Table of Contents
In 1994, Barton participated in the Sustainable Rural Development Project funded by the McConnell Foundation. This project, named Take Charge, resulted in local committees which identified and tackled problems in Barton. In February of 1995 Barton participated in Recharge, a second effort to further the local endeavors. Activities which have grown out of these meetings are two Enhancement Improvement Grants from the Agency of Transportation, one for sidewalk improvements and the other for a new bridge to the Brick Kingdom; a National Preservation Trust Main Street Assessment; an infrastructure and government services study; a four part market study; a travel and tourism study, and a visual analysis. The Visual Analysis, of which this document is a part, was funded by the McConnell Foundation through the Sustainable Rural Development Project.
The Take Charge project in Barton was key to developing a community process, creating dialogue within the town, identifying assets and problem areas. The mission of Take Charge projects is to foster local leadership and cooperation/coordination by facilitating a series of meetings where local people strive to identify local issues or problems, to form committees assigned to individual issues or groups of issues, and finally to work out an action plan resolving them.
Some of the issues developed during the visioning process of the Take
Charge project in Barton are being addressed through the activities mentioned
under Local Initiatives. Examples of issues raised during the process,
and critical to our understanding of the community design issues that needed
improvement, are as follows:
using Crystal Lake as a resource,
need for sidewalks for pedestrian travel
especially for the elderly,
tourism bus parking,
public restrooms,
the need for greater employment opportunities
for the townspeople,
docking and fueling for boats on the lake,
the drainage problem on Glover Street,
the use of space above the the pharmacy-commercial
building,
the movie theater's closing,
and a perceived exodus of people from Barton.
A ‘Downtown Vision' statement was written for Barton during this Take Charge process. It attempts to address the way the community wants the village to look, feel, and function. It states:
"The village will convey a feeling of warmth and welcome to all, residents and non-residents alike. Both residents and non-residents will want to spend time here due to the attractiveness of the streets, the blend of traditional architecture with new development, and a variety of quality businesses and services. Our local sense of pride will be reflected by the friendliness of residents and high quality service offered by businesses.
The village will be the center of our community, a regional hub for businesses and services, and a place where visitors can find information and a place to rest and relax. Barton Village is home to a thriving residential community with housing for seniors and people of all income levels. We will foster cooperation between private businesses, social services, and civic organizations in order to better coordinate service delivery for convenience and efficiency.
Events and festivals will be held throughout the year to celebrate Barton's unique heritage and traditions and to bring locals and visitors together. Activities will be provided for all ages, with a focus upon youth and teens. We will put extra effort into providing winter outdoor opportunities such as sledding and skating which have traditionally been available within the village.
Our village entrances will serve as gateways with attractive signs and landscaping. Pedestrians and motorists will find well-planned and maintained facilities including streets, sidewalks, walking paths, and parking. Paths, access points, and open spaces will be arranged to incorporate Barton's outstanding natural features - Crystal Lake and the Barton River - into the village landscape. The outlet between the river and the lake will be dredged and maintained in order to provide access to the village via boat. New small businesses, services, and restaurants will cluster around the outlet.
Barton Village will remain an area of mixed uses offering a diversity of residential opportunities, spaces for small business and industry, offices, and space for civic and cultural activities. We will continue to remind locals and visitors of Barton's history so that we can pursue a future which is uniquely our own."
The work done by Barton during Take Charge and the Main Street Assessment were critical to facilitating the Visual Analysis and connecting it to community action. A Visual Analysis cannot stand alone. It must be part of a community profile process for it to be meaningful.
Comments to: crs@uvm.edu Reviewed on 3/28/97