South Hero Recreation Park

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Park Information: The South Hero Recreation Park (Rec Park) is home to a 0.5 mile trail system, a StoryWalk, fitness station, and 8 interactive learning stations. Many of South Hero Land Trust’s nature-based education programs, including our afterschool clubs and summer camps, are based out of the Rec Park. SHLT uses a cleared space next to the pond as an outdoor classroom, and will be enhancing this space in the coming years to become a Watershed Learning Lab for the school and the public to enjoy.

Park History: The South Hero Rec Park is a public park owned and managed by the Town of South Hero. In 2007, the Town’s Recreation Commission partnered with Folsom School to design the 8-acre plot. Students conducted surveys about what recreational opportunities community members would like available at the park. The students also worked with design experts and community volunteers to create a model of a completed park. The model and the survey results were presented by the students at a town meeting.

The first phase of the Rec Park’s development was completed in 2009 by Folsom students, volunteers, and several Eagle Scouts. The second phase of clearing and improving the longer loop trail was completed in 2012. A fitness station was built in 2015. In 2019, South Hero Land Trust helped install 8 interactive learning stations, and in 2021, SHLT worked with Worthen Library to install a permanent StoryWalk, featuring books for young readers to enjoy. The 450’ wheelchair accessible boardwalk was rebuilt by South Hero Land Trust and volunteers in 2024.

Trail Information

Trail Type: Two loops forming a “figure 8,” approximately 0.5 miles in total

Hours: Dawn to dusk, open year round

Uses: Walking, running, snowshoeing, skiing. Dogs are allowed but must be on-leash.

The park receives frequent use by Folsom students during Physical Education classes, and for various educational projects, such as studying soil types, water quality, invertebrates and other animals.

Parking: Shared 25+ car parking lot with the Folsom School. Gravel and crushed stone with negligible slope and cross slope, though there are potholes and uneven surfaces. Two marked handicap parking spaces. Approximately 50 feet of uneven grass between the parking lot and the trailheads.

Trail Surfaces and Passing Areas:

• Section 1: 450’ long elevated wooden boardwalk; no slope or cross-slope. Average width 3.6’. One 7’ wide passing space, and 2 turns that create 9’ triangular corners for passing.

• Section 2: 0.42 miles of 5/8 minus crushed stone surface overgrown with moss and grass in places. Consistently negligible cross-slope and average slope of 0.54%. Exceptions: The fitness station is on a small hill accessed by two paths: one has a slope of 5% and one has a slope of 8+%. (This section can be bypassed by taking the shorter loop.) 5% slope from the southern trailhead to the parking lot. Average width: 5’; some areas as wide as 9’. Many spaces for passing. 2 benches: one at the pond viewing area and one at the fitness station.

Obstacles:

• uneven grass between parking lot and trailheads.

• Patches of coarse gravel, including at hill to fitness station (slope 11%)

• Longer loop to get to fitness station has slopes ranging from 5% - 8%, with one section 11%.

Facilities: Port-a-potty during the warmer months.