A duathlon on the Strasburg River Walk. Photo by Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation Department. CHAPTER10 Regional Recommendations MAP ICON KEY VOP Mapper Data explorer 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan PDF 10.1 CHAPTER 10 Regional Recommendations Region 13Introduction • Southside “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” — Susan Sontag Recreation planning regions • Have involvement and support from multiple jurisdictions in the region. The Virginia Outdoors Plan divides the Commonwealth into 21 outdoor recreational planning regions. These regions • Are able to be initiated within the next five years. coincide in name, area, number and boundaries with existing planning districts (See Map 10). For the purposes of this Recreation mapping plan, when a jurisdiction is a member of multiple planning district commissions, one planning region is selected to avoid Tools available to assist with recreation planning: duplication of inventory data and resource recommendations. • The VOP Mapper, an interactive map tool. Regional public input • The Natural Heritage Data Explorer, a map tool useful for land conservation, natural resource and planning. To initiate the regional planning process, 42 public meetings were held across the 21 recreational regions from December • A PDF map, which indicates recreation resources for each 2011 through March 2012. Regional projects reflect input region. from some 480 people attending these public meetings along with more than 120 written comments from citizens, Recreation plan implementation organizations, technical advisory members and agencies. Information received during public meetings, along with input Results from the 2011 Virginia Outdoors Demand Survey and from planners, recreation professionals, nonprofit groups 2012 Outdoor Recreation Areas and Facilities Inventory are and planning district staff are incorporated into regional important for prioritizing future outdoor recreation needs. recommendations. Regional chapters outline existing conservation lands and address strategies to meet statewide conservation goals. Regional featured projects Establishing recreation planning and land conservation strategies based on the detailed regional data is important Featured projects for each region address these priorities and to Virginians’ health and the long-term viability of the meet at least one of the following criteria: Commonwealth. • Have statewide or regional significance. • Address top statewide or regional needs identified by the Virginia Outdoors Demand Survey. 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan 10.2 www.dcr.virginia.gov CHAPTER 10 Regional Recommendations Region 13Introduction • Southside Map 10.0 Planning Regions Independent S#1 Cities Frederick S#40 Clarke Recreation U%1 Loudoun Planning U%7 Warren U%8 S#13 Arlington S#12 Regions Shenandoah S#1 23 Fairfax Fauquier S# 22 Rappahannock S#Prince William Counties Page U%9 Rockingham Culpeper Stafford S#18 Madison Highland S#15 King Greene George Orange Augusta W Spotsylvania U%16 estm . orel S#35 and U%6 38 R S# Caroline N Bath 5 ic o S# h rt U%10 Louisa m hu o m Albemarle n be Essex d rla nd Accomack K U%1717 Rockbridge Fluvanna in g La G K a n Alleghany#7 o Hanover in n c S d 20 Nelson oc g U%18 as 9 S# h Wi Q te S# la u r 4 n l e M S# d lia e id m n dl U%22 e U%15 se x d n M Amherst Buckingham a G 5 l Powhatan U% r 32 l a Botetourt S# New Kent o t e Henrico u h n b c e o e w t m s p Craig u Charles James t s e m C r 21 Chesterfield S#19 City City a S# h Appomattox t 2 Amelia r S# U%14 S#28 S#39 o Giles N 3334 U%11 S#8 Prince York Buchanan S#S# Bedford Prince Edward George Roanoke Campbell S#29 Montgomery Nottoway Surry S#25 Dickenson Bland S#17 U%2 Tazewell S#31 Dinwiddie Pulaski U%4 Charlotte U%19 Isle Wise Franklin of 30S#26 Russell Lunenburg Sussex U%23 S# S#27 Floyd Wight Wythe U%12 S#37 U%1 Smyth 3 Pittsylvania U% Brunswick 36 Halifax U%13 11 14 S# S#6 Lee Carroll S# SouthamptonS# Scott Washington 24 Mecklenburg Patrick S# 3 Grayson S#16 Greensville S# Henry S#10 Independent Cities Recreation Planning Regions 1. Alexandria 16. Galax 31. Radford 1. LENOWISCO 16. George Washington Regional 2. Bedford 17. Hampton 32. Richmond 2. Cumberland Plateau Commission 3. Bristol 18. Harrisonburg 33. Roanoke 3. Mount Rogers 17. Northern Neck 4. Buena Vista 19. Hopewell 34. Salem 4. New River Valley 18. Middle Peninsula 5. Charlottesville 20. Lexington 35. Staunton 5. Roanoke Valley-Allegheny 19. Crater 6. Chesapeake 21. Lynchburg 36. Suffolk 6. Central Shenandoah 22. Accomac-Northampton 7. Clifton Forge 22. Manassas 37. Virginia Beach 7. Northern Shenandoah Valley 23. Hampton Roads 8. Colonial Heights 23. Manassas Park 38. Waynesboro 8. Northern Virginia 9. Covington 24. Martinsville 39. Williamsburg 9. Rappahannock-Rapidan 10. Danville 25. Newport News 40. Winchester 10. Thomas Jefferson 11. Emporia 26. Norfolk 11. Region 2000 12. Fairfax 27. Norton 12. West Piedmont 13. Falls Church 28. Petersburg 13. Southside 14. Franklin 29. Poquoson 14. Commonwealth Regional Council 15. Frederick 30. Portsmouth 15. Richmond Regional 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan 10.3 www.dcr.virginia.gov Natural Tunnel State Park. Photo by DCR. REGION1 LENOWISCO MAP ICON KEY VOP Mapper Data explorer 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan PDF 10.4 CHAPTER 10 Regional Recommendations RegionRegion 1 •13 LENOWISCO • Southside Introduction The 2010 Census estimates that LENOWISCO’s recreation region had a population of 94,174 in 2010, comprising 1.18 The LENOWISCO Recreational Planning Region includes the percent of Virginia’s population. Continuing with a growth rate municipalities of the LENOWISCO Planning District, which is of 3.35 percent, the population will be 97,329 by 2020. Growth made up of Lee, Scott and Wise counties, the city of Norton, rates varied across the region from a decrease of 0.98 percent and the town of Pennington Gap. Covering 1,400 square in Scott County to an increase of 7.81 percent in Lee County. miles, it is located in far southwestern Virginia and shares To compare population and population change by locality in borders with Tennessee to the south and Kentucky to the west. Virginia, see the 2010 Census Total Population Maps. The mountainous land is a beautiful setting for living and recreation. Coal, natural gas, forestry and agriculture provide Regional focus the economic base for this region. Through the 2011 Virginia Outdoors Survey, input from Natural beauty is abundant here and can be enjoyed in many citizen public meetings and partnerships with local and public recreational areas, parks and forests. These public regional staff the four priority considerations for the Virginia lands vary in size from small local sites to the 82,187 acres Outdoors Plan emerged: opportunities for outdoor recreation, of USDA Forest Service land. All provide opportunities for economics, health and wellness, and land conservation. In developed, as well as dispersed, outdoor recreation. Natural addition to these priorities, valuable information related to resources are diverse and abundant, making this region one regions across the Commonwealth was gained. The following of the most important for environmental and conservation section summarizes regional thoughts and strategies for land planning in the state. Horseback riding, hiking and bicycling conservation and outdoor recreation. trails crisscross the national forest lands offering visitors access to breathtaking scenic vistas and remote mountain The following was noted during the Virginia Outdoors Plan hideaways. Sections of the Guest and Clinch rivers are state public input sessions: scenic rivers that, along with other rivers in the region, provide opportunities for water-related activities. Health: Citizens cited the need for recreational opportunities close to home. They were also interested in better education on the value of outdoors for children, including incorporating outdoor education in the classroom standards of learning. Youth: Expand the use of technology to make outdoor activities appealing to youths, especially the promotion of geocaching opportunities like those in Virginia State Parks. There is a need to focus on getting children and youths outdoors especially through increased classroom education. Encourage and seek funding to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for youths to include incorporating parks into school curriculum. Educate outdoor recreationists about Leave No Trace principles and scenic resources. Promote the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) middle and high school outdoor classroom curriculum. Trails: There is a need for better access to biking and walking trails closer to home. There is also a demand for all-terrain vehicle, equestrian and mountain biking trails ranging from beginner to advanced degrees of difficulty. Citizens expressed high interest in increasing opportunities for trail access close to home. Water access: There is a need for additional nonmotorized public access, specifically kayak and canoe launches. In addition, there is regional interest in providing complete water trails with all facilities, specifically on the Clinch and Powell rivers. An interpretive program at Wilderness Road State Park in Lee County. Photo by DCR. 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan 10.5 www.dcr.virginia.gov CHAPTER 10 Regional Recommendations RegionRegion 1 •13 LENOWISCO • Southside Land conservation: Green infrastructure strategies were Land conservation repeatedly cited as important to trail development and land conservation. Public meeting comments on land conservation incorporated the following: Table 1.1 Most-needed outdoor recreation • The Southern Appalachian Greenway Alliance’s plans for LENOWISCO Recreational Planning Region the region incorporate principles of green-infrastructure % of households in planning. activity region state • Consolidate public lands to eliminate fragmentation. Public access to state waters for 72 60 • Establish land conservation and/or green-infrastructure fishing, swimming and beach use corridors between Pine Mountain and Stone Mountain. Trails for hiking and walking 66 68 • Conduct green connectivity study linking natural Historic areas 58 51 resources.