A River Connects Us – The Scenic Appomattox Chesterfield Dinwiddie Petersburg Prince George Hopewell Colonial Heights
Collaborative Partnerships to CREATE A WORLD-CLASS TRAIL SYSTEM ALONG THE APPOMATTOX RIVER
Community Benefits - Objectives Conservation Health & Wellness Economic Growth Social Equity Appomattox River Trail
Conservation – Land and Water Trails and green space can be beneficial to the environment • Pollution abatement by reducing vehicle trips • Prevention/reduction of soil erosion and filter road and agricultural runoff • Serve as natural floodplain • Provides hands-on environmental classroom • Preservation of historic land and structures Appomattox River Trail
Health and Wellness Time visiting green space is beneficial to your health • Heart-Healthy. Just 30 minutes in a park each week helps control high blood pressure. • Promotes cancer-fighting cells. Living in areas with a lot of green space lowers risk of death as compared to with people in least green places. • Helps ADHD symptoms and short-term memory. Children with ADHD symptoms improved attention after 20 minute park walks. Short term memory improved after a nature walk but no improvement after city street walk. • Helps with depression and anxiety. Walking 90 minutes in natural surroundings showed lower activity in the area of the brain linked to depression. Appomattox River Trail -- The Healing Power of Nature . Time July 25, 2016
Economic Growth Trails stimulate tourism and recreation spending and catalyze revitalization 2017 Outdoor Industry Association Data $21.9 BILLION In Consumer Spending . 197,000 Direct Jobs . $6.5 BILLION In Wages and Salaries . $1.2 BILLION In State And Local Tax Revenue VA Capital Trail . $13.61 Generated for every $1 of tax revenue provided to …………………….VA State Parks in 2016
Social Equity - Quality of Life for All Access to the benefits of trails and green space for all… • Proximity to exercise and recreational opportunities is linked to community health Healthy Communities by Design • Cultivates community ties by connecting people more deeply to the fabric of the community – National Rec & Parks Assoc. • Safer neighborhoods and public spaces through social interaction, cohesion and sense of place Healthy Communities by Design Appomattox River Trail VA Cap Trail
Appomattox River Trail Master Plan A coordinated guide to locating and prioritizing 20+ miles of shared-use trails with a coordinated signage system through six municipalities: Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg. Funded through a $100,000 grant from The Cameron Foundation
Cross-sector Collaboration Planning and on through current implementation August 2015 PLANNING PROCESS TIME LINE March 2017 INPUT INPUT Local Jurisdictions: Chesterfield, Regional Non Profits Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Crater PDC and RRPDC/CRC Sports Backers Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince PART JRAC George Virginia Gateway Region JRA Board Supervisors Appomattox River Soil/Water Hopewell Downtown Partnership Planning Departments Conservation District Businesses Economic Development State JR Medical Center Parks and Recreation Health Department Vulcan Historical Societies DCR Dominion Chambers of Commerce Federal Local Developers Housing Authorities Fort Lee Funders National Park Service Cameron Foundation Virginia State University John Randolph Foundation Property Owners and Community Residents
Master Plan - Trails *Shared‐use trail system – N & S *Planned in sections for manageability *Multiple route options and surfaces *Connects to local and regional trails
Trail Recommendations - Examples Historic Petersburg Pocahontas Island Right: Example of potential River Road – Dedicated Path bridge near historic dam structure area. Below: Example of shared‐use trail. Patton Park East
Signage Creating Identity/Sense-of-Place Family of Signs: Addresses different needs Manufacturing standards and guidelines
Before & Improved Examples Patton Park, Petersburg Colonial Heights Hopewell Appomattox River Trail – Riverside Park to Marina Chesterfied Ettrick
Trail Successes Everywhere
Need for consistent trail design, programs, and promotion across the region to provide seamless experience. FOLAR is the organization to keep that vision and consistency in place as we partner with each municipality and many other stakeholders. Because we draw thousands of through‐riders, multiday journeys are common, and people spend money ‐‐ not just on ice cream, but on lodging, entertainment, gear, and meals. — Bryan Perry, Allegheny Trail Alliance
THE RISE OF EN- TRAIL -PRENEURSHIP Prince George Dinwiddie Chesterfield Petersburg Colonial Heights Hopewell
Current Projects–The ART of Tomorrow • Hopewell Riverwalk section (approx. 1,700 linear ft.) - City Park to Rt. 10 Bridge. Phase 1 Scheduled for completion in Hopewell Riverwalk 2019. Phase 2 Scheduled for completion in 2020. . • ART to VA Cap Trail Feasibility Study – Crater PDC with VDOT. Completion in Summer 2018. Ferry or Shuttle – short- term recommendation. . • Colonial Heights Phase 4 of the C.H.A.R.T.S. Bid fall 2018 . • Patton Park Trail Petersburg – Part of VSU-University Blvd. Gateway. Funding: VDOT/Cameron Foundation/Mary Morton Parsons matching grant. 2yrs to complete. . Patton Park Plan Below: VSU-University Blvd. Gateway Project – Patton Park Trailhead
Restore Healthy Shorelines ‐ $2.5 million in 10,000+ lbs of Trash Removed Park, Trail & Greenspace Infrastructure Battersea Bridges FOLAR works in partnership with communities to conserve and protect the Appomattox River for all to enjoy. Incorporated in 2001. Advancing Next‐Gen Learning ‐ FOLAR Outdoor Environmental Education Environmental Stewardship Scholarship Overwhelmingly, community members ask FOLAR to “Complete the Trail” making that our highest priority. Petersburg WOW Camp Battersea Bridges Canoemobil e
State of FOLAR 2018 LIFE CYCLE: START UP – GROWTH – MATURITY – DECLINE – REBIRTH ACTIVITIES Growth = Demand for services exceeds the organization’s capabilities WORKING TO STRENGTHEN THE FOLAR ORGANIZATION 2014 *Standards of Excellence accreditation ACTIVITIES *Board development *Fund Development Plan *Independent financial/ administrative processes
We need your help to get there! Wendy Austin Heather Barrar Executive Director Regional Trails Program Director (804) 543-0325 (804) 512-4486 WAustin@folar-va.org HBarrar@folar-va.org FOLAR-VA.org
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