"We see ourselves as stewards of the natural area, stewards of the land. We work very hard to choose plant life we had to remove for the trail. It's always a challenge, but then when we get a look at the trail's end it's always been well done. It looks awesome. We're happy to have been able to make it happen."

Stewards and Stream Valleys - The Trail Takes Shape

By the fall of 2000, the planning team developed a blueprint to connect the stream valley trails. The Park Authority Director and the Park Authority Board worked closely with the Board of Supervisors to secure funding. The board allocated $900,000, and the county realized significant savings by doing things in house.

In the shadow of the Beltway in the Accotink Stream Valley, staff from Park Planning and Development designed and managed the largest construction project in the Park Authority's history, building over a mile of asphalt and concrete trail, and installing three concrete stream crossings. In swampy areas, volunteers and staff brought in stone to stabilize the wet ground. Some areas required stepping stones over creeks or culvert pipes under the trail to provide dry places to walk or ride.

Park Authority area managers oversaw the trail markers. The signs are made of recycled plastic and fiberglass, marking the trail from one end to the other. The signs are durable and are buried deep to deter vandals, one of the scourges of the park system.

It's all about Connections