Category: Riverwalk

A two-decade veteran of the transportation industry, Stephen Drunsic most recently served as president of Nashville & Eastern Railroad Corporation in Lebanon, Tennessee. Stephen Drunsic has also served on the board of local organizations including the Manchester Riverwalk Association.

Established in 2013, the Manchester Riverwalk Association aims to construct, improve, and maintain public pathways along the West Branch of the Battenkill in Manchester, Vermont. Among the association’s plans for community enhancement is a bridge stretching from the Factory Point Town Green to Factory Point Place along the city’s historic Main Street.

The proposed bowstring-style bridge will include an arched bridge walking surface and can potentially be embellished with metal design elements. The bridge will be above the floodway and will be accessible to both sides of the town. Additionally, smaller proposed bridges at the river level could connect a series of existing paths, further enhancing the vibrancy of the downtown area. For more information about the Manchester Riverwalk Association and other plans for the area, visit www.manchesterriverwalk.org/.

In December 2020, the association received a $2,500 grant from the USA Today Network and the Gannett Foundation as part of their Community Thrives challenge to build the Riverwalk Community Bridge. Competing against more than 500 organizations, Manchester Riverwalk was one of three recipients in Vermont. The awarded grant will help the organization build a 110-foot bridge connecting Factory Point Town Green to the Historic Main Street. The bridge will allow pedestrians to easily cross the west branch of the Battenkill River while enjoying the view of the Mill Pond falls. The bridge is presently being designed and engineered by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and expected groundbreaking is targeted for Q3 of 2021.

The Manchester Riverwalk Association is a nonprofit organization aiming to build and maintain the city’s public pathways. By creating walkable paths around the town, the organization hopes to transform Manchester into a cultural destination.

The Manchester Riverwalk board of is comprised of a number of local volunteers and includes; President, Margaret Donovan, Vice President: Catherine Stewart, Treasurer: Norm Favor, Secretary:, Cristina Mansfield and board members: Eileen Braheney, Joanie Burns, Michael Cooperman, Stephen Drunsic, Colleen LaChac, Frank Parent, Shari Siegel and Dick Smith.