"Hello Summer" Community Celebration at Fox Field

LGCT Treasurer Desmond Brown sharing thoughts on the future of the Gilman Schoolhouse Building

LGCT joined forces with the Lunenburg Outdoors: Recreation, Trails, & Tourism (RTT) Task Force and the Community Events, Social Engagement & Recreation (CESER) Task Force to host the first-ever “Hello Summer” celebration at the Fox Field & Forest Outdoor Recreation Area in Gilman. The celebration welcomed residents back to this important community space and invited them to help shape its future.

Representative Becca Balint and her team touring the Gilman Schoolhouse Building

As part of the day, LGCT also led guided tours of the former Gilman Middle School, giving residents a chance to walk through the building and share ideas for its redevelopment. Community input gathered during the tours will play a central role in shaping LGCT’s long-term vision for the space.

LGCT President Gary Briggs and community members paint sections of the mural

Despite the rainy weather, the event was filled with energy. Neighbors enjoyed a free community BBQ prepared by the Lunenburg Polar Bear Club, free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and plenty of family-friendly activities under tents with funding from Mascoma Bank and NEK Broadband. Attendees also joined in painting a community mural designed by Vermont artist Tara Goreau, made possible through support from the Vermont Arts Council.

The Fox Field & Forest Outdoor Recreation Area, situated on Baptist Hill Road, has been maintained by the Town of Lunenburg for many years, but has seen limited use in recent years. The event gave residents the opportunity to share their ideas for the future of Fox Field & Forest Outdoor Recreation Area, helping RTT and CESER shape plans for revitalizing the property’s sports fields, courts, and wooded trails.

The “Hello Summer” celebration was more than just a day of fun — it marked an important step in reconnecting residents with the Fox Field & Forest Outdoor Recreation Area and the Gilman Middle School, both of which are central to Lunenburg’s ongoing revitalization efforts.