Community Connection and Service
This May, the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation (ERTF) rolled out a new initiative to better connect trail staff with community members. We often hear the community isn’t exactly sure what we do or what the trail is. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to hit the trail for some listening sessions, enter: Trailside with Ty.
This initiative takes place twice a month at various trailside locations and provides an opportunity for people in the community to meet with me and share what they have heard about the trail, receive accurate information about our Foundation and associated initiatives, and share their trail stories and questions directly with staff in a very casual, open manner.
Trailside with Ty is also a great way to find and support our trailside businesses. As we close out Small Business Month, this allows us to put an extra spotlight on the many small businesses that make Norfolk such a unique and special place to call home. We know that small businesses are the backbone of the economy as they significantly increase job creation and innovation.
Trailside with Ty is also a place that allows the Foundation to focus more on getting the community involved with advocacy. We often hear trail users ask how they can help. Advocacy is in our mission statement, but it takes a collective community voice to move the needle on issues.
Something that can use a collective voice right now is the South Hampton Roads Trail. The ERT has always been a small part of the larger picture of the South Hampton Roads Trail. The City of Chesapeake is working through its full expansion and connection currently and we could not be more excited for this work to continue and eventually form a completed regional trail system.
Chesapeake’s Western Branch Trail is looking to construct and activate their planned Phase 2 stretch, heading from the current terminus at Dorden Street and ending at Taylor Road. Per the story from the Virginian Pilot earlier this month, the Western Branch Trail section is facing some pretty hefty hurdles, but with a hand from people in the area advocating on their behalf, we can surely bring them the community support that they urgently need and help them accomplish their goals.
Here at the ERT, we believe that the best trail system is a connected trail system, and with your help by talking to the power behind their trail, we can lend a hand and help the City of Chesapeake by supporting their tabling efforts when they’re talking about their trail, telling our friends that live in the planned Phase 2 stretch about how much a trail benefits Norfolk, and sharing plenty of information regarding how trails provide health benefits and free recreation to communities
Are you interested in helping connect the South Hampton Roads Trail? Please reach out to me either by phone at 757-805-5284, or via email at Ty.Champion@ElizabethRiverTrail.org, and I’ll help you get plugged in!
