Because the Greenway is a multi-use casual leisure trail, extreme caution and courtesy need to be observed when operating any type of equipment, including bicycles and roller-blades on the Greenway.

 

Due to the number of walkers, runners, and children who occupy the Greenway paths, cyclists, in particular, need to use appropriate speeds (high speeds are not permitted on the Greenway) and yield the right of way to all pedestrians.

 

Cyclists should exercise added caution on descending ramps, bridge areas, and turns where pedestrians or children may be less visible. Serious injury can result from inappropriate cycling on the Greenway.

 

Please remember that this is a shared space. Caution and courtesy are essential for the safety and enjoyment of everyone who makes use of our award-winning Greenway paths.

 

More Visitors Impressed by our Hawksbill Greenway

 

 

Pat O'Brien, Recreation Director points on features of Phase 4 on the Hawksbill Greenway to visitors.

 

On May 12 -13, 2011, a group of visitors from Blacksburg, Wytheville, Glade Springs, St. Paul, and Bland, Virginia spent 2 days in Luray. They walked our Hawksbill Greenway, stayed at the Mimslyn Inn, ate at Artisans Grill and asked lots of questions about how our town planned and developed the Greenway.

 

A special 2 hour round table discussion was held at the Chamber Office in the Train Depot with Foundation Board members, Pat O'Brien, Mayor Presgraves, Ligon Webb, and Chris Anderson. The group had lots of questions and were quite impressed with what Luray has been able to accomplish.

 

Also participating were professionals from SPS, Department of Conservation & Recreation and VDOF Paul Revell and his wife Lindy.

 

 

In spite of the rain, group members learned alot about how Luray was able to develop such an outstanding Greenway and how they might go about doing the same in their towns.

 

Greenway Accomplishements

Currently the foundation has been awarded a $ 5,000 start-up grant from Virginia Department of Forestry.

 

Applications have been made to the Kodak Fund (American Greenways) on behalf of Luray H.S. Science Club (The Waterdogs) who do water quality testing now and could expand testing to include the riparian buffer, and how the permeable surface parking protects the stream.

 

We plan to submit a similar application in the fall to Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund.

 

The two new restroom facilities have been opened.

 

Installation of a new water permeable parking lot at Phase Four of the Greenway at the Oscar Sours Bridge is complete.

 

One section of the lot features pavers with a partial grassy area. Rain water which will collect below the surface will water the grass.

 

Excess water will drain via the sloped section into a future collection area and then into the new rain garden.

 

The main entrance off of Route 340 will be asphalt.

 

There are plantings of Knock Out roses and daylilies at the entrance.

 

The borders are planted with grasses, trees, and shrubs.

 

This area is sure to provide a welcoming entrance into Luray for both locals and visitors.

Cars may park on the "grassy" Turfstone area as well as the paver area.
Parking spots are clearly marked.

Please allow time for photos to load. Use arrows to navigate the slides.

 

 

If you are interested in creating a rain garden, the information below will be helpful to you.

 

What is a Rain Garden?

A “rain garden” is a man-made depression in the ground that is used as a landscape tool to improve water quality. The rain garden forms a “bioretention area” by collecting water runoff and storing it, permitting it be filtered and slowly absorbed by the soil. The bioretention concept is based on the hydrologic function of forest habitat, in which the forest produces a spongy litter layer that soaks up water and allows it to slowly penetrate the soil layer. The site for the rain garden should be placed strategically to intercept water runoff.

 

A nutrient removal or “filtering” process takes place as the water comes in contact with the soil and the roots of the trees, shrubs This process accounts for the improved water quality. The first flush of rain water is ponded in the depression of the rain garden, and contains the highest concentration of materials washed off impervious surfaces such as roofs, roads, and parking lots.

 

Who Should Create A Rain Garden?

Rain gardens are suitable for any land use situation, residential, commercial and industrial. A rain garden should be placed so that impervious surfaces will drain into the depression area. Its purpose is to minimize the volume and improve the quality of water entering conventional storm drains and nearby streams.

 

Grass Buffer Strip

A grass buffer strip slows water as it enters the rain garden and its surface filters particulates from the runoff.

 

Ponding Area

The depression area stores the water, provides for evaporation, and allows the particulate material, not filtered by the grass buffer, to settle to the bottom. The ponding area should have a depth of 6 inches, sufficient to provide adequate water storage, but should not pond in excess of four days (to avoid mosquito and other insect breeding).

 

Components of a Rain Garden

Mulch/Organic Layer

This material provides for the decomposition of organic material, and also plays an important role in the rain garden. Shredded hardwood mulch is the preferred choice, since it allows for maximum surface area for binding and resists flotation/washout.

 

Planting Soil

Organic matter in the form of leaf mulch (20%) blended into a sandy soil (50%) with and about 30% top soil. The planting soil mixture provides a source of water and nutrients for the plants to sustain growth. Clay particles adsorb heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants.

 

Plant Selection

A planting plan design should include species that tolerate extremes. There will be periods of water inundation and very dry periods. Most riparian plant species will do well in rain gardens. The choice of species should include plants that mimic forest habitat and have an aesthetic landscape value such as flowers, berries, interesting leaves or bark. Groundcovers, perennials shrubs and trees should be incorporated into the planting design.

 

Site Considerations

Each site should be considered unique. Microclimates (light, temperature and wind), and the size of the drainage area will influence the size of the rain garden and plant selection process. Software is being developed for sizing the gardens. The shape of the garden is not as important as the area available for bioretention. The size of the bioretention area should be 5% to 7% of the drainage areas multiplied by the crop “c” coefficient (the ground cover type). For example, a 3/10 acre drainage area would use a rain garden of about 600 square feet, or 15 x 40 feet.

 

Source: Virginia Department of Forestry

For more information on rain gardens, click here.

 

 

History of the Greenway

Donation Form for Plaza Benches

Donation Form for Depot Benches

Information about our Park System

Greenway Map

 

Guide to the Flowering Forest Booklet
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5

(Please note: These are large files and may take time to download depending on your connection speed.)