The Town of Danville created a Village to Village Master Plan in 2018 with the goal of improving connections along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, supporting interest in outdoor activities, and building a sense of place and economic vitality. This presentation will highlight the work that has been done so far on the Master Plan and highlight the current projects and partners, providing specific examples of how public-private collaborations that are leveraging resources to create and improve the walk/bike infrastructure and social connections in one rural Vermont town.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn how public-private partnerships can produce better outcomes when trying to improve trail to village and social connections in a rural town.
Identify strategies for improving walking and biking connections along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and within a rural community.
Explore how outdoor recreation infrastructure can strengthen sense of place, social connections, and local economic vitality.
Presenters:
Laurel Ruggles, Volunteer Board President, Village to Village Connections, Inc.
Laural Ruggles is the current volunteer President of the Village to Village Connections board. She also serves as the appointed Danville representative to the Regional LVRT Trail Council. In these roles, she facilitated several community engagement projects including a walking audit, community surveys, and public meetings.
Janice Ouellette, Chair, Danville Select Board
Janice Ouellette was born and raised in Danville, moving back to the community in 1990. Since then, she has worked and volunteered in various roles, currently serving as Select board Chair, Treasurer and Bookkeeper of the Open Door Food Shelf and Thrift Store, and Greeter at the historic Danville Train Station. Janice finds her service on the Select board very rewarding, helping to bring long planned infrastructure projects into reality. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and living alongside the LVRT where she likes to bike and walk.
Chelsea Hewett, President of the Board, Danville Chamber of Commerce
Chelsea Hewitt is the volunteer President of the Danville Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of Village to Village Connections (V2V) and the Danville Historical Society. She is also an active volunteer at the historic Danville Train Station. Through her leadership and volunteer work, Chelsea is dedicated to strengthening the local economy, supporting community events, preserving local history, and creating welcoming spaces that bring people together. She is passionate about celebrating all that makes Danville and the Northeast Kingdom a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.
Patty Conley, Director, Danville Vermont Historical Society
Patty Houghton Conly is the Executive Director of the Danville Historical Society. Born
and raised in Danville, Vermont, she graduated from Danville High School and attended
the University of Vermont’s School of Allied Health, where she earned a degree in
dental hygiene. After nearly 40 years as a registered dental hygienist, she retired in
2020. Before becoming director, she served for eight years as president of the Danville
Historical Society’s Board of Directors. She has written numerous historical articles for local newspapers and journals. In 2021, she co-wrote and published “West Danville Vermont – Then and Now – 1781-2021,” a comprehensive history of West Danville and the surrounding area.
She has lived in Lyndonville with her husband for nearly 40 years, raised two children,
and remains active in volunteer organizations, including serving as a board member of
the Danville Train Station - Village to Village Connections, Inc., while also enjoying
spending time with her three grandchildren.