The nonprofit raised $1,026,622 in cash from over 250 individuals and businesses, including $250,000 from the University of Vermont Medical Center, according to the mayor’s office.
Parks Foundation Chair John Bossange presented Mayor Miro Weinberger with a symbolic oversized check at a Tuesday news conference held at one of three new “pause places” along the bike path, which will feature installations of exercise equipment donated by the hospital.
The money will also pay for 120 trees to be planted along the path and improve the connection to Texaco Beach, which the city recently bought from developer Eric Farrell.
In addition, the city will repaving the bike path from the new skate park to North Beach, with the section from the skate park to Texaco Beach nearly complete as of Tuesday. The total cost of the latest improvements is budgeted at $2.4 million.
“The Parks Foundation is proud to represent the hundreds of individual donors and businesses who gave to support the rehabilitation of the Bike Path,” Bossange told close to 30 reporters, city employees and community members at Tuesday’s news conference.
“This gift to the city ensures that Burlingtonians and visitors will enjoy the new amenities along the eight-mile path, including new ‘pause places’ in the Urban Reserve for decades to come,” he added.
Weinberger thanked Bossange, the hospital and other supporters for their generosity. As has become a theme of his recent public appearances, he called on city voters to support a set of questions on the Nov. 8 ballot the mayor has touted as critical to the city’s future.
Tuesday Weinberger focused on Questions 1 and 2, which ask voters to allow the city to issue a combined $36 million in bonds to pay for infrastructure projects.
Question 1 asks voters to approve a $27.5 million general obligation bond to pay for a variety of infrastructure projects. Weinberger has said this is not a “Cadillac plan,” and the improvements are necessary ones, such as repaving roads and sidewalks and purchasing new fire engines.
A general obligation bond requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
Question 2 asks voters to approve an $8.4 million revenue bond for new water and sewer lines. Forty-two percent of Burlington’s water lines are 75 years old or older, according to city officials.
The combined property tax increase in peak repayment years, if both bonds are passed, would be $140 more annually for the owner of a median value Burlington home, or a home valued at $231,500, according to the city.
Both measures are support the mayor’s 10-year capital plan which has the support of the City Council. For more information on the plan, see this white paper published by the city in August.
