The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy invite the community for Opening Day for Trails on Saturday, April 13. This year marks the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s seventh annual Opening Day for Trails, where people across the nation kick off the trail season by hitting their favorite trails for a walk, run, ride or special event. ERT Foundation has partnered with dozens of community organizations to host pop-up events and activities along the 10.5-mile trail.
Opening Day for Trails is the start of the Elizabeth River Trail’s season of events. The comprehensive campaign launched by Elizabeth River Trail Foundation raised $3,473,714 last April and 86 percent of its Phase 1 goal. The ERT has seen significant development over the past year with the completion of trail improvement projects in Lambert’s Point, Chelsea and Jeff Robertson Park. Under the direction of Executive Director Cheryl White, ERT Foundation has launched a volunteer Trail Ambassador program, a monthly e-newsletter and commissioned a mural, The Magenta Line, at the trail’s 0-mile marker behind Nauticus.
ERT’s new wayfinding sign family was approved by the Architectural Review Board, City Planning and neighboring communities. The sign system of more than 400 signs will begin installation in late spring.
Ambitious plans for 2019 include the development of the Plum Point Park Trailhead with amenities including dynamic playground equipment, obstacle course, walking labyrinth, bike maintenance station, hydration station for humans and pets and an ADA-accessible kayak launch.
For more information and schedule of events for ERT’s Opening Day, visit here.
