Public Feedback Shows Trails Have Value in Patrick County

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.”

DRBA’s PCRTG is recruiting for volunteers. The next meeting of the PCRTG will be Thursday, July 19^th in the Community Room at PHCC at 7pm. Meetings are held bi-monthly on the 3^rd Thursday of the month.  DRBA representatives will be on WHEO to talk about trail development and Recreational Use Planning on Tuesday, July 17^th at 9:30am. Anyone interested is encouraged to tune in to the conversation and attend the meeting.