The City of Waynesboro is looking to extend its popular South River Greenway from North Park to Basic Park, but one property owner is delaying the construction.
At tonight’s Waynesboro City Council meeting, a public hearing will be held related to the vacant property as the city looks to pursue an easement through any means necessary, including court.
The public hearing is required before the city can adopt a resolution to obtain the easements “through one method or another.”
Phase four of the greenway was authorized by City Council in September 2019 and funding has been allocated from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the planning and construction of the project. Rinker Design Associates was selected by the city to engineer this section of the greenway.
The property in question is a 38.2-acre parcel of land in Ward A, owned by Brian Collins, of Alexandria, that was purchased in 2023, according to GIS data.
“Despite extensive attempts to negotiate the purchase of the needed property, the city has not been able to come to an agreement with the landowner,” Michael Hamp, Waynesboro city manager, told AFP. “Because the matter will ultimately be determined in court, the city has no further comment at this time.”
The proposed phase four extension would construct an asphalt path 10 feet in width for public recreational use from Second Street/Bridge Avenue to Basic Park. The project requires temporary and permanent easements on Collins’ property.
Fair market value of the easements is estimated at $4,100. The city submitted a written offer to Collins to purchase the easements, but the city’s offer was rejected.
After the required public hearing, the city manager is asking City Council to adopt a resolution to approve the acquisition of the easements to move forward with the project.
The city manager is requesting authorization from City Council to move forward with condemnation proceedings as the project is seen as “necessary public use.”
The resolution would also allow the city manager to execute all documents deemed necessary to acquire the easements.
The meeting will be held at the Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building at 503 W. Main St. in Waynesboro. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
News and notes
- The extension to North Park was completed in September 2022 making the entire greenway two miles in length.
- The greenway begins at the Loth Springs parking area near the Waynesboro Y.
- The paved trail is open to walkers, runners, pets and cyclists and features historical information, fishing, birdwatching, fitness stops and more.
- There are plans to eventually extend the greenway from the Loth Springs Trailhead to Ridgeview Park. The city was awarded a $1 million grant from VDOT to design and construct the trail along 14th Street with an entrance to the park at S. Magnolia Ave.
- The city is also working on a plan to connect Waynesboro’s Sunset Park to the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel. The Rockfish Gateway Trail would give hikers and cyclists the opportunity to connect to the Shenandoah National Park and Appalachian Trail.
Related stories
- Waynesboro: Section of South River Greenway to close for 30 to 60 days for improvements
- Waynesboro: South River Greenway extension from North Park to Basic Park likely in 2024
- Waynesboro: South River Greenway extension to North Park complete
- Waynesboro: $15M trail project aims to connect Sunset Park to Crozet tunnel, SNP, AT
- Waynesboro’s South River access, greenway transformed; result is ‘pretty spectacular’
- Goodbye asphalt, hello open space: Waynesboro begins work on South River Preserve
- Waynesboro: Three miles of additional trails to be built at Sunset Park in 2025
- Waynesboro embraces connection to outdoors; prepares to open Sunset Park to the public
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Crystal Graham
