RTD On Greenways & Southside Rails To Trails

RTD takes a look at the efforts to improve our already great system of trails that criss-cross the city. The bit I found extremely interesting and a bit depressing was on the attempt to turn some abandoned rails into a trail that will connect with Forest Hill Park.

The 3.5-mile path would run from Cofer Road near Jeff Davis Highway to an area behind George Wythe High School. There it would connect with the proposed Reedy Creek Greenway, which would follow the creek north through Forest Hill Park and down to the James River Park trails.

“It’s a healthy thing for kids to get out on these trails,” Conner said. “You don’t have to sit in front of the TV all day long and eat. From a health standpoint, we owe it to our kids.”

But the challenges are real and many. The first is funding. Burrell said the city was turned down for a $100,000 state grant that would have gone toward the Reedy Creek Greenway. And Conner said the city and CSX have yet to work out a price for the old rail line, a number that is almost certain to be over $1 million. That’s a large chunk of change in these strapped times.

Another challenge is convincing private landowners to allow greenways to cross their property. One of the keys to that is the creation of a recreational trail easement – something currently being discussed among city leaders – that would protect landowners from any liability if a trail user was to get hurt while on private property.

Previous post that includes and map.