On September 13, 2024, U.S. Senator Peter Welch hosted an event at Richmond Mountain Trails' The Driving Range, marking the launch of Vermont's first fully accessible trail network in Bolton. This initiative is designed to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for adaptive riders while also addressing broader tourism and accessibility challenges in the state. During the event, Welch discussed the significant economic impact of Vermont's outdoor recreation sector, which generated nearly $3 billion in travel spending in 2023 and contributed 4.6% to the state's GDP [1b449fbc].
The trail network, developed with over 5,000 volunteer hours since 2022, spans 256 acres and is a pioneering effort in adaptive mountain biking, allowing both adaptive and non-adaptive bikers to ride together. Currently, only 10% of Vermont's mountain biking trails are adaptive, making this project a crucial step toward inclusivity in outdoor activities [21a6c407].
Welch emphasized the importance of ongoing funding for the maintenance and development of outdoor recreation sites, noting that the outdoor recreation workforce in Vermont grew by 12.4% in 2022, reaching 15,000 workers [1b449fbc]. The initiative not only aims to boost accessibility but also to attract the approximately 13 million people with disabilities living within a five-hour radius of Vermont, thereby enhancing tourism [21a6c407].
In addition to Vermont's trail developments, outdoor recreation remains a vital economic driver in neighboring states. For example, New Hampshire's outdoor recreation sector contributes over $3 billion annually and supports 31,000 jobs. Recent discussions led by Senator Maggie Hassan have highlighted the economic significance of outdoor activities, further underscoring the need for investment in recreational infrastructure across the region [99d17049][3d9b58e6].
As the outdoor recreation sector faces challenges, including the need for sustainable funding, initiatives like Vermont's adaptive trail network serve as a model for how communities can collaborate to create inclusive and economically beneficial outdoor spaces [d0181074].