There are currently about 12 trails in Patrick County that
total over 45 miles of walking, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding
opportunity and ranging in difficultly from easy, handicapped accessible to
strenuous. While there are several trails that allow hikers to enjoy the
beautiful scenery and wildlife of Patrick county, feedback, acquired through
Public Meetings held in Patrick County
this past Spring by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) show that local
citizens want more miles of walking trails in the town of Stuart, convenient to
those who live and work around town.
“The Mayo River Rail Trail was a huge step in the right
direction, according to many Patrick County residents. The only complaint being
that it isn’t long enough.” said Anna Wallace, Patrick County Coordinator for
the Dan River Basin Association. “Due to high population, there has been a more
vocal demand for trails in Stuart, however it’s important to consider the
smaller, more rural communities also. With support from the Dan River District
Supervisor, there has been a push to develop a trail that connects to Dan River
Park in Ararat. Similarly, a group of devoted trail-enthusiasts were the
driving force behind a small network of trails at IC Dehart Memorial Park in
Woolwine.”
DRBA’s Patrick County volunteer committee, the Patrick
County Rivers & Trails Group (PCRTG), is leading an effort to develop more
hiking and walking trails for Patrick County citizens. The volunteers are
currently developing a Recreational Use Plan, which would serve as a road map
for future trail building and would improve existing tails, making them more
accessible the public. DRBA began by inventorying all of the recreational
amenities that Patrick County has to offer; they then held a series of public
meetings throughout the county to get input from citizens on the types of
recreational amenities they would like to see developed. Currently, the
organization is developing a plan to give to the County for future trails and
trail improvements based on the inventory and public feedback. PCRTG also organizes and participates in
volunteer activities such as river and trail clean-up events. The Adopt-A-Trail
program, launched by PCRTG, allows members of the community to “adopt” their
favorite trail, contributing to maintenance efforts and encouraging trail use.
“There is a strong case for developing, expanding and
connecting trails of all kinds in Patrick County. One of the most compelling
reasons is the potential health benefit,” said Wayne Kirkpatrick, a Patrick
County local citizen and DRBA board member. “The adult obesity rate in Patrick
County is 30%, which is higher than both state and national rates. Patrick is
considered critically medically underserved, with 2,080 residents per 1
physician. Also, 20% of Patrick citizens are uninsured, again higher than state
and national rates. To top it off, Patrick County has one of the lowest rates
for access to recreational facilities in the state (www.countyhealthrankings.org).”
“Another compelling reason for developing trails in the
county is the increased quality of life and economic benefit that comes along
with it,” said Tiffany Haworth, DRBA’s Executive Director. “The beautiful
scenery and current and future recreational opportunities in Patrick County is
a very real attraction for new businesses and their employees. Patrick County
is definitely not lacking in opportunities for outdoor adventure, but the
accessibility to such adventures could stand to be developed. This could open
the door to economic development based on tourism and new businesses.”
