With its headquarters at the Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington, Vermont,
the Winooski Valley Park District offers 16 parks throughout Vermont's
Champlain Valley as natural refuges for people and wildlife

The Winooski Valley Park District is a public, non-profit organization created in 1972 through a cooperation between its seven member communities. It is funded by the member communities, membership dues, grants, and tax-deductible private donations. The Park District's goals are to acquire and manage open space, wildlife habitat, and natural areas while encouraging the areas' natural diversity and ecology.

The Park District's Member Communities are: Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Jericho, South Burlington, Williston, and Winooski. The support these towns provide is instrumental to the Park District's capability to maintain parks and open space in these towns for the enjoyment of community members and visitors. Click here for more information about our member communities and partners.

Winooski Valley Park District's Greenway of Parks

Natural areas managed by the Park District offer cross-country ski and nature trails, picnic facilties, canoe and fishing accesses, scenic overlooks, and public garden plots. Over 1700 acres have been acquired within 12 miles of shoreline along the Winooski and Browns Rivers, Colchester Pond, and Lake Champlain. All of the parks are free and open daily to the public from sunrise to sunset. Please visit our Parks page for more information regarding and maps to our 16 parks.

Winooski Valley Park District Mission

The Winooski Valley Park District's mission is to plan, acquire, and manage lands and waters within the boundaries of its member municipalities in the Winooski River Valley for purposes of conservation, preservation of natural areas, establishment of parks, and resource-based education and recreation.

Future Goals

The Park District hopes to expand its municipal membership base to include additional communities along the WInooski River and, ideally, extend as far east as Montpelier. Additionally, the Park District wants to continue its mission of creating public parks that encourage activities and shoreline uses that are compatible with the surrounding communities and the natural environment.

Ethan Allen Homestead

The Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington, where WVPD's headquarters are located, "offers hands-on history, spectacular scenery, and riverside picnic areas and walks. The Homestead provides a genuine slice of 18th century life, and an intimate look at Veromont's most colorful - and controversial founder."

Rent the picnic shelter for your next event, meeting, or reunion!

The Winooski Valley Park District's picnic shelter is available for rent year-round. Just a short distance from the Ethan Allen Homestead's walking trails, self-guided wetlands walk, Winooski River canoe and kayak access, and the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum's historic barn and house, the picnic shelter is an ideal location for events, reunions, and parties. The shelter offers several picnic tables, a fireplace, electricity, toilets, and ample parking. Visit the picnic shelter page for more information on the shelter and reservations.