Dear Greenway Supporters,

     As we emerge from the pandemic restrictions, it has been great fun to be involved in community events that have helped raise funds for Pathfinders.  Volunteers from Pathfinders have helped staff the Blue Ridge Marathon concert, Iron Man, Amateur Road National Championships, and most recently, the inaugural 20k for the Greenway by Cardinal Bicycle.  We are grateful to these event sponsors for engaging us and for making donations to Pathfinders.  

 

     I would like to highlight a few key accomplishments that we and our Greenway Partners have made together.  First, the long-awaited Bridge Street connection in Roanoke City, which we helped fund through the Bridge the Gap campaign, has kicked off construction.  We also secured a critical easement to support expansion of the Glade Creek greenway in Vinton.  Finally, we made a significant contribution to Roanoke County to enable the northern expansion of the Read Mountain Preserve and open this great treasure to an entirely new part of our community.  

 

     Inflation and labor and supply chain shortages have impacted every locality, resulting in budget over-runs for practically all greenway projects.  Your continued support of Pathfinders provides us with the funds to support the localities in new projects to expand our Greenway system to reach more of the community and further connect our neighborhoods.  Our sizable donation for Read Mountain will need to be replenished and additional funds will be needed for future expansion.  

 

     To that end, I am pleased to announce a $250,000 campaign for the Read Mountain Northern Expansion!  Will you please support Read Mountain with a contribution this year?

 

     The growth of our greenway system would not be possible without each of you.  On behalf of the Pathfinders, I sincerely thank you for your past and future support!

 

Gratefully,

 

Brian R. McCahill

President

Pathfinders for Greenways

Read Mountain Northern Expansion Campaign Progress 

as of 11/16/22

Volunteer  Accomplishments 2022

 

4,014 Total Volunteer Hours

144 Total Work Days

 

Main Projects:

 

- Laurel Canyon construction at Carvins Cove, 1,171 hours

- Arrowhead Trail maintenance at Carvins Cove, 601 hours

- Summit View Bridge in Franklin Co, 

476 hours

- Silk City Trail construction at Mill Mountain, 409 hours

- Foresters Trail Extension at Explore Park, 357 hours

- Rock-N-Roll construction at Carvins Cove, 310 hours

- Oak Grove Trail at Oak Grove Park, 

108 hours

- Trash pickup, 96 hours

- AT Trail and Road maintenance, 90 hours

- Song Bird Trail maintenance at Carvins Cove, 43 hours

 

Our Contributions 2021-2022

 

- Bridge Street (Bridge The Gap donations lead to this final link for Roanoke City)

- Glade Creek ($45,000 in donations for connection and a shelter)

- Read Mountain Northern Expansion to provide access to the Hollins area (donations for land acquisition)

 

Donate Now!

Interested In Volunteering?  No Experience Necessary!

- Please join us every Thursday for Trail Care in Carvin’s Cove

- Help us clean up the Greenways the first Thursday of every month 

- Support staff at local events

Volunteer Of The Year 2022: 

Blanche Brower

New volunteers naturalizing the Arrowhead Trail

A new volunteer adding dirt to the Arrowhead Trail

Bridge Street Construction on the Roanoke River Greenway

     At the end of my first year in the position, I am realizing that my role as Greenway Coordinator might be better titled “Greenway Orchestrator”. I fill my days keeping up with all the developments across the Roanoke Valley, trying to make sure all the individual efforts add up to something larger. Much of 2022 was spent laying the ground work for projects that are years out, but I am excited to see what’s around the corner. 

 

     2023 is going to be a good year on the Roanoke River! The connection between the Bridge St. and Aerial Way sections of the Greenway will be completed in the summer, closing the last major gap in the City of Roanoke. The mile-long section includes the longest single span bridge in the system, three major underpasses, significant earthwork and extensive wall building. Although the area has long been an industrial zone, the project is going to great lengths to help restore some natural solitude in the City. This project will also deliver close to 11 miles of uninterrupted trail from Bennington Rd. SE to Cook Dr. in Salem.

 

     Also along the Roanoke River, Roanoke County is planning to begin construction in the spring on phase one of their plan to extend the Greenway towards Green Hill Park. With a new trailhead along Riverside Dr., this will help generate momentum towards completion from one end of the county to the other. 

 

     By the end of 2023, we will have cut the ribbon on a new section of Tinker Creek and Glade Creek Greenways, including an on-road connection between both trails and the Town of Vinton. Roanoke County will have closed on a land purchase that will allow for public access on the Hollins-side of Read Mountain Preserve. Salem will have completed improvements between Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail and E. Main St, furthering the connections in the city. All of these projects have benefitted from contributions from the Pathfinders for Greenways at critical junctures.  

 

     These are just some of the tangible outcomes of the work of the Greenways, but there is much behind the scenes that strives to make everyone’s experience better. This is the work I feel so lucky to wake up to every morning. 

 

Best,

 

Frank Maguire

Roanoke Valley Greenway Coordinator

MidWeek Crew Updates

     Over the last year, the MidWeek Crew has continued its long tradition of working weekly on maintenance and construction projects in the region. Projects have included assembly of a 30’ fiberglass bridge in Franklin County and construction of new trails at Mill Mountain, Carvins Cove, Oak Grove, and Explore Parks. The Crew also assists localities with greenway and trail maintenance by clearing fallen trees after storms, picking up trash after floods, and correcting erosion issues after heavy rains.

Roanoke River cleanup

Arrowhead Trail naturalizing

Silk City Trail opening

Oak Grove Park Trail opening

Raising the tread at Arrowhead

Starting a water diverter at Arrowhead Trail

Naturalizing disturbed areas at Arrowhead

Sorting out organics at Arrowhead

Rock-N-Roll Crew Updates

     We finished up Rock-N-Roll phase 1 with some touch-ups at the start of the year. Then, we did some road work on Happy Valley and some maintenance work on Arrowhead and Song Bird trails, all at Carvins Cove. Next, we will start on Rock-N-Roll phase 2 heading towards the boat dock. We always do some fire road maintenance work as needed.  

Thank You to Our Fundraising Partners!

- Blue Ridge Marathon

- Iron Man

- Amateur Road National Championships

- 20k for the Greenway by Cardinal Bicycle

- Roanoke Outside Grant for Trail Tools

Tools from Roanoke Outside Grant

Bikes at IRONMAN Triathlon

IRONMAN volunteering

Courtesy of Kemper Mills Fant