Leahy Secures $350,000 For Proposed Robert H. Gibson River Garden In Downtown Brattleboro

October 19, 1999

Congress has approved and sent to the President a housing budget bill that includes $350,000 secured by Sen. Patrick Leahy for Brattleboro's proposed downtown park.

The Senate this past Friday overwhelmingly approved an appropriations bill for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Devolopment (known as "VA-HUD"). Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee which wrote the bill, included $350,000 for development of the former Rite Aid site in downtown Brattleboro. That bill, also approved by the House last week, now goes to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it into law within a week.

"This should be a real boost to Brattleboro's efforts to revitalize the downtown area," said Leahy. "These funds, along with the hard work of community leaders and aid from the state, will help transform a downtown eyesore into a magnet for tourists and local residents alike. This effort is a fitting memorial to Bob's many years of service to Brattleboro and all Vermonters."

Building a Better Brattleboro, a nonprofit community economic development organization, had launched a campaign to replace the former Rite Aid building site with a pedestrian park. The proposed park has been named the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, in honor of the longtime leader in Brattleboro and Vermont politics. The federal funds in the appropriations bill will be joined with state and private aid to develop the proposed project.

Local contacts: Ted Kramer 257-2221