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Blazing a trail in King George
Former state legislator plans to turn an old rail bed in Dahlgren into a trail.
Date published: 3/28/2006
By JEFF BRANSCOME
A former state legislator from Woodbridge plans to turn an abandoned rail bed near Dahlgren into a trail for hiking and biking, a project nearby landowners have resisted for the past 10 years.
David Brickley, who was a delegate from 1976-98 and served as director of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation from 1998-2002, said he "acquired the rights" to the 16-mile right of way in December from former King George Planning Commissioner Joseph Williams. He hopes to open it to the public by June.
Supporters say the trail, dubbed the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, will strengthen the county's economy, connect the community and preserve land for a much-needed place to exercise and enjoy nature.
"I've always believed that this was a diamond in the rough. It would be a great loss to the citizens of Virginia if it were chopped up and not developed as a rails to trails," said Brickley, who recently started a nonprofit organization named after the trail.
But John LoBuglio, who lives near the site, said county residents "overwhelmingly" oppose the trail because of potential side effects such as crime, pollution and noise.
Brickley said he hopes the trail will one day extend to Fredericksburg, where officials are developing plans for a network of interconnected trails in the city.
These days, Virginia boasts 27 rail trails, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, an advocacy group in Washington. That includes the W&OD Railroad Trail in Northern Virginia, which attracts 3 million people a year--more than any such trail in the country.
Nationally, 1,396 rail trails exist and 1,200 are being developed.
"I would characterize the popularity of rails to trails as something that's been steadily growing in interest," said Jennifer Kaleba, a spokeswoman for the conservancy.
Eventually, Brickley wants to transfer ownership of the trail to the state, but he said he may need support from the county Board of Supervisors to do so. In 2000, the board agreed to delete all "rails-to-trails" references from the county's comprehensive plan.
"Nothing would please me more than to be able to have a real working relationship with King George County government," he said.
The Virginia Outdoors Plan still lists the former Dahlgren rail bed as a potential "multi-use trail" that could provide links to the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and the state's Caledon Natural Area in King George.
"We are of the opinion that good trails make good neighbors," said Nathan Lott, a spokesman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
In 2002, then-Del. Albert Pollard sponsored a bill that would have enabled the state agency to develop a hiking and biking trail at the site. But the bill died in committee.
The rail bed cuts through land owned by the Northern Virginia Shooting Facility, and the club's 325 members are concerned, said LoBuglio, the gun club's president.
Date published: 3/28/2006
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