Letter to the Editor Part II: Two local projects named Regional Conservation Priorities for 2011

Finish the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

The Featherstone Wildlife Refuge is one of the potential alignments of another urgent priority for the region, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST).  This trail is one of 11 national scenic trails in the country and extends for over 800 miles from the Allegheny Highlands to the mouth of the Potomac River.  However, unlike most such trails, PHNST traverses a major metropolitan area, the greater Washington region.  This poses both opportunities and challenges.  This remarkable trail links many significant historic resources in our region and is a key link in a regional network of trails.  Yet, despite the best efforts of public and private agencies and organizations, the trail still has significant gaps in southern Fairfax and Prince William Counties. 

This segment of the trail has the potential not only to link with other major trails, such as the Fairfax Cross County Trail and the Laurel Hill Greenway, but also to numerous historic and cultural resources, such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Grist Mill Park, Woodlawn Plantation, the planned Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, Laurel Hill’s museums and art centers, the historic Town of Occoquan, and Rippon Lodge.  The trail also passes very close to public transit options at the Lorton and Rippon Virginia Railway Express stations. 

While there is increasing recognition that a sustainable transportation system relies on extensive trail networks, particularly in urban areas, securing off-road right-of-way in a growing and urbanized region with high land costs can be difficult.  According to the Potomac Heritage Association, a strong supporter of trail development, some gaps in the trail have right-of-way issues, such as at Fort Belvoir.  For other gaps, the main issue is funding, such as the planned boardwalk crossing of Neabsco Creek. 

The Alliance joins with the trail’s many supporters, including Prince William County Supervisor Frank Principi, Fairfax County Supervisor Gerry Hyland, and Congressman Gerald Connolly in urging landowners and trail developers to work together to resolve the outstanding issues to create a high-quality, scenic, multi-purpose trail.  Success will only be possible if the trail can attract the interest of volunteer trail developers, who donate so generously of their time and effort, as well as a variety of users once the trail is completed. 

For more information about these and other listed projects, and a free PDF copy of the Call to Action publication, visit the alliance online at www.sgalliance.org/rcpl.html.  Or contact Deborah Westbrooke, Executive Director of the Washington Sustainable Growth Alliance, Bethesda, MD.  Ofc. 301-986-5959/Mob. 301-219-1100. 

The alliance is a 501(c)3 corporation, with the following members:  Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Enterprise Community Partners, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Metropolitan Washington Builders Council - Building Industry Associations, ULI Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing, and ULI Washington.