Don Bellingham Honored For Years Of Service To Vernon Trail System

VERNON, CT — The face of the Vernon Greenways Volunteers — Don Bellingham — is being recognized by the town for his years of service.

For years, Vernon has been known for its network of trails, and while the system is heavily used by hikers, walkers and cyclists, they are generally regarded as being in good shape.

That is a testament to the hundreds of volunteer hours provided each year by the Vernon Greenways Volunteers.

The Greenways Volunteers are usually dressed in green T-shirts or sweatshirts when they
are at work on the trails. They keep the trails clean, free of weeds, repair weather damage and plant vegetation where needed.

The volunteers also commissioned the colorful mural at the Interstate 84 overpass. They maintain the mural and seek donations to replace it every few years.

They regularly patrol the trails and report dangerous conditions to the Parks and Recreation Department so that it can dispatch staff to tackle big jobs.

Bellingham, a Vernon resident and avid hiker, started the Vernon Greenways Volunteers in 2004. He had recently retired and he was looking for an opportunity to volunteer his time. What he created has grown into a volunteer force that exceeds 100 people.

Bellingham, now 80, has turned over leadership of the Vernon Greenways Volunteers to a new team. He was recently honored by the organization he founded, Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne, state Rep. Kevin Brown of Vernon and the Parks and Recreation Department.

"There is much that makes Vernon special and the Greenways Volunteers bring two of these elements together — our incredible volunteers and our spectacular trails," Champagne said. "I and our entire community are grateful to the Greenways Volunteers for all they do and to Don for his vision and commitment to Vernon."

Bellingham created the Greenways Volunteers in 2004. As he sought volunteer opportunities, he
discovered the Hockanum River Linear Park Committee.

"I was really into trails," he said. "That appealed to me."

He also noticed the "adopt a highway signs" along state roads and in a meeting with staff from the Vernon Parks and Recreation Department asked if Vernon could do something like that with the town’s parks.

He was assigned the task of finding a way to get such a program going on the local level and in September launched the Vernon Greenways Volunteers. Bellingham and four others went to work maintaining the trails.

"People would come by and ask us what we were doing," Bellingham said. "We'd say we're the Vernon Greenways Volunteers and we work on the trails to try to make them better."

People began to sign up and eventually the group grew to 100-plus members.

Vernon Parks and Recreation Director Marty Sitler said the work the Greenways Volunteers perform each year is essential to keeping Vernon’s trail network safe and inviting to all who use it.

"If it wasn’t for the work this group does, the hours put in, the trails would not be what they are today," Sitler said at a recent gathering of Greenways Volunteers to honor Bellingham. "The park maintenance division supports you by delivering equipment and materials to your work sites and handling heavier work. Your daily presence on the trails helps us set priorities and address projects that preserve the trails for all to enjoy."

But at the end of the day, the Greenways Volunteers play a crucial role, Sitler said.

"People rave about and complement our trails and that’s because of you," Sitler told the volunteers. "Every town needs a group like you guys."

Mark Leighton, who took over as president of the Vernon Greenways Volunteers after Bellingham stepped back, said Bellingham has built a strong foundation for the organization and its continuing efforts.

"What Don has done over the years is just mind-boggling," Leighton said. "Hopefully we can continue to carry out Don's vision. If we can do half as good as Don has done over the last 19 years, I'll consider it a huge accomplishment."

As Bellingham goes into his second retirement, he said he is confident he is leaving the Greenways Volunteers in capable hands.

"I’m very, very happy with where we are and I'm so happy this organization is going to not only continue but flourish under new management," he said.

To honor Bellingham, Champagne read a proclamation from him and the Town Council and state Rep. Kevin Brown read a proclamation from Vernon's delegation to the State Capitol. The Greenways Volunteers board also honored Bellingham with a plaque featuring a silver shovel. The inscription on the plaque, read by board member Dennis Plevyak, highlights Bellingham’s service and notes he is founder of the Greenways Volunteers, 19 years of dedicated service as founder, and was "president, organizer and inspirational leader ... (in) maintaining the trails in Vernon for all to enjoy."

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For more information about or to join the Vernon Greenways Volunteers, visit
www.vernongreenways.org.