Recap of the 7/11/2026 KT Community Chat at Firefly Farm
7/11/26 Community Chat
Community Chat – Firefly Farm
Saturday July 11th
We had approximately 10 attendees, including KT landowners, business owners, community members, and out-of-state visitors. Representing Kingdom Trails were Georgia Gould, Executive Director; Ilan Weitzen, Office Manager; and Board Member Michael Greenblatt.
Trail Updates from Georgia:
Storm Recovery & Trail Projects
Georgia provided an update on trail conditions following the July 9 storm and the cleanup efforts underway across the network.
She shared an update on the new Cheddar Slice connector trail, as well as ongoing work to reopen the remaining Dashney trails.
Georgia discussed plans for a new beginner-friendly trail that will parallel Burnham Down, providing a more approachable climbing and descending option for newer riders and a better way to link the village and the mountain.
She also noted that Wilder Way remains closed while bridge work and permitting are completed and confirmed the project remains a priority for future trail work.
Parking, Access & Long-Term Planning
Georgia updated attendees on Kingdom Trails' permit application that has been submitted to the Lyndon Development Review Board for a small proposed parking area on south Darling Hill. She explained that the additional parking will help reduce through-traffic and congestion on Darling Hill.
She also provided an update on Kingdom Trails' Act 250 amendment process.
Network Connectivity
Georgia spoke about Kingdom Trails' shared vision with Burke Mountain of creating a more integrated trail network. Because the current trail connections between the two systems are challenging for many riders, a new connector trail is scheduled to begin construction in August.
One goal is to make the Dashney area more of a destination within the trail network rather than simply a pass-through.
She also announced that the updated summer trail map, featuring several new trails, is expected to be available next week.
Trail Ratings & Riding Experience
Board member Michael Greenblatt asked whether any trails would be reclassified by difficulty. Georgia explained that the primary goal is to ensure consistent trail ratings across the KT network and with Burke Mountain's trail system.
Georgia was also asked about trail directionality. She shared that while some types of trails should be one-way for safety, two-way trails allow riders more options for planning loops. She mentioned that KT still emphasizes the Ride With Gratitude principles- including yielding to other trail users.
Ridership
Georgia reported that overall ridership is up slightly compared to last summer, including an increase in Canadian visitation.
Welcome Center & Merchandise
Georgia highlighted improvements made to the Welcome Center this season, including the addition of Adirondack chairs and picnic tables with umbrellas outside, refreshed interior displays, and expanded merchandise offerings.
Several attendees complimented the new apparel and suggested adding t-shirts featuring Kingdom Trails trail signs, offering custom design options, and making Kingdom Trails merchandise available through additional local businesses.
Visitor Feedback
A couple of out-of-state visitors complimented the new trail signage throughout the network and noted that Volunteer Ambassadors have been doing a better job encouraging riders to purchase memberships.
Website Update
Ilan provided an update on the progress of Kingdom Trails' new website and invited attendees to share ideas during the meeting or through follow-up emails.
Suggestions from attendees included:
Adding a dedicated section explaining Kingdom Trails' e-bike policy and rider etiquette.
Expanding the planned First-Time Rider Guide to include broader trail etiquette and educational resources.
Providing regular trail conditions and trail work updates through the website's blog or news section.
Several business owners and landowners present commented that the transition to allowing Class 1 e-bikes has been going smoothly overall.
