A West Virginia Rails to Trails project has been designated for a high honor. The Greenbrier River Trail will be inducted into the national Rail Trail Hall of Fame. The Rails to Trails Conservancy made the announcement this week.
“This celebration of the Greenbrier River Trail recognizes the importance of the trail to the residents and businesses of Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties,” said Jake Lynch Communications Manager for the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
Inductees into the hall of fame are selected based on scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, excellence in management and maintenance, community connections, and geographic distribution. Lynch said the
The first trail recognized with the hall of fame distinction was Great Allegheny Passage in
The Greenbrier River Trail was developed in the 1990’s as the trend began to convert aging and abandoned railroad property into a post rail use. It’s one of several popular rail trails around
“I rode the Greenbrier River Trail when I was younger, and it was truly one of the formative experiences of my life,” said Kelly Pack, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Director of Trail Development and a native West Virginian. “It is one of the great West Virginian adventures, and its accessibility for people of all ages is very important. It is tremendous to see that such a strong community has formed around the trail, brought together by a genuine affection for the trail and the river, but also an understanding of how important it is to the residents and businesses it connects.”
As a Hall of Fame rail-trail special signage will be awarded to the trail and it will be featured in the monthly Rails to Trails publication.
An induction ceremony will be held Saturday June 2 at the trail head in Marlinton. The brief ceremony will be followed by music and a barbecue lunch in the city park. There will also be guided tours of the trail later in the day. For more information click HERE.