Happy New Year!

What Happens Next?

In eight months, we'll have a 53-mile paved multiuse trail linking four localities. Then what?

To address this question, we recently gathered trail stakeholders throughout four localities of the Trail's alignment, to talk about the future. Participants included local and state tourism officials, economic development teams, county supervisors, planners, V-DOT representatives, property owners, and business owners. Why? To begin the work of taking advantage of this incredible opportunity.

We know trails have drawing power on their own, but with planning and coordination, we can multiply and expedite it, bringing tourists, commuters, fitness enthusiasts, and everyone else looking to enjoy the outdoors. Using the notion that trail users are in it as much for the journey as the destination, ideas on how to enrich the experience began to flow. We asked lots of questions to stimulate conversations, like: How can people from far away plan a trip to the Trail? After people are on the Trail, how do we make sure they enjoy it enough to linger and come back, again and again? Supported tours, campsites, B&Bs, bike repair, historical interpretation, mapping and GPS-based technology, community events, and fitness and educational programs are some of the eight pages of ideas recorded from this high-energy meeting.

We're now in the process of turning these ideas into initiatives, and working together on implementation. It's critically important that we're able to capitalize on the opportunity that the Virginia Capital Trail affords us. How do we best show off our part of Virginia? How do we maximize the economic impact? The rewards of getting it right, of going through the process and succeeding in fulfilling the Trail's potential are huge. Since this meeting, for example, two small businesses have contacted me. One is a new bed and breakfast in eastern Henrico, another entrepreneur is creating downloadable itineraries, incorporating various attractions along the Trail.

So stay tuned. Now that the asphalt is nearly in place, watch as it becomes the most visited attraction in the region through collaboration, creativity, and ingenuity.

That's what happens next.