Description
Waterfront Park is a must-see location in Burlington, Vermont. Whether you want to take a stroll, learn about the local environment at the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, or ride a bike on the Burlington Greenway Bike/Walk path; it has something that everyone can enjoy. This audio tour will walk you through the past and present Waterfront Park.
This site, along with many others, was originally home to the Abenaki Nation. We acknowledge the struggle for recognition, land, and autonomy of the Abenaki people. An official land acknowledgement can be found on the Crow’s Path website, and we encourage listeners and readers to learn about the history of the Abenaki people and recognition in Vermont.
Park amenities
- Burlington Community Boathouse
- Swinging benches along the boardwalk
- Burlington Greenway Bike/Walk Path
- ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
- Hoehl Park & Sculpture Garden
- Spirit of Ethan Allen Cruises
- Lake Champlain Navy Memorial
- North and Leddy Beaches
Resources
- ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain: year-round access
- Waterfront Info Booth and Boathouse: seasonal access
Considerations
- The Park is very flat, with pavement and a boardwalk lining the shore.
- There are railroad tracks that cross College Street.
- The Burlington Greenway Bike/Walk Path can be very busy with bikers.
References
- Burlington Geographic. (n.d.). UVM. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://www.uvm.edu/place/burlingtongeographic/stories/wf-2.php
- History of the Burlington Waterfront. (n.d.). The City of Burlington. Retrieved November 13, 2023, from https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CEDO/History2#:~:text=The%20City%20then%20constructed%20Waterfront,to%20protect%20the%20riparian%20strip
- The University of Vermont. (n.d.). Construction of the Railroad (1846-1886). Landscape Change Program. Retrieved November 16, 2023, from https://glcp.uvm.edu/landscape_new/dating/railroads/construction.php
- Vermont Historical Society. (2021). War & Industry: Railroads Come to Vermont. Vermont History. https://vermonthistory.org/freedom-unity-railroads-come-to-vermont/
- Vermont Historical Society. (2021). War & Industry: Vermont’s Changing Landscape. Vermont History. https://vermonthistory.org/freedom-unity-vermonts-changing-landscape
- Waterfront Park. (n.d.). Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront. https://enjoyburlington.com/place/waterfront-park-2/
- Digital versions of signs: https://lcbp-089519.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wayside/Sites/burlingtonsites.htm
Other Senses of Place parks
Partners & Acknowledgements
Senses of Place a project with support from Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired & Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. All audio content was developed, recorded by Henry Bartels, Mike Doucette, Alanna Duff, Nicole Hardy, Madi Ingram, Halsey McLaen, & Faryn Steckiel as part of the the UVM class NR 4060: Environmental Problem Solving and Impact Assessment.
