Along the 15-mile railroad bed that will be the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, hikers will pass a swamp littered with old railroad ties. SUZANNE CARR ROSSI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

recreation opponents fear crime, litter KG ignores rails-to-trails plan that state has OK'd

King George rails-to-trails project recommended by state recreational agency, but county keeps its hands off.

Date published: 7/15/2007

By COREY BYERS

Despite a nod from the state agency on outdoor recreation, a rails-to-trails project in King George appears to be no closer to getting the county's official support.

The Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail is one of nine trail and greenway proposals in the Fredericksburg region included in the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's 2007 draft plan on statewide recreation and open-space planning.

The rails-to-trails project, which is on privately owned property, has been a point of contention among county residents.

Opponents say they fear it will bring crime, litter and sprawl. Supporters want the trail to be available for public recreation in the future.

Gary Waugh, a spokesman for the state agency, said there is no mandate for localities to follow the plan. He said it serves as a guideline for potential recreational development by localities or citizens.

"It's really up to localities or landowners to make items in the [Virginia Outdoors Plan] happen," Waugh said.

King George officials did not include the trail in the county's 2006 comprehensive plan. And the county "has no plan to include a rail-to-trail project in any planning document," Jack Green, the director of community development, said in an e-mail.

Waugh said the Dahlgren Junction Railroad, the trail's title in the state plan, has been listed on the document "two or three times" before. The plan is published every five years.

A listing in the Outdoors Plan does not guarantee state funding and gives the state no control over private property. But Waugh said it can help people or organizations looking for grant money.

Dave Jones, president of the pro-trail group Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, said the group is actively seeking grant money.

He said local approval could help the group secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants.

Supervisors have taken a hands-off approach to the rails-to-trails development. The project is not in the county comprehensive plan, and the board declined to address the issue with the DCR seven months ago.

A letter to the DCR, which trail opponents requested supervisors send, noted the project's absence from the county plan.

The Dahlgren Heritage Railroad Trail, which runs about 16 miles through King George County, has been a source of contention among residents. A rail line used to run from the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren, through the county and into Stafford. Former county Planning Commissioner Joe Williams bought the abandoned rail property. It is maintained by former state legislator David Brickley. Members of the public can use the trail, but must have a permit to do so. Brickley has previously expressed interest in transferring the trail to the state. Here are some of the key players involved: The Board of Supervisors did not list the trail in a 2006 comprehensive plan, but it would not formally request the trail be taken off the state report. Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail maintain the trail. They eventually want the property turned over to the state and connected to other trail networks. Citizens for Trail Truth and Property Rights oppose the project. Their goal is to maintain the rural character of the county. They see the trail as a means of bringing high-density housing to the county. Little Ark Baptist Church has not opposed the entire trail, but objects to a portion that runs near a church cemetery. According to the Friends Web site, trail users are not currently authorized to travel on that portion of the trail. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation creates non-binding guidelines for regional outdoor site development. It solicits suggestions from localities and state residents and releases the results of its survey, followed by a plan for addressing the proposals. Here are some recent highlights: State residents ranked walking, bicycling and hiking among their top 15 preferred outdoor activities in last year's Virginia Outdoors Survey. The 2007 draft says linking outdoor sites with a multi-use trail system will provide more recreational opportunities. In addition, it lists local transportation alternatives, specifically trails for walking, hiking and cycling, as opportunities needed for the region. The plan said last year's survey respondents cited a deficiency in the number of miles available for trail activities. The DCR recommends localities have greenways and trails in their comprehensive plans. It suggests local, regional and the state governments include funding for trail development and management in capital and operating budgets. For more information on the Outdoor Plan for the Fredericksburg area: fredericksburg.com

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Date published: 7/15/2007