Open Letter To Community
January 23, 2020
To the Community:
Kingdom Trails is much more than a network of epic trails: it is the very embodiment of
community. The trails exist because of this community’s vision, will, heart, resilience and
generosity. There’s an incredible culture of sharing and giving that underlies these trails. It’s the
founders of KTA; the private landowners and volunteers; the outdoor enthusiasts and members;
the local business owners and town boards; school groups and visitors alike that complete and
make special the landscape and experience of Kingdom Trails. These tangible and intangible
qualities are what make these trails so special, visiting our area so memorable and why we must
work hard to preserve this remarkable community legacy.
Community is about common ownership. Unfortunately, as stewards of the trails and KTA, we
have been slow to respond to issues and concerns and we acknowledge our lack of voice and
leadership. We sincerely apologize and we take full responsibility. We will not look for excuses,
rather we will listen, and we will act. It is clear that we have insufficiently managed the
exceptional growth of Kingdom Trails, which has placed undue stress and impacts on our
community. We, like many others, have been caught up in the trail network’s economic
successes but have missed the unintended consequences and negative outcomes that growth
brings. We wholeheartedly commit to a change in focus.
Community is about public spirit. The very good news is that there is plenty of spirit and
passion for Kingdom Trails, enough to circumnavigate the earth by bike many times over. Thank
you, truly, for all of your emails, letters, social media posts and phone calls. We hope, through
better and more productive engagement, to positively channel that spirit and passion as we tackle
the issues before us.
There are two immediate ways that we are addressing community engagement. First is through
the creation of a Landowner Committee, advising the Board of Directors, and hosting regular
landowner forums. Yes, we thank them publicly every day and honor them with a celebration
annually, yet it is just that, a party. It is not a conversation nor platform to share feedback and
concerns.
Second, please bring all of that public spirit to bear on the Community Forum Open House we
are hosting on February 11 th at the Burke Town School from 5:00-7:30PM. This is a community
project, in partnership with the Burke Chamber, to solicit ideas, feedback and input on
addressing the growth, infrastructure and capacity issues associated with the trail network.
Community is shared by many or all. A lot of the dialogue on social media centered around
respecting the trails and trail etiquette. There is only one group to call out on this subject and
that is us. We have not done enough to educate trail users. It’s KTA’s responsibility to inform
trail users about proper etiquette while on our trails and when visiting our community. Nothing
undermines goodwill and a culture of sharing more quickly and effectively than a dishonoring of
common values in how we treat one another. In response, we are broadening our current trail
use policy and developing a robust code of conduct. We are exploring ways through the
membership and waiver system to ensure that every user must read, watch and agree to the code
of conduct. We will also be redirecting a substantial portion of our marketing budget to user
education and promoting KTA’s new code of conduct. Additionally, to better enforce trail rules
we will be deploying more trail ambassadors and increasing their presence on the network.
Community is about common enjoyment. We recognize that congestion, particularly on
Darling Hill and other network hot spots, has adversely affected quality of life and enjoyment.
To address this, we have taken action to relocate events such as Winterbike to East Burke Town
Center. We recently announced that NEMBAfest will not be held on Kingdom Trails. Further,
we plan to expand shuttle service around the trail network to help minimize traffic and parking
issues and build new trails to help disperse trail traffic to other areas in Lyndon, Burke and East
Haven, as well as join community-action efforts to reduce the speed limit on Darling Hill to 25
mph. And, certainly, the results of our network capacity and feasibility study will help outline
long term and sustainable solutions to better balance and manage trail use and quality of life for
years to come.
This is not a complete list of action steps or remedies but a start of more to come as there is
much work to do. As Kingdom Trails is a community endeavor, we ask you to continue to share
with us and to be engaged. We can’t bring about another 25 years of success without the
investment of our community. In turn, we promise to be more responsive and transparent as we
roll out plans and address challenges. We intend to do everything we can to regain your full trust
and support.
With gratitude,
Kingdom Trail Association Board of Directors and Staff
Katie Story, Chair, West Burke Abby Long, Executive Director, East Burke
Jake Wheeler, Vice Chair; Landowner, East Burke CJ Scott, Trails Manager, Wheelock
Tabitha Bowling, Treasurer, East Burke Lilias Ide, Marketing & Events Manager, Kirby
Thomas DeCarlo, Secretary, Kirby Erin Donnelly, Operations Manager, Lyndonville
Doug Clarner, Landowner, East Burke
Rob Elmes, Lyndonville
Matt Langlais, West Burke
Elise Lawson, Landowner, West Burke
Harry Morrison, Lyndon
Ann Nygard, West Burke
Thad Richardson, Lyndon
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EAST BURKE, VT – October 27, 2025 – Kingdom Trails, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of recreational trails in the Northeast Kingdom, today announced it has received a monumental gift of $100,000 from Bear Den Partners, the owners of Burke Mountain, and Kingdom Trails’ single largest private landowner. This unprecedented corporate donation is the largest in Kingdom Trails’ history and signifies a powerful commitment to the economic vitality and future of recreation in the Northeast Kingdom. The $100,000 investment comes as both organizations continue to expand their collaborative efforts to enhance outdoor tourism and provide world-class experiences for visitors and local community members alike. This funding will be immediately directed toward critical trail maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable trail development projects across the network, allowing Kingdom Trails to build important new connections and keep the trails in top shape. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity and vision demonstrated by the leadership at Burke Mountain,” said Georgia Gould, Interim Executive Director of Kingdom Trails. “This is more than just a donation; it’s an unprecedented investment in the future health of our trails, our organization, and the entire Northeast Kingdom community. This investment ensures we can not only maintain the current quality of the Kingdom Trails experience but also pursue long-term sustainability and innovative projects.” The gift came during an evening of music and celebration of Kingdom Trails’ Landowners hosted by Bear Den Partners at the Burke Mountain Hotel. The event brought together the landowners, community members, and friends who make Kingdom Trails possible. The evening featured a powerful joint performance by national touring artists Adam Gardner of Guster and Stephen Kellogg, whose music captured the warmth, connection, and spirit that define the Northeast Kingdom. The relationship between Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails has been instrumental in positioning the region as a premier mountain biking and outdoor destination. Burke Mountain’s contribution emphasizes a shared goal of drawing visitors to the region while ensuring responsible stewardship of the natural resources. “Burke Mountain is a proud neighbor and partner to Kingdom Trails,” said Jon Schaefer, CEO of Bear Den Partners. “We understand that the trails are a critical driver of our local economy and an important amenity for our guests. Making this $100,000 commitment was a clear decision—it ensures the longevity of this incredible network and helps secure the Northeast Kingdom’s reputation as a top-tier outdoor destination for generations to come.” The organizations encourage the public and corporate partners to view this as an inspiration for collective responsibility in protecting and preserving the trails that define Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom experience. Kingdom Trails extends its sincere gratitude to Bear Den Partners for their integral support of this investment and their dedication to the future of the trails. About Kingdom Trails Kingdom Trails is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of a 100+ mile network of non-motorized multi-use trails in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Utilizing a land-use agreement model with 106 private landowners, Kingdom Trails provides recreational access that promotes healthy lifestyles, economic vitality, and sustainable use of resources. About Burke Mountain Located in the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Burke Mountain Resort is an independent, four-season destination owned by Bear Den Partners. Burke delivers 178 acres of world-class skiing and riding in the winter, and lift-served mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Burke’s bike park is adjacent to the world-renowned Kingdom Trails network, a mecca for mountain bikers. Year-round, Burke and the Burke Mountain Hotel host events and activities that reflect the culture and community of Vermont: down-to-earth, uncorporate and driven by the spirit of the mountain and the people who ride it. For more information, visit SkiBurke.com or follow on all major social platforms including Instagram , Facebook and YouTube .
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