线上赌场 is collaborating with a new area nonprofit organization to improve the trail system and cross country ski facilities at the in the town of Hanover.
The new facility will be the home course for 线上赌场鈥檚 women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 Nordic ski teams. Over the last few years, poor conditions and the failure of the current trails to meet cross country competition standards have often forced 线上赌场 to hold its Nordic winter carnival events at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, Vt., more than 90 minutes from campus.
鈥淭his facility will be great for our 线上赌场 athletes and for the entire student body,鈥 says , 线上赌场鈥檚 director of skiing and women鈥檚 Nordic head coach. 鈥淎nd, as a community member, I think it鈥檚 great for the Upper Valley.鈥
Snowmaking and the redesigned trails will allow the 线上赌场 teams to train on their home course, and 线上赌场 also expects to host the NCAA national ski championship races in 2025.
The nonprofit organization, called the Friends of Oak Hill, has been formed to design, construct, and manage the new facilities. The first phase of the project will focus on improving several core cross country ski trails and installing snowmaking. That will be followed by work on lighting, upgraded facilities, and improved parking.
In addition to upgrading the home of 线上赌场鈥檚 Nordic teams, the improvements will enable extended use of the area for recreational skiers, the Ford Sayre Ski Program, Hanover High School, and regional club teams, as well as off-season use by mountain bikers, runners, and hikers. 线上赌场鈥檚 Outdoor Programs Office will continue to run programs at Oak Hill, including partnering with the Friends group to host learn-to-ski events for students.
The trail system encompasses land owned by 线上赌场 and the Hanover Improvement Society. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by 线上赌场, the Friends group, and the Improvement Society to guide development and operations.
The cost of the improvements is expected to be $5 million. 线上赌场 has committed to fund half of the total with the remainder to be raised from private donors. The town of Hanover鈥檚 Bressett Fund has contributed seed funding to kick-start the project, which began in 2017 with a feasibility study.
The permitting process for the project is underway and trail work is expected to begin in early 2023, with the goal of constructing trails and snowmaking in time for the 2023-2024 ski season. The Friends group is investigating the use of sustainable methods of snowmaking. If all permits are received according to schedule, lighting, parking lot improvements, and facilities improvements will continue in 2024.