Johnson's $10K Rec. Plan

by AJ de Saint Phalle

JOHNSON - The Johnson Planning Commission (JPC) held a public meeting on
November 11 to discuss the Recreation Facilities Plan they are
developing with the help of a $10,000 grant from the Vermont Agency of
Commerce and Community Development.
Approximately 31 people attended the meeting which was held at the
Municipal Building from 7 to 9 p.m. Doug Molde, JPC chair, began the
meeting by defining recreation as "Refreshment by means of an agreeable
pastime" and added that, "Recreation is important for the physical and
mental health of everyone from babies to seniors." He explained that
this will be the commission's third plan, having already produced the
Main Street Plan and the Pathways Plan. He then introduced Johnson's
Community & Economic Development Coordinator, Lea Kilvadyova, whose
position he noted, was approved at the last Town Meeting and is largely
grant-funded.
Kilvadyova invited attendees to introduce themselves, a process which
revealed the presence of a wide range of interested people, including
representatives of the JPC, state, town and village government, the
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson State College, Sterling Snow Riders, the
Lamoille Riding & Driving Club, the Green Mountain Club as well as
ordinary citizens who spoke of their passions for back country skiing,
nordic skiing, fishing and even walking their dogs in safe areas.
Kilvadyova noted that the process of putting the Recreation Facilities
Plan together had begun two months ago with the compilation of an
inventory of recreation assets, which she then enumerated in detail. In
addition to the obvious list of facilities, it was revealed by JSC
Athletic Director Barbara Lougee that the college now has a fully
certified nine hole Frolfing (frisbee golf) course which she invited the
public to experience for themselves. She also announced the donation of
goals and nets to the youth soccer program sponsored by the Johnson
Recreation Committee. Amy Schulz announced that Lamoille Union High
School has extended its network of ski trails to 15 km, making it "the
best school-based Nordic facility in New England." She added that it is
open to residents of the greater Lamoille Valley. Zeke Zucker, a member
of the Lamoille Valley Recreation Trail Committee, pointed out that
steel rails and wooden ties are currently being removed from the 96 mile
former railroad which ran from St. Johnsbury to Swanton, as part of the
process to convert it to a four-season multi-use recreation path. He
noted that it goes through 17 towns, including Johnson.
Kilvadyova invited the attendees to enter into a discussion of some of
the issues surrounding recreation in Johnson. Main Street Plan Committee
member Joe Salerno said the town needs to look at its parks and athletic
fields comprehensively, identify issues created by the use these
facilities and define desired improvements. Chip Boutin, a member of the
Johnson Recreation Committee, indicated that the baseball fields need
serious attention. Kathy Black, member of Johnson PTA and chair of the
Communication and Events Coordination committee said that Johnson lacks
space for public events. She also noted that there is no playground
accessible to preschool children during school hours. Village Trustee
Walter Pomroy contended that Johnson needs to think about long-term
solutions for the preservation of public access to Lamoille and Gihon
rivers. Several people seemed to feel that Johnson could benefit greatly
from a professional recreation coordinator who could help volunteers
coordinate programs, budget and raise recreation funds, and improve
communication among key recreation providers in town.
A 10-member Steering Committee was formed and charged with overseeing
the finalization of the Recreation Facilities Plan. The members are:
Kathy Black, Chip Boutin, Kim Dunkley, Keri Foster, Lois Frey, John
Kearns, Diane Osborn, Casey Romero, Joe Salerno and Walter Pomroy. The
Steering Committee will hold its first meeting on December 10. A draft
of the Recreation Facilities Plan should be ready for public comment
early next year.
State Representative Floyd Nease, who had earlier introduced himself
saying, "I am an aging Johnsonian who plans to get real old here and
would like recreation that will work for me later," told the News &
Citizen the ultimate goal of the Recreation Facilities Plan would be to
secure additional grants and funding and that, "Johnson is poised in
many ways for good things to happen."