What's in a name? Pine Hill ...

Spirited discussion erupts over name of local trail system

The first time I heard of a collection of trails in northwest Rutland it was called Pine Hill Park. From that point forward it's always been Pine Hill Park, with an occasional "at Giorgetti Park" thrown in for good measure.

That isn't a given anymore.

An idea has been floated to encompass "Pine Hill Park," and "Giorgetti Park" under the name of Giorgetti Park. The Pine Hill Trails would be part of Giorgetti Park.

The idea, however, hasn't proven to be very popular with some people.

Michael Smith, one of the founders of the Pine Hill Partnership, says he's heard from many people who don't like the idea of getting rid of the Pine Hill Park name.

Smith wasn't too eager to talk about the naming situation and wouldn't say much more than it hadn't proven to be a popular idea from what he had heard.

Apparently, and understandably, it's a sensitive subject.

I first learned about the proposed changes in an e-mail release to fans and users of the park from Rutland City Recreation Director Cindi Wight, who is also a player on the nonprofit Pine Hill Partnership.

Wight was in a meeting late in the work day Thursday and couldn't be reached at her home Thursday evening.

In the release, Wight wrote that she had been going through some old city reports while working on another issue and found that a mayoral proclamation more than three decades ago had declared the park to be known as Giorgetti Park.

According to Wight's release, the proclamation was to honor John Giorgetti, who was the state lands commissioner at the time the state of Vermont gave 40 acres to the city, which has become the basis for what is today known as Giorgetti Park.

On top of that effort, the Giorgetti family has long been a benefactor to the park that bears their name.

There have been Giorgetti donations that have helped Giorgetti Park improve parking, and purchase a Zamboni and dasher boards for the skating rink.

And when Mary Giorgetti died, she left a significant sum for improvements and renovations to the facilities.

Combined, it seems to make sense that the place be named Giorgetti Park.

But there's a little problem in that the hill behind what is generally considered Giorgetti Park, has always been known as Pine Hill Park.

That original 275 acres were given to the city in the early 1900s by Mayor Henry Carpenter as Pine Hill Park. Even after that 30-plus-year-old proclamation was issued, the area continued to be called Pine Hill Park.

Beyond that, there's also enormous goodwill generated by the name Pine Hill Park.

The signage, the website, maps, and a significant number of articles in print and on the Internet — not to mention word-of-mouth advertising — all carry the Pine Hill Park moniker.

Remember, this is almost exclusively a volunteer effort that has established the 16 miles of trails in the park using donated materials and manpower. Very little city money has gone into establishing Pine Hill Park.

Wight says there has been a gradual change toward calling the trails Pine Hill Trails more often.

Smith said that from what he has heard, the idea hasn't been popular and, in fact, the response has been overwhelmingly negative based on what he has seen in his e-mail box.

And it appears the issue has reached the top city official.

Several people who have e-mailed have been referred to the mayor, Smith said.

One thing is clear, according to Wight. No matter what might be decided, users of the park won't see any changes — other than the possibility of a name change on signs and maps over time, if that's the decision that is made.

Wight says people will still be able to search for "Pine Hill Vermont" or "Pine Hill Rutland" on the Internet.

It's really not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but, the Giorgetti family deserves to be honored for their contributions to recreation in Rutland.

But, then again, so does Mayor Carpenter and his original donation of the land, which he wanted to be called Pine Hill Park.

Contact Darren by e-mail at mail@darrenmarcy.com or through his website at www.DarrenMarcy.com.

Comments

[Joe Minard]

Pine Hill will always be Pine Hill to me. I grew up in that wood long before there were any established trails. Once the sports complex was built we (my friends and me) knew the skating rink and ball fields as Giorgetti Park. So, in a nutshell, If I want to got for a day hike or mountain bike then I go to Pine Hill. If I want to play ball, skateboard or play b-ball then I go to Giorgetti

[Richard (picnic baskets) Roper]

"I want to got for a day hike or mountain bike then I go to Pine Hill"

May I ask what facilities are avaliable for day visitors?

[steve]

welcome to Giorgetti Pine Hill Park!

That was easy.

NEXT!