Vermont Vision Plan: Overview

The New England Greenway Vision Plan began as an effort to develop a logical diagram of a regional network of multipurpose, linear corridors, or greenways, in the landscape. Understanding the arrangement of greenway corridors in Vermont requires a working knowledge of the state's geography because it becomes evident that greenways emerge from the state's natural and cultural environment. Within the network of ridges and valleys, Vermont's topography reveals the linear framework of human settlement and ecological systems. For the purposes of this vision plan, there are three categories of greenway corridors: 1.) Greenways of ecologically significant corridors and natural systems, 2.) Recreational greenways, and, 3.) Greenways of historical and cultural value (Fabos 1995). The process of determining and evaluating the existence of these three types of greenways is based on the spatial identification and assessment of various features of statewide significance. The primary types of landscape features are point, line and area. Point elements include the locations of rare and endangered species, recreation access points, and historical sites. The analysis also included linear elements such as rivers, trails and historic routes. Larger areas such as tracts of conserved land, historical districts and agricultural regions are also considered. This goal of this study's greenway planning is to identify the spatial arrangement of landscape features in corridors. Single types of corridors, whether they are ecological or cultural, intersect to form a network (Forman 1997, p. 254). The network will provide the framework for Vermont's greenway vision plan. In an effort to identify greenway corridors, the study first constructed single-purpose digital maps for each of the three categories: ecological resources, recreational resources, and historical and cultural resources. On each of these three maps, there were three classifications of greenways: 1.) existing greenways, 2.) greenways that are currently in the planning stages, or only partially implemented, and 3.) this study's proposed greenway connections. The greenways were further identified by governmental organization: federal, state or non-governmental organization. Significant greenway data was extracted from each of the three maps and combined into a single, composite layout. The consequence of the overlay process is the appearance of critical locations and corridors within the statewide greenway network (McHarg 1971). In this overlay process, critical locations are sites, corridors, or landscapes worthy of preservation or further conservation. In 1998, the Connecticut River became one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in the United States. The Connecticut River is the most significant in New England and this designation nationally acknowledges the river's scale in terms of our natural and cultural environment. This designation can have profound effects on Greenway planning in New England by formally recognizing the broad corridor of resources stretching from Canada to the Atlantic Ocean. The impact of this legislation will be discussed in greater detail in each of the following sections: Ecological Greenways, Recreational Greenways and Cultural and Historical Greenways.