COMMUNITY GATHERING

June 1, 1909 article about Riverside Park in the Burlington Free Press, courtesy of Chronicling America

The Intervale was home to a little-known gem of Burlington history known as Riverside Park, a “driving park” that essentially served as a horse racing track. The park was located to the west of Riverside Farm, approximately where the McNeil Generating Station is located today. The Burlington Driving Club leased land from Fayette Calkins to establish the half-acre racing track in 1909. The park regularly drew as many as 1,000 – 1,200 spectators and hosted numerous events during the Lake Champlain Tercentenary celebration in June of 1909.

Though the “speed craze” of driving parks faded with the rise of the automobile, this short-lived bit of history highlights the Intervale as a continuous community resource for recreation and gathering into the present day. Thousands of visitors utilize the area each year to ski, bike, run, walk, fish, birdwatch, and even paddle through the Winooski. Like the crowds at Riverside Park, the Intervale Center brings community together through celebrations like Wintervale and Summervale as well as a host of educational workshops and volunteer opportunities.