Newsletter
of
the
Rivanna
Trails Foundation
of
Charlottesville, Virginia
Winter/Spring
1999
 NORTH
GROUNDS TRAIL....the next link in the system
We are pounding ahead in our quest to encircle the City with walking trails.
Our November workday crew marked a trail, December's group got lost.
Mike Van Yahres sliced a dead cedar lengthwise to make two beautiful &
odoriferous stringers for a little bridge. This will be the hilliest
section yet. And the new trail has our first historical site, the
substantial stone remains of the Albemarle County Poor House build in 1806
and now hidden below the shoulder of the 250 Bypass.
TRAIL
MONITORS....our golden stewards
Our existing trails enter the winter in excellent condition. We have
been blessed with a year without major havoc caused by either storm winds
or flooding. All the trails seem to have anonymous but regular users
who do spontaneous trail grooming. Most importantly but almost invisibly
each section of trail has a human monitor. Sections vary in length
depending on the terrain and vegetable matter. Usually they are less
than a mile in length. The monitor does light trimming and picking
a couple times a year. If there is a major project, it can be scheduled
for a monthly club workday. John Holden & Besty Dalgliesh are
overseeing our monitor system. Taking a section is a nice gift
to yourself. You increase your domain of dominance without the burdens
of ownership. Monitorships are free and can be had for annual terms.
THE
SHED....
In yet another milestone in the life of the RTF, we have acquired our first
building. It may be humble but we believe less is more.
It is a gray, mini-barn toolshed nicely located near the trail head
off Melbourne Road. The City of Charlottesville is our kind host.
It is large enough to hold our tools and bridge building supplies.
We would love to get a volunteer to oversee the barn. It entails
branding the tools with an RTF mark and periodically checking them for
safety and sharpness.
CHARETTE
HAPPENS....help design McIntire Park
The City has hired Will Rieley, a renown landscape architect, to study
McIntire Park and to drawn up some alternatives plans to VDOT's massive
4-lane Meadowcreek Parkway. He will be considering a two lane
option akin to the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg. STAMP, the group
opposed to the highway, is sponsoring a design workshop on Saturday,
January 30th in the McIntire Library. This charette has several purposes.
They will look the no road option and what potential opportunities will
be lost in the park with a bigger road. Also, they will have some
groups looking at trails within the Park and connections to the rest of
the City. Warren Byrd will be the keynote speaker. If interested,
call Rich Collins at 924-1856.
SECOND
SATURDAYS....a continuing success
Monthly workdays meet the second Saturday
of each month from 9:00-11:00 am. We have tools, but bring shears
or clippers if you have them. We muster on Melbourne Road just east
of the CHS football field. Call the day leader for particulars.
Saturdays 9:00-11:00am No Reservations Needed!
Charlottesville.....possibly
the best trail system in the South!
The thoroughly modern Rivanna Trails Foundation has its own web page. The
design and construction was donated by Stowe Keller. The web address
is: http://avenue.org/rivanna
RIVANNA
TRAILS FOUNDATION
Footpaths
encircling Charlottesville
For More Information
Contact:
Rivanna
Trails Foundation
P.O.
Box 1786, Charlottesville,
VA 22902
Tel: 804-923-9022
Internet: johnc@justice4all.org
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