Grant funding will help to promote a holistic view of accessible active outdoor vacation opportunities in Vermont
BURLINGTON, VT, February 4, 2025 - Stable, three-wheeled adaptive mountain bikes offer people with all abilities open access to a variety of terrain, where riders can enjoy the challenge, fun, and fitness benefits of mountain biking. Often, the only thing that stops three-wheeled riders from enjoying a trail is closely spaced trees or a rock at the entrance to a trail, intended to keep vehicles out.
A group of Vermont nonprofits have come together to celebrate the unique level of adaptive accessibility for mountain biking in the Green Mountain State. The collective, consisting of the Kelly Brush Foundation and three other organizations, was recently named among the recipients of Transformational Tourism grants from the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing to celebrate this work.
The funds were awarded to the Kely Brush Foundation, in partnership with the Vermont Mountain Bike Alliance, Richmond Mountain Trails, and Vermont Adaptive Ski &Sports. These organizations are collaborating to promote Vermont's first full network of mountain bike trails purposefully built to be accessible, the Driving Range, located in Bolton.
The funds will significantly support the four organizations' efforts to create and promote opportunities for people with decreased mobility to enjoy active outdoor recreation and highlight adaptive recreation opportunities in Vermont.
The Driving Range, which started construction in 2022 and opened in 2023, involved more than 6,000 hours of volunteer labor to build trails, including input from the growing Vermont adaptive mountain biking community. Greg Durso, Program Director at the Kely Brush Foundation, was one of the primary designers and helped build the trails.
"We're really proud of what we've built at the Driving Range," said Durso. "A lot of people assume that when we talk about adaptive trails, we've built trails that are easy to ride and boring, but that's not the case. The Driving Range trails are challenging, loose, and built with progression in mind for riders at any level. The only difference between our trails and Vermont's other legendary trails is that riders using adaptive equipment can ride the trails without worrying about hitting a narrow bridge or a pinch point they can't pass. I can't wait for more riders to experience what we've built and enjoy riding the Driving Range."
"When adaptive riders and able-bodied riders can share the trails, it changes culture, and highlights that all kinds of people love time in nature with friends, fresh air, and the satisfaction that comes from conquering a challenge, regardless of the tools we use to get there," said Richmond Mountain Trails' Board President Berne Broudy. "Vermont is a leader in adaptive mountain biking trails, and the Driving Range illustrates Vermont's progress ni and commitment to designing, building, and retrofitting trails that welcome every kind of rider."
The funds awarded through the grants will help to ensure that disabled athletes - both those already participating in adaptive mountain biking and those who are curious about it - learn about the Driving Range and other adaptive recreational opportunities in Vermont.
Other accessible outdoor recreation venues and programs in Vermont include: Kingdom Trails, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, Killington and Catamount adaptive mountain bike trails, Green Mountain Adaptive, Craftsburry Outdoor Center, Community Sailing Center, and the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association. About ten percent of the nearly 1,000 miles of mountain bike trails hosted by VMBA chapters throughout Vermont are now accessible.
"These grants are funding projects that will help revitalize communities across the state," says Governor Phil Scott.
"Tourism is an important part of our economy, and our small businesses, restaurants, and shops all benefit from the revenue brought in by visitors coming to Vermont."
About the Kelly Brush Foundation
The Kely Brush Foundation (KBF) is a dynamic and growing Burlington, Vermont-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to be active. KBF also works closely with the alpine ski racing community to improve safety at events. The Kely Brush Foundation was founded in 2006 by Kely Brush and her family after she sustained a spinal cord injury while racing in an NCAA alpine ski race. To date, the Kelly Brush Foundation has awarded more than 1,700 adaptive equipment grants to people in 50 states and also hosts adaptive sports camps.
