The Mad River Valley Recreation MRVRD has awarded $69,900 on grants in 2026, up from $55,298 awarded in 2025. That 27% increase is due to Moretown voting to join the rec district as a partial member, rec district director Laura Arnesen said.
“With four towns instead of three we have more funds to extend to our community. This year we were able to fully or partially fund all 17 grant requests in addition to budgeting $4,000 for swim lessons for first and second graders in our member towns,” Arnesen explained.
This year the rec district received 17 grant applications seeking a total of $79,377 in funding requests.
Here is how the grants were distributed this year:
- Bill Koch League (BKL) was awarded $3,000 toward the purchase of equipment for lighting trails that will allow BLK youth skiers to complete afternoon training.
- Couples Club was awarded $3,300 for mowing and maintenance of Couples’ Field.
- Friends of the Moretown Library was awarded $5,000 to help make the StoryWalk behind the Moretown School accessible.
- Harwood Middle School PTO was awarded $5,000 for transportation to support its ski and ride program.
- Harwood Youth Basketball was awarded $3,900 for gym rental.
- Highlander Youth Lacrosse was awarded $1,500 for equipment and gym rental. Additionally, MRVRD will utilize $1,500 from its Lawson's Sunshine grant to purchase field benches.
- Mad River Little League was awarded $5,000 toward player safety, skill development, and the overall game-day experience.
- Mad River Path was awarded $5,000: $2,000 for mowing, $2,000 for educational bird panels in Waitsfield and $1,000 for camp equipment.
- Mad River Riders was awarded $5,000 toward decking for bridge safety and accessibility.
- Mad River Ridge Runners was awarded $5,000 toward a brushing bar attachment to help groom trails.
- Mad River Co-Ed Softball was awarded $1,200 for clay.
- Mad River Youth Soccer was awarded $5,000 for equipment.
- Mad Valley Sports (the nonprofit hosting the Mad Marathon, Mad Half & Relays) was awarded $5,000 for sponsorship of the event.
- Skatium was awarded $5,000 for rink dividers and a contribution to a plow for snow removal.
- Stark Mountain Foundation was awarded up to $4,500 to support its ski program.
- Warren Recreation Committee was awarded $2,500 for picnic tables and a fire pit at Brooks Field.
- Warren School PTO was awarded $5,000 for playground equipment for the preschool playground.
In addition to operating the grant program, MRVRD continues to manage Mad River Park, support various safety programs and other valley-wide initiatives like Conservation Recreation Visioning (CRV).
In 2024 MRVRD created a Volunteer of the Year Award to thank community members who have made outstanding contributions to recreation. The first winner was Charlie Hosford and the 2025 winner is Doug Bergstein, MRVRD board member and treasurer for more than 25 years. Bergstein chaired the Warren Recreation Committee for 20 years and started the Mad River senior baseball team in 2002, baseball for adults 35 and older that play different teams around the state, where he serves as vice president. Bergstein played in the Warren softball league for 15 years and ice hockey in the Waterbury late night league. He can be found skiing at Mad River, hiking, biking and sometimes playing pickleball.
Moretown Board Member
Mike DeBonis will represent Moretown on the MRVRD Board as of January 1, 2026. DeBonis lives in Moretown with his wife and two dogs and is the executive director of the Green Mountain Club (GMC). He returned to his home state in 2014 to join the GMC. He is a licensed professional forester and was previously the executive director of the Forest Stewards Guild in Santa Fe, NM. DeBonis completed a southbound AT thru-hike and completed Long Trail hikes in 2004, 2017, and 2021. He has a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from Johnson State College and a master of forestry degree from Yale University.
To learn more about the MRVRD and the Recreation Grant Program, visit mrvrd.org or contact Arnesen at
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