Essex Junction, Vt. -- The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is holding a public meeting to present the conceptual plans, which are part of a master planning process, for improvements to Sand Bar State Park located in Milton, Vermont. Each year, the park welcomes between 40,000-50,000 visitors and the master plan proposes updates to the park to meet the needs of visitors, make the park safer, protect the environment and enhance historic and cultural resources.
Proposed improvements include:
- Moving the park entrance 425’ to the west of the current entrance to improve visibility and safety for visitors entering and exiting the park.
- Restoring Class I wetland buffers where the previous entrance/exit lane was. Class I wetlands are the highest protected wetlands in the State and are considered exceptional or irreplaceable in their contribution to Vermont’s natural heritage. Restoration will provide greater protection to the sensitive natural environment within the wetland complex itself.
- Upgrading the stone bathhouse building to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This will include adding accessible parking, a family restroom, and improvements to building entrances and exits. Concepts also include making the structure more functional by introducing more natural light to the interior of the building and making the building a rentable structure for family events or company picnics.
- Adding a new open-air pavilion east of the main bathhouse.
- Increasing accessibility across the entire park, including travel from and between parking areas, the play area, bathrooms, stone building and the proposed pavilion.
The meeting will be held from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM on January 29th, 2019 in the Community Meeting Room at the Milton Town Office Complex, 43 Bombardier Road, Milton, VT. There will be a short presentation at 5:30 followed by an open format discussion with conceptual plans on display.
For more information, visit: https://www.vtstateparks.com/sandbar.html