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Elizabeth River Trail Foundation receives national Rails to Trails Conservancy Grant
Elizabeth River Trail Foundation receives national Rails to Trails Conservancy Grant
NORFOLK, Va – (October 2024)
Rails to Trails Conservancy announced it has awarded $421,500 in grants fueling programs working to develop and activate local and regional trail networks. Elizabeth River Trail Foundation was named one of the grant recipients.
With this $15,000 grant, the ERT Foundation will be able to partially fund the planning of an extension to connect the Elizabeth River Trail to the St. Paul’s Blue/Greenway park, a transformational resilience park, sure to be a gem of the city.
Since 2008, Rails to Trails Conservancy has distributed nearly $3.4 million across more than 420 grants to 260+ organizations like ours. This year’s grantees are working to support local and regional trail networks through projects and programming, helping to create equitable access to safe spaces where people can walk, bike and be active outside.
“We are honored to have our project selected by RTC and to have the Elizabeth River Trail highlighted at a national level. We are so excited to be able to work alongside the St. Paul’s Advisory Committee and the residents of Kindred to plan for a trail connection that meets the needs of the community,” said Kindra Greene executive director of the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation.
“By investing in innovative infrastructure development and programming that invites communities to come together on trails, RTC’s grant program is helping more communities bring this essential infrastructure to the people they serve,” said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC. “These grants help organizations and public agencies move forward with their trail network plans, while supporting community-based organizations working to connect more people to these spaces in neighborhoods across the country.”
RTC’s Trail Grants program is making a nationwide impact by bringing more people closer to the economic, health and quality-of-life opportunities that trails and trail networks provide. The entire list of grantees is available at railstotrails.org/grants.
The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation’s mission is to create an inclusive and resilient urban riverfront trail that connects and inspires people and businesses in the Hampton Roads region. The Elizabeth River Trail runs 10.5 miles through businesses, historic attractions and 28 neighborhoods within a five-minute walk. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running, and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University, through Downtown Norfolk and Old Dominion University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. The Foundation has completed multiple new unique and award-winning amenities, including kayak launches, play sculpture, a double turbo challenge course in Plum Point Park, The Glowline and most recently, the installation of the first hydration station. Major sponsors include the City of Norfolk and Sentara. For more information, visit elizabethrivertrail.org.