VIRGINIA CHAPTER
November 2006

Since my newsletter last month, we have been on a roll in Virginia. Thanks to all for your great efforts and support. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Report from the East Coast Greenway Alliance Annual Meeting
On November 4, 2006, the East Coast Greenway Alliance Annual Meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland. One of the most important decisions made was to proceed forward with deciding upon the East Coast Greenway route for all to use. This means that we will decide upon interim routes while we are still working toward our goal of a final non-motorized greenway for the future. We all want to get out and enjoy the East Coast Greenway and this will be a big step toward doing so. Our goal in Virginia is to have a delineated route from Washington, D.C., to North Carolina in 2007.

Virginia Chapter Meeting held in Northern Virginia
The Virginia Chapter of the East Coast Greenway held the first of several "Town Meetings" in November to seek your ideas and help on moving the Greenway forward in Virginia. Thanks to Yon Lambert, Alexandria's Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Manager, it was a very successful meeting for Northern Virginia.

Upcoming Richmond Meeting December 1
Our next meeting will be on Friday, December 1, 2006, where we will be part of the Richmond Regional Trailbuilding Workshop. It will be held at Carillon-Byrd Park starting at 8:30 a.m. This program is being sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the City of Richmond. The space is limited for this workshop. For additional information contact Jennifer Wampler at the Va. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation: Jennifer.wampler@dcr.virginia.gov.

Dedication of the Greenspring Phase of the Virginia Capital Trail
Governor Tim Kaine was in Williamsburg on November 21 to dedicate the opening of the 2.8-mile Greenspring Phase of the Virginia Capital Trail, which is part of the East Coast Greenway's Historic Coastal Route extending from Richmond, Virginia, to Wilmington, North Carolina. The Virginia Capital Trail will be 50 miles long when completed extending from Richmond to Williamsburg and Jamestown. It is a 10-foot paved trail suitable for pedestrians, cyclists, and a wide variety of other users. The trail will include periodic trailhead locations and interpretative signage highlighting local cultural and historic features. Governor Kaine commended the East Coast Greenway and pledged to have the Virginia Capital Trail completed or under construction by the end of his administration.

To keep up to date on all East Coast Greenway Alliance activities look at www.greenway.org. To volunteer to help put in place several Virginia regional committees contact me: David Brickley, Virginia Chair, at dgboutdoors@comcast.net.