is a perfect time to pick up one of our new maps, share your stories, make a contribution to the endowment and learn how you can help. To find more information or to make a contribution go to www.maltvt.org. Thank you for your attention to this series dedicated to the TAM. We hope you have found it interesting and as fun as we have. We hope that it has inspired you to get out on the TAM and we hope that it helps you understand the value of a gift to its endowment. See you on the trail! Jono Chapin and TAM Endowment Committee
This column is the eighth in a series dedicated to educating and engaging the community on the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM), its history and varied routes. It is also part of MALT’s campaign to raise an endowment for the TAM’s exciting future. We encourage you to walk any section of this remarkable, local jewel and to contribute to MALT’s trail endowment campaign. See you on the TAM!
For more info on the TAM or the Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT) call 802.388.1007 or visit maltvt.org
Help us reach our goal of raising $125K for the TAM Endowment Fund
$125K Goal $56,000 –
start