Winooski Ave Reflections & Burlington Urban Renewal History

This event will have two walks, hosted by the Burlington Walk-Bike Council. The first walk will be down a portion of North Winooski Avenue, from the Old North End into Downtown. Participants will evaluate North Winooski Ave. in terms of pedestrian and bicycle safety and comfort. Everyone’s feedback and ideas will be compiled for use by the Burlington Walk-Bike Council.

A lunch break will include pizza and vegetables, as well as the viewing of an excellent short documentary by Patrick Farrington on the history of urban renewal in Burlington and the demolition of much of Burlington’s historic Italian neighborhood. It includes a number of moving interviews with some of those displaced.

The second walk, after lunch, will go over to the urban renewal area accompanied by some members of the Vermont Italian Club to see where some former homes, businesses, and schools had been located before they were demolished. Some of the Club members lived in this neighborhood as children or young adults, others had relatives living there.

Time: 11:00am-1:00pm and 1:00pm-3:00pm

Date: Saturday, May 12th

Route: Panadero’s Bakery, 203 North Winooski Ave. to Fletcher Free Library Community Room, College Street. Then ending at Burlington Square Mall, off Church Street. Optional ending at Maglianero Cafe, 47 Maple Street.

Host Organization: Burlington Walk-Bike Council

Accessibility: This event is accessible and welcoming to wheelchairs, bicycles, children, and seniors.