The White River Valley Herald

Randolph Wins $65K Recreation Grant

Town, RASTA Nab Lion’s Share Of Pilot Funding


Zac Freeman of Braintree discusses the recently won VOREC grant. (Herald / Maegon Courville)

Zac Freeman of Braintree discusses the recently won VOREC grant. (Herald / Maegon Courville)

A t the Governor’s ceremonial office in the State House, the Town of Randolph and RASTA (the Rochester/Randolph Area Sports Trail Alliance) were awarded the bulk of a $100,000 pilot grant last Thursday.

Named for the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), the grant program sets aside money to help grow local economies through outdoor recreation activities.

In its initial round, the state awarded a total of $100,000 in grant funds. Of that, Randolph took the lion’s share, receiving $65,000 for marketing and events, trail design, and construction projects.

The program offers a municipal grant, so money comes directly to the town, but the town must partner with an outdoor recreation organization.

“Randolph has such a strong relationship with RASTA that it’s a win-win there,” said Zac Freeman of Braintree, one of the co-founders of RASTA. Some of that funding, he added, will go toward outfitting a soonto be-open trails hub on Pleasant Street with informational materials on area trails.

Zac Freeman of Braintree talks of big plans for R.A.S.T.A and the Randolph community. R.A.S.T.A was the recent recipient of a $65,000 state grant. (Herald / Maegon Courville)

Zac Freeman of Braintree talks of big plans for R.A.S.T.A and the Randolph community. R.A.S.T.A was the recent recipient of a $65,000 state grant. (Herald / Maegon Courville)

Newport will receive the balance of the funding: $35,000 for a trail connection project between Prouty Beach and Bluffside Farm.

According to Freeman, 29 applicant towns put in proposals for the VOREC grant.

During the announcement, which came at the front of the Governor’s weekly press conference at the State House, Gov. Phil Scott emphasized that the two towns’ efforts serve as a template for the rest of the state.

“We can measure the impact their increased focus on outdoor recreation has on their economy and apply that to areas around the state,” he said.

“The communities we’re investing in recognize the value of outdoor recreation for the economy and quality of life and they’re committed to environmental stewardship as a guiding principal.”

That ideal of recreation’s impact on economic vitality was echoed by the VOREC chair, Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Michael Snyder.

“These communities are close to the finish line with exciting and meaningful recreation projects, and this grant gives them the extra boost they need,” Snyder said. “And what’s truly special about this program is that it supports the outdoor recreation economy while maintaining environmental stewardship as a core value of any project.”

Freeman worked with a team of folks to put the Randolph proposal together, including Town Manager Adolfo Bailon, Paul Rea, Selectman Perry Armstrong, VTC President Pat Moulton, and Mary Russ, the executive director of the White River Partnership.

Making a Space

RASTA’s Freeman is enthused by the town’s recent win. In an interview Friday, he showed off the space that will soon transform into an outdoor hub on Pleasant Street.

That building, an 1850s postand beam structure, long derelict, was purchased by real estate agent and outdoor enthusiast Paul Rea. A portion of the building, which sits just opposite the town’s gazebo, will be dedicated to RASTA activities and a second unit will be a commercial rental. Rea hopes to attract a biking and outdoors shop to the building.

Rea is “generously giving the club this space free of charge to help encourage outdoor recreation in our town,” Freeman said.

The RASTA section is meant to be a trail room, with information about all of the region’s outdoor recreation attractions.

“We’ll have trail information, a kiosk and stuff, we’re going to have a 3-D relief map … in the center of the room. It’s going to be really neat,” said Freeman.

This section of the building will be called the RASTA Outdoor Hub and the VOREC grant will “help fund this 3-D relief map in the center, a sign out front, a kiosk out there, all kinds of stuff.”

Outdoor Vision

RASTA also has a laundry list of projects in the works. Efforts outdoors (both on trails and on the building renovation) will increase as warmer weather sets in.

“We’re going to pretty much ramp things up here very soon. We’re done a lot of work so far. It might not look like it, but … it was a total mess,” Freeman said.

While Rea is financing the renovation of the building, funding from the VOREC grant will go toward getting the Outdoor Hub up and running.

With these sources of energy (and money), Freeman says Randolph is in a good spot to help boost the region.

“Randolph feeds a lot of these surrounding towns,” he said, “so I think the focus on Randolph will support other initiatives in other towns.”

One thing Freeman emphasized is that the Randolph region’s network of trails is different from many others throughout the state. That strength comes from the town’s “non-resort, rural Vermont feel,” he said.

“Our goal is to not change the character of Randolph. We don’t want to change this rural, authentic, Vermont character.”

There will be an open house at the Outdoor Hub on April 11 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and anyone interested in learning more or lending a hand may stop in to hear about the group’s efforts.

“We want to build this in a sustainable way that’s well balanced in our town,” Freeman said.