Explore the Rivanna Trail and Moores Creek

Ever wonder how the proposed Western Bypass will impact the Rivanna Trail? The answer is, probably more than you expect. Plans call for the bypass to turn north from the 250 Bypass at the intersection with Leonard Sandridge Road, and as the image below shows, the ramps and overpasses will impact one of the most-used sections of the Trail. RTF is following developments, and hope that community support will help preserve a trail routing through the area.

The March 11 edition of the Daily Progress has an article about an after-school tutoring program for Greenbrier Elementary students who have been relocated to Charlottesville with their families by the International Rescue Committee. Led by Thomas Connaughton, a Greeenbrier teacher and avid trail runner, the students have also formed the Greenbrier Trail Running Club and regularly run along the Trail from the school to the program site at Hearthwood Townhouse Apartments off Michie Road. The full story is on the Daily Progress web site.

Observatory Hill is one of the most popular segments of the Rivanna Trail, and that use resulted in some particularly eroded and muddy sections immediately south of Ivy Road. On March 10, supplemented by some three dozen volunteers from the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club, the monthly work party completed significant improvements. Muddy patches were re-graded, drainage channels dug, trash removed, and a couple sections re-routed to higher - and drier - ground. CAMBC members regularly provide their time and labor in support of the Rivanna Trail, and RTF could not have completed such a large project in one morning without their help. Be sure to check out the improvements! (Some photographs here.)

On February 4, local runner Neal Gorman established what is believed to be the fastest known time to run the entire Rivanna Trail Loop, 2:09:47. He commemorated the establishment of that record with a donation to the RTF of $209.47. Details of his record-setting run are at www.nealgorman.com.

He's also issued a challenge to local runners to beat his time - and pledged a second donation to RTF corresponding to that new record (plus pizza and beer for the victor). If you're up for the challenge, this is your opportunity to earn some personal glory and support the RTF.

The Rivanna Trail is a valuable community resource, providing a safe and fun place for spending time outside with children.

At the annual Teddy Bear Hike three dozen adorable, warmly dressed kids along with furry animals and adult caretakers explored the Rivanna Trail in Riverview Park. They fueled up on “people food,” sprinkled “animal food” for birds, and warmed up with hot chocolate provided by our friends at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.

During a recent 8-week long Forest Discoveries program at the Boys & Girls Club located at Southwood, children aged 6 to 10 improved access to their forest by building a new hiking trail.

The amazing APO fraternity from UVa then ignored sleet, rain, and mud to finish up the heavy work.  See our photo album for some pictures of the day.

Do you have a group of kids who want to help out on the trail? Do you want to make a gift that supplies kid-sized tools or user-friendly signage? Send us an email.

Volunteers make the RTF and the Rivanna Trail a reality. RTF member John Imbrie responded to our request for trail signage improvement ideas with a wonderfully detailed note full of suggestions.
 
Kwang Koh (pictured at right) and his wife recently moved to Charlottesville. They read about the Rivanna Trail online, and purposely selected a house near it. Kwang has already adopted a section of trail, trimmed fallen limbs, replaced a broken board on a footbridge, and constructed a lovely seat overlooking the river. Thank you!

Many feet and eyes enable us to achieve our goal of making the trail route crystal clear to anyone who walks along it. What’s your favorite section? Where do we need to add signs or make improvements? Send us your thoughts at rivannatrails@gmail.com.

A major objective for RTF in 2012 is to update and improve our trail signage as we reconnect sections interrupted by sewer renovations. We ask all trail users to participate in this project by noting places along the trails that need clarification or improvement. Send us an email at rivannatrails@gmail.org, being as specific as possible as to location of your observations. We also welcome your ideas for general improvement of way-finding along the trails.

Look for new signs at some trailheads, including the one pictured here,  at the southern entrance to our newest trail segment between Stribling Avenue and Sunset Avenue Extended.

The County's segment of the newly-renamed John Warner (nee Meadowcreek) Parkway opened on January 6, and with it the multi-use trail between Melbourne and Rio Road. The 10-foot-wide paved path runs the entire length of the Parkway, and is fully accessible and suitable for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The RTF has begun to reopen the original trail alignment, with the segment from just north of Melbourne to the railroad culvert having been the subject of a recent work party. The southernmost leg of the segment, just north of the Park Street bridge, is still closed, necessitating a short road walk along Melbourne and then a few hundred feet down the parkway trail. The culvert beneath the railroad tracks also remains closed, but we are hopeful of obtaining permission to build a new walkway.

Meadow Creek, one of the City's major waterways, has been selected to undergo a major stream restoration in 2012. The restoration will result in improved water quality, as well as enhanced aquatic habitat and aesthetic values, along the stream between the Norfolk Southern railway at the east end of Greenbrier Park, and Hydraulic Road.

To prepare for this project, the segment of the Rivanna Trail just north of Hydraulic Road has been shifted to the east. We anticipate this will allow the trail will remain open during the project, but be alert for equipment and temporary closures.

To find out more details and to follow the progress of this project, visit the project web site at www.charlottesville.org/meadowcreek.