The City should develop an approach that identifies and values key elements
and artifacts of the industrial, transportation and maritime heritage associated
with the Burlington Waterfront. Such an approach will serve the goals of
education, protection of cultural heritage and enhanced opportunities for
heritage tourism. Senator Jeffords is investigating a Heritage Corridor for Lake
Champlain with the National Park Service. The City should move ahead with its
own system.
A self-guided pedestrian and/or bicycle Heritage Trail should be developed.
Points of interest should be marked along the route with a consistent signage
system. Models could enhance the educational experience at key points. Points of
interest on the Waterfront might include:
- Barge Canal Bridge
- Roundhouse Point
- Rail Yard
- South Spit
- Union Station
- Pease Property
- Ship Wrecks
- Moran Plant
- Railroad Siding
- Railroad Tunnel
A Heritage Trail should also link the Waterfront with the rest of downtown.
Burlington Business Association, the Department of Planning and Zoning, the
Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Church Street Marketplace have all
expressed an interested in working on such a project. The City should work
closely with the efforts of the Lake Champlain Bikeways group. These groups
should create a taskforce which might begin with an inventory of existing
conditions and historical documentation to investigate the feasibility.
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