A Burlington Bike/Walk Advocate Goes West
Posted by Chapin on Mar 12 2012
Tags: Activism, Burlington, Burlington Walk-Bike Council, Jon Greisser, Trails, Vermont, Volunteer
It is hard to imagine, but Burlington is losing one of our most passionate and skilled bike advocates to the sunny skies of California.
Jon Griesser was an active Local Motion member and participant in the Burlington Walk-Bike Council, but the project that truly demonstrated Jon’s tireless commitment was the renovation of the Route 127 path trailhead near his home in the Old North End.
The entrance to this path constructed just five years before had become unwelcoming. Overgrown trees, graffiti, and broken glass made this trail seem abandoned. Jon pulled together City Councilors, neighbors, City departments and helped champion a low-cost but high visibility trailhead improvement for the community. The improvements took many years, but a scenic viewshed was opened up, a water fountain was installed, greenspace was added, and a large kiosk was constructed.
Mayor Bob Kiss recognized Jon for his tireless commitment at the November 2010 opening ceremony.
For this great trailhead revitalization project, Jon received the Herb Bloomenthal community service award last year from the City of Burlington.
Jon was also instrumental in merging the Burlington Walking Work Group and the Burlington Bike Council…so that pedestrians and cyclists could plan and speak together. On this new Walk / Bike Council Jon has been an important strategic thinker on many projects.
Jon’s last big bike/pedestrian project was helping Local Motion put together a candidate’s questionnaire for the 2012 Burlington Mayor’s race. It was the first every mayoral candidate survey for bike/pedestrian interests in the Queen City…and it helped keep the transportation issues on the front burner during much of the race. Thank you Jon!
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