The new Charles City Visitor’s Center.

The Charles City Courthouse complex .

Charles City Visitors Center Now Open!

On September 15, 2007, the new Charles City Visitors Center was officially opened to the public. This is great news for future Virginia Capital Trail users, as this will also serve as a trailhead. Located at the historic Charles City courthouse, the 3rd oldest courthouse in the country, the exhibit invites visitors to walk through and meet the thirteen “hosts,” life-size photographic cutout figures of members of the community. These hosts invite guests to experience “the story of America in one small county” and acquaint visitors with things they can see and do.

Four outdoor interpretive exhibits provide visitors with information about Charles City’s historic courthouse and engagements at the courthouse during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

This is a beautiful spot along Rt. 5 and will provide users of the Trail with an interesting place to visit along the corridor. It is roughly 20 miles from the Jamestown terminus of the Trail. The portion linking the Visitor’s Center to the Chickahominy River will soon be under development, and should be completed sometime in 2009. The segment from the Courthouse going west, to Kimages Warf Road will begin construction in November and be finished by the end of 2008.

Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder

MeadWestvaco Donates $300,000 to Foundation

Mayor L. Douglas Wilder announced MeadWestvaco’s support of the Virginia Capital Trail with a $300,000 gift to the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation (VCTF). This gift, to be distributed over the next four years, is the largest corporate donation to the VCTF, which is the non-profit entity overseeing the completion and enhancement of the Trail. “We are extremely excited about MeadWestvaco’s generous support of this project. This gift puts us well on our way to making the Virginia Capital Trail the world class amenity we know it can be,” said Beth Weisbrod, executive director of the VCTF. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Virginia Capital Trail Project and give back to the Richmond community in a meaningful way,” said John Luke, Jr., chairman and CEO of MeadWestvaco.

The VCTF is embarking on their Capital Campaign, with the hope of raising $3.5 million over the next four years. The money will go for enhancements to the Trail, which will include amenities like signs, kiosks, and benches, as well as educational and environmental programs, community outreach and promotional efforts to draw local, regional and national visitors to the Trail and the surrounding communities.

Trail Night at Palani Drive

On November 13, The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation (VCTF) tried out a new concept in raising visibility and support for the Trail.  Palani Drive, a restaurant in the near west end hosted Virginia Capital Trail night, with attendees urged to make a donation to the VCTF.  Free appetizers, beer and wine drew a crowd of 60 supporters.  Among them were recently elected Delegate Manoli Loupassi, and Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant, Jr.  Nick Donohue, assistant to Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer also attended to lend his support.  RABA (The Richmond Area Bicyclists Association) made a great showing with notables Andrew Mann, Bud Vye and Champe Burnley representing area cyclists at the event.  Foundation Board Chairman Jay Paul presented a construction update, as well as fielded questions from the group on everything from the Foundation’s mission, to questions about the Trail’s alignment.

This event was the idea of VCTF Board member Jim Beamer who thought an informal, word-of-mouth fundraiser could work.  Invitations were sent via email and phone calls, and as expected, they reached a large audience.  “We got a small group of sponsors who were happy to financially support the event, and spread the word.  As the date neared, we heard from different folks who received the invitation from many different people urging them to join.  That’s what we hoped would happen.”

“It was a great event.” said Beth Weisbrod, Executive Director of the VCTF.  “Seeing the level of enthusiasm for the Trail, and counting the number of people who were happy to give was really energizing.  There’s work to do, but with this kind of support, we’ll reach our goals.”  Our thanks go to Jeff Weatherly, owner of Palani Drive, for providing great food and a warm ambience for this very successful event.

Plans are in the works to do this again in the coming months in Richmond as well as the Williamsburg area. 

Contruction Update - Chickahominy Section Opens

The second phase of the Virginia Capital Trail in James City County officially opened to the public on May 1st. The new 4 ½-mile section of the Trail continues from the existing 3-mile Greensprings section near Jamestown High School, all the way to the Chickahominy River.

VDOT announced that construction on the $2.6 million project was completed on budget and on time. The Chickahominy section parallels Route 5 and crosses at-grade near the Chickahominy Riverfront Park and features a 330-ft.-decked bridge over Shellbank Creek wetlands. The Trail will continue on the new Judith Dresser Bridge to Charles City.

Foundation Chairman Jay Paul said, “A lot of people have been looking forward to this, and we’re obviously excited about the opening. The eastern section is now complete all the way to Jamestown.”

The new section was finished in time to be used for the Capital-to-Capital bike ride May 5th and the 400th Commemoration at Jamestown Settlement the following weekend. It will also be a highlight for National Trails Day event, June 7th. There are a total of 37 miles under construction. The next section of the Trail to open will be the 1-mile Richmond Riverfront section connecting the Canal Walk to the Great Shiplock Park.

April 2007