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Deferred maintenance on City streets, sidewalks and greenbelts has resulted
in a crumbling infrastructure in many neighborhoods. In Burlington's harsh
weather conditions, streets have a life cycle of around 15 years, and sidewalks
have a life cycle of around 50 years. On the average, however, streets have been
rehabilitated only once every 45 years, and sidewalks every 250 years. No City
funding has existed for new tree planting.
With the passage of a dedicated tax in March 2000, the Department of Public
Works and the Department of Parks & Recreation now have the resources to
greatly accelerate rehabilitation of the City's streets, sidewalks and
greenbelts. Additional resources may still be needed to address local
neighborhood needs (for example, traffic calming projects), and the The North Street Revitalization Project - a community-based Enterprise
Community strategy - should begin groundbreaking in the spring of 2003 for street and
sidewalk improvements, undergrounding of utilities and other infrastructure
improvements on the "Main Street" of the Old North End. This project
is estimated to take two years to complete.
Residents continue to express a need for improved recreational space and
facilities. Outdoor space and facilities are in need of rehabilitation; indoor
public recreational space - which many residents view as a priority need - does
not exist. Development of a new indoor recreational facility has been the
subject of discussion and interest among residents and City officials for a
number of years, and is a development priority.
The Department of Parks & Recreation has prepared a six-year (FY01 -
FY06) Capital Improvement Plan for renovations to existing City parks and
waterfront facilities and development of new facilities. Additional resources
will probably be needed to address these improvements and local neighborhood
needs.
Some of the senior and youth centers in the City are relatively new (such as
the McClure MultiGenerational Center), while others are older and in need of
various levels of rehabilitation. There are two Parent Child Centers in
Burlington: the Family Room at the H.O. Wheeler elementary school in the Old
North End and the Lund Family Center in the southern end of the City. Both
currently need to expand their facilities.
Burlington has the largest community garden program in New England, with over
400 plots currently available at eight neighborhood sites. This program serves
all Burlington residents, with special outreach efforts to public housing
project and low-income neighborhoods. There is always a waiting list for plots.
The City supports the expansion of this program and the establishment of
additional sites.
A priority for the City is to preserve, protect and enhance its environmental
assets for the health and enjoyment of residents and visitors. Pollution is an
issue which citizens increasingly confront in various forms, including closed
swimming beaches and poor air quality. At the same time, the City must be able
to sustain controlled growth and new business development.
Reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and developing sustainable,
renewable energy sources are two of the key challenges. The City will work to
support the Climate Protection Plan and to promote energy efficiency
initiatives. Other potential areas for action include upgraded wastewater and
stormwater systems, minimized use of pollutants within the City through
financial incentives and education, and ongoing monitoring of water and air
quality. The City has established a monitoring system through the Burlington
Eco-Info program, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is
exploring ways to sustain that system.
As previously stated, a priority for the City is to continue redevelopment of
the waterfront as a mixed-use neighborhood accessible to all city residents for
business, housing and recreation needs. In 1998, the voters approved a revised
Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The City will continue to implement that Plan,
so that the waterfront provides a range of cultural, recreational, social, and
economic activities for the entire community.
Page last updated May 13, 2003
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