Washington County PDR Program

Sept. 25, 2011

Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and
Community Revitalization Commission
701 E. Franklin St.
Suite 501
Richmond, VA  23219

Dear Commission Members:

The Virginia Creeper Trail Club would like to extend support to the Holston River Soil and Water Conservation District’s effort to preserve lands adjacent to the Creeper Trail. Our club consists of over 200 members, and is a nonprofit whose mission is to maintain, promote and preserve the Virginia Creeper Trail corridor and to help develop and conduct public education programs regarding the natural qualities of the trail.

The Creeper Trail, now more than 30 years old, is one of the nation’s best-known rail trails, boasting over 200,000 users annually, and millions of dollars in direct local economic impact. It also improves the quality of life for local residents by providing easy opportunities to improve fitness and mental health.

The primary reason for the trail’s success is the rural and scenic quality of its surrounding lands. As the popularity of the trail has increased, so has development pressure along the trail corridor. Permanent preservation of pastoral lands along the trail, through conservation easements, will help insure its long-term viability as an outdoor recreation resource.

As a club, we fully support the Southwest Virginia Purchase of Development Rights program, and agree to donate $5,000 to support the fund, contingent that it be used to obtain matching funds for conservation easements within view of the trail.

Sincerely,

Eliot Cannon
Vice President
Virginia Creeper Trail Club