The Live Like Doug Educational Center organization, in a unique partnership with Gunstock Mountain Resort, is announcing an exciting new project enhancing the existing waterfront area near the Gunstock main lodge. The proposed project will incorporate features such as an accessible pedestrian covered bridge, a walking path, a pedestrian bridge to a small island, picnic tables and landscaping. Funding for the project will come from private contributions, grants and in-kind donations of time, labor and materials.
Enjoying the outdoors and being respectful of the natural resources we have at our doorstep are big draws to life in the Lakes Region. Being a visionary on how to merge the two takes creativity and restraint and those qualities were effervescent in J. Douglas Irving, a 40-year employee of Gunstock Resort and the heart and soul of the mountain during his tenure which ended in 2018 with his sudden passing. To honor Doug's legacy and work, a group of friends saw the inspiration and the desire to realize one of his visions at Gunstock. They established the Live Like Doug Educational Center, a registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, to support the efforts of completing a project that was formerly included in the master plan.
That vision had been a plan created for the water area as part of the overall master plan for Gunstock a number of years ago that included a pedestrian covered bridge over the dam of the containment pond in front of the main lodge. In addition, there was a pedestrian walkway that circled the pond and included a small bridge to the island as well as a few docks for kayaks and paddleboats. This was proposed as an accessible landscaped path for visitors to the mountain. In the winter, the plan is to build the covered bridge to support a small piston bully for grooming cross country ski trails through it, thereby affording a unique winter experience and year round use of the covered bridge trail.
Presentation was made to the GAC and Senior Management last October receiving the nod to continue the work. “This would be a nice addition aesthetically and the management team would be in favor of the project,” noted Tom Day, President and GM of Gunstock. Organizers are preparing for the process and steps to begin moving the project to reality.
The Live like Doug Education Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering interest in people in environmental awareness, conservation, stewardship and the use of the outdoor environment for healthy mental and physical enjoyment. For more information, go to www.livelikedougnh.org or info@livelikedougnh.com.
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