Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative Update
Committed to building trails and connections, the Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative (SGI) made remarkable strides in 2009 as they blossomed from an idea into a full-fledged community organization with major initiatives already in implementation. MMG awarded a Community Starter Grant to SGI during 2009.
Spotsylvania County, Virginia is located just south of Washington, DC and is in close proximity to the Cities of Fredericksburg and Richmond and other high-growth communities.
Spotsylvania County possesses a unique mix of pristine natural areas and nationally renowned historic resources adjacent to high growth neighborhoods and commercial districts.
The National Park Service manages four major Civil War National Battlefields in the area: Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Chancellorsville, and Fredericksburg.
With the help of MMG and a forward-thinking developer who strives to build legacies, Luck Development Partners (LDP), SGI is partnering with county, state and regional officials to create a long-term plan for greenways in the county. The vision of SGI is that these greenways and their associated trails will eventually connect communities and all four of the region’s Civil War battlefield parks. This system will also become a component of the East Coast Greenway — connecting communities from Maine to Florida along the Atlantic Coastline.
SGI is in the midst of constructing a demonstration trail that lies within a wooded area alongside the Ni River through property owned by LDP. Interpretive signage will be installed along this trail to highlight unique natural resources, plants and trees. Other nearby property owners have expressed support for a continuation of this trail. SGI plans to celebrate the opening of the trail and trails as a whole in early summer.
To learn more about SGI and LDP, please visit www.spotsylvaniagreenways.org or www.lucklegacy.com
