Virginia Greenways

Thanks to changing social attitudes, new legislation, and the need for cities to reinvent themselves, greenway construction has exploded across the country. During the past forty years and even more so in the past decade, thousands of communities throughout the United States - especially in Virginia - have understood the practicality and broad value of greenways. One of Virginia’s most well known and successful urban greenways is the W&OD Trail in Northern Virginia which sees around 1.7 million visits annually  (not counting children under 16). This 45-mile paved, multi-use trail runs from the open, rolling hills of Purcellville in western Loudoun County southeast to metropolitan Arlington near I-395 and not far from Washington, D.C. From there, connecting trails take pedestrians and bikers into the heart of the nation’s capital. Although it took the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority from 1968 to 1988 to purchase the necessary right-of-way and construct the trail in phases, the trail’s popularity (even overuse according to some) has proven the public time and money to be very well spent.

The more rural Virginia Creeper Trail, another success with nearly 200,000 visits per year, runs 35 miles from Abingdon in southwestern Virginia to the North Carolina state line near Whitetop Mountain. In large part because of this multi-use trail, towns like Damascus are gaining a higher profile and hosting more visitors than ever before. Numerous other multi-use trail projects have recently been completed or are underway throughout the state – including several in the Shenandoah Valley region.

Central Shenandoah Efforts

Though all are in different stages of planning or development, many of Staunton’s neighbors are moving forward with greenway initiatives. Several years ago, Waynesboro approved the South River Greenway Master Plan and the city’s Recreation Commission is in the right-of-way acquisition stage of the project – although it has been slow moving. In Harrisonburg, efforts led by a public-private group resulted in the 2002 completion of the Blacks Run Greenway Master Plan for a proposed six-mile trail along the city’s primary water course. Charlottesville recently completed a half mile paved trail extension along the Rivanna River so pedestrians can extend their 1.3 mile walk to 1.8 miles  along the river’s shoreline without having to conflict with heavy traffic on Route 250. The Brushy Blue Master Plan completed in 2004 proposes a 16.5 mile trail running from Brushy Hill Preserve, through Lexington, Rockbridge County, and Buena Vista, then eventually connecting to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 2002 Outdoors Plan vision of a state-wide network of recreationally active communities connected by greenways is moving forward.

Through many detailed comments in the 2003 Comprehensive Plan Update, Staunton’s citizens have expressed the desire for projects that better connect the city internally and externally.  They also want to conserve the city’s natural and historic resources.  Even though not specifically mentioned by name in the comprehensive plan, a greenway would meet these and other citizen desires. Some excerpts from the plan are listed below:

 Connect (internally)

•  “…a variety of transportation options and designs that balance pedestrian, bicycle, auto, and public transportation within the City and among key destinations…”
•  “…a system that provides access between neighborhoods and destination locations such as Downtown, parks, shopping, medical care, and services…”
•  “…Create a network of low-density neighborhood “pocket parks” throughout the city, including more utilization of school grounds and playgrounds…”

Connect (externally)

•  “…Recruit a mix of young professionals, families, and recent retirees…”
•  “…Staunton will be a major tourism destination…”

Conserve

•  “…Conserve open space and protect the environmentally sensitive areas in the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro region before they are faced with development pressures…”
•   “…preserve Betsy Bell and Mary Gray Mountains…”
•  “…a desire to conserve and/or protect the City’s natural resources, historic character, and scenic qualities…”

Currently, the City of Staunton has a remarkable collection of parks and other resources, but it has no semblance of a greenway system or even adequate on-road bike routes. Prior to this plan, no similar studies or master plans have been initiated to focus directly on Staunton and the specifics of how a greenway might work in the city. In July 2004, the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) published the Central Shenandoah Valley Greenway Plan which provides an excellent inventory of the region’s natural, recreational, historic, and cultural resources. While that document does offer some short potential greenway project recommendations for each of the region’s localities (including Staunton), the study’s guidance ends there.

In late 2004 / early 2005, the CSPDC began working on a regional bike plan (including a region-wide on-line bike survey) with the consulting firm Toole Design Group from College Park, Maryland.  That project’s focus is primarily on identifying and making recommendations for on-road bike routes, although there may certainly be some off-road trail recommendations as well. Again, the regional bike plan will complement and provide guidance to any Staunton-specific greenway plan, but it still does not take a close enough look at the city to serve as a strong basis of support for a complete greenway initiative.

With some important preliminary studies already completed, Staunton is poised to move forward with a true greenway planning process. Action must begin soon to be timely in taking full advantage of the developing regional greenway network in the Central Shenandoah region. With consistent citizen participation, careful route planning, and patient implementation, Staunton can create a multi-use trail that works for everyone.