Burlington Free Press 6/24/04
Park plays key role
On the banks of the Browns River in Jericho,
with Mount Mansfield looming behind, Mills
Riverside Park offers some of the most scenic
playing fields in Chittenden County.
For the many young athletes who use the fields
for soccer and football, however, the uneven
surface is irritating and even dangerous.
The unexpected dips can turn ankles and send
players sprawling.
A $56,361 grant from the Vermont Department
of Parks and Recreation and the National
Park Service, which is matched by monetary
and in-kind donations, will go to much needed
improvements. This is a valuable investment
in the park and the youngest members of the
community.
Children who have an opportunity to participate
in team sports are not only building mental
and physical health, they are learning such
positive life lessons as teamwork, setting
goals and accepting defeat.
Sports can carry youngsters through difficult
teenage years and guide them to healthy and
challenging pursuits. The camaraderie of
teams helps build confidence and engenders
a sense of belonging.
In an age when more American children are
overweight and obese than ever before, recreational
activity both in school and outside must
be encouraged. Fixing the playing fields
at Mills Riverside Park reinforces the message
that playing sports is an important part
of a child's life.
In small towns such as Jericho and Underhill,
the athletic fields at the park and neighboring
schools are the focal point for many families.
In the evening and on weekends, parents line
the fields in lawn chairs, cheering and chatting
with the neighbors. By keeping the fields
in shape, people are supporting the heart
of the community.
In a forward-thinking move, the Jericho Underhill
Land Trust was formed in the late 1990s to
purchase the former farm and campground for
a park that would be both an unspoiled natural
retreat and a place of recreation. During
three seasons, the fields are well used by
hundreds of athletes from preschoolers to
high school seniors. In winter, the park
is a popular spot for snowshoeing, sledding
and cross-country skiing. In all seasons,
park visitors enjoy quiet walks along the
river.
The Jericho Underhill Land Trust has preserved
a special place in Mills Riverside Park and
the work is appreciated by children and their
families every day.
Where else can a child cross a covered bridge
to get to soccer practice and then dip her
sweaty toes in a cool river afterward?
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