Southeast Region - Regional Reports

Parks & Recreation, April, 2003

James City County, Va., has been awarded a number of recreational trails program grants. A $65,000 grant was received to construct a 3,400-feet multiuse trail at Mid County Park to meet recreation and transportation needs. The trail, which will include a 10'-wide asphalt path and 4'-wide grass shoulder, will connect to neighborhoods and commercial shopping. A $150,000 grant will allow construction of a 3.41-mile multi-use trail at the District Park Sports Complex. The trail will connect to more than 955 homes. Also, a $85,845 grant will support construction of 4,500 feet of accessible trail and 155 feet of boardwalk at Little Creek Reservoir Park. The trail, which will have two different length loops, will connect with the existing park facilities by an ADA-accessible boardwalk over the water. Finally $52,140 and a $30,000 grants were awarded for the construction of the first greenway trail, the Greensprings Trail. It connects several neighborhoods and a high school together and expands the outdoor education opportunities.

The Kingsport (Tenn.) Greenway, once completed, will be a 9-mile linear park that connects residential neighborhoods, traditional parks, downtown, commercial districts, schools and activity centers. The pathway meanders along gentle streams, wanders through marshlands, glides across open meadows, and passes by sites of historical and aesthetic value. Seven miles of the trail are complete; in the summer, the Greenbelt has an average of 600-700 users per day. This project used funds by the Chamber of Commerce as an economic development attraction for prospective businesses.

The Sugarland Ran Trail Project has received two TEA-21 grants from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and one CMAQ grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Sugarland Run Trail project is a 1 1/4-mile trail that will connect the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's award-winning Washington & Old Dominion Trail and The Fairfax County Sugarland Run Trail. The project will consist of almost 6,000 linear feet of paved trail, eight bridges for stream crossings and a boardwalk through a wetland area. The project will be under construction this summer and completed by December. The grants consisted of two $60,000 grants from the TEA-21 and a $420K CMAQ grant.