PURCELLVILLE, VA, October 21, 2021 —The Town of Purcellville has been awarded funding from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Federal Highway Administration through the Recreational Trails Program. Thirty-five applications were received of which nine, including the Town of Purcellville, were successful. The Town of Purcellville’s project will establish a new multi-use trail through the Suzanne R. Kane Nature Preserve to improve accessibility and to establish connections between existing and planned trails and sidewalks. The grant award is for $328,734, which is 80% of the total project estimate of $410,918.
The multi-use trail through the Suzanne R. Kane Nature Preserve will help increase the use of and access to the nature preserve for recreation, fitness, and environmental education; provide those using the W&OD Regional Trail with a loop through the Town to enjoy a scenic route along the South Fork Catoctin Creek; and create connections to schools, neighborhoods, other trails, and to the historic downtown business district. The trail will also provide meaningful access to new recreational opportunities for those who are disabled. Elements of the project include a paved 2,100-foot-long path that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for grading and width; additional parking spaces with two ADA accessible spaces; wayfinding signs designed for increased visibility and readability; and two rest areas along the path with benches and signage located near the creek.
The project will be completed in two phases, each lasting up to 18-months. The first phase is design and engineering; the second phase is the construction.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of over 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the 2021 Virginia Municipal League Innovation Award for Environmental Sustainability and in years past, the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for innovation and green initiatives. The Town most recently received the Tree City USA Award for the 14th consecutive year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and was ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
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