Planning Underway for New Catamount Outdoor Family Center Building
By Board Vice President Alan Cote
The Catamount Outdoor Family Center (COFC) is seeking input from the public
about its plans for a new building.
Meetings for public commentary about the building are scheduled from 6:30pm –
8:00pm on the following dates:
- Tues, Feb 4 at the Dorothy Ailing Library (Google Meets Link)
- Wed, Feb 19 at the Town Hall(Google Meets Link)
The meetings will be live-streamed to allow remote attendance as well.
The Catammountoutdoor.org website also has a link to
an online survey about the building.
COFC is the non-profit organization that operates programs and maintains trails
at the Catamount Community Forest, operating under a license from the Town of
Williston. Its budget comes from donations, memberships, and event/program fees, and
does not receive town or taxpayer funding to operate.
In May 2024, COFC was awarded a $126,500 grant from the Vermont Outdoor
Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) for architectural and engineering work
aimed at creating a new facility for use by the non-profit and the public.
Black River Design and Trudell Consulting Engineers are the service providers hired to handle the
project. Black River Design is also the architectural company that is also working with
the Town of Williston on a proposed library expansion.
The COFC non-profit group has been providing the architects a list of what’s
needed in a building, both for the organization and for the public. Plans revolve around
creating an ADA accessible structure that would include a lodge/open hall area for
Catamount visitors to use for warming up, sheltering from rain, and stashing bags. Such
space is also vital for the camps hosted by COFC that serve hundreds of kids each
year, mainly in the summer.
Space for ski, bike, and snowshoe rentals, a ticket counter,
as well as office and equipment storage space for the non-profit, are also planned. An
outdoor pavilion area is being considered as part of the building.
“Both town zoning and restrictions in the forest’s conservation easement provide
guardrails as to what can be constructed, and how a building can used,” said John
Atkinson, executive director of COFC. Other constraints include water, septic,
wetlands/environmental. With these limitations in mind, the building will focus on
supporting the outdoor activities that have been core to the area for decades. Facilities
like a large community center, pool, or indoor skating rink are not allowed by the Town
or land conservation regulations.
“It’s our goal to plan and construct a building that will enhance everyone’s ability
to enjoy this spectacular piece of public land,” Atkinson said. “We want to hear from as
many people as possible about how best to achieve that.”