Timeline of Pathways For Radford events

1998

January to March

• Pathways For Radford (PFR) forms for the dual purpose of revitalizing Wildwood Park and developing a network of trails throughout the city of Radford, connecting schools, neighborhoods, businesses, and Radford University (RU)

April

• PFR begins to work with City Staff and the Radford Planning Commission
• PFR forms subcommittees to focus efforts on trail routes, publicity, and fundraising

June

• TEA-21 legislation signed into law
• RU Marketing Department develops a survey to gauge citizen desire in regards to recreation and bikeways ­ 59 percent of respondents would use trails three times per week

July

• PFR has a booth at Radford’s annual Fourth of July celebration, the first of many community events in which the group will participate in an effort to educate citizens about the mission and goals of the organization

September

• Grant funding in the amount of $5,200 from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program

October

• PFR sponsors booth at the RU Highlander Festival
• First T-shirts sales are recorded November
• PFR works with the Virginia Tech Community Design Assistance Center to develop a Master Plan for Wildwood Park

1999

January

• Public Hearing conducted and City Council approves TEA-21 Phase I application
• City Council commits to 20 percent match

February

• Submits TEA-21 grant requesting $525,000 for design and construction of Phase I of the bikeway/walkway system

May

• PFR adopts a formal structure: creates bylaws, elects officers, forms committees

June

• Commonwealth Transportation Board approves the grant application from PFR and the City of Radford and awards $500,000
• PFR starts the process to become a non-profit organization
• PFR initiates communication with Norfolk Southern regarding conversion of the unused railroad trestle over the New River for biking and walking
• First newsletter is printed
• First PFR sponsored river clean-up is held in honor of Virginia Rivers Month

July

• PFR sponsors booth at the Fourth of July celebration

August

• PFR approves the Wildwood Master Plan

September

• Planning for Phase II of the bikeway/walkway system begins
• 70th Anniversary of Wildwood Park includes a “Songs of the Night” lecture (held in the park, in the evening), guided nature walks the next day (including one by the City Manager), and a luncheon honoring Alleen Hughes, the woman who named the park back in 1929

October

• PFR sponsors booth at the Highlander Festival
• Personalized brick sales begin

November

• After a “Name That Trail” contest, Phase I is officially named The Riverway

2000

January

• City Council approves the application and 20% match for Phase II
• Wildwood Web site is created
• The City of Radford and PFR initiate efforts to acquire property adjacent to Wildwood Park

February

• Submits TEA-21 grant application in the amount of $670,000 for Phase II of the bikeway/walkway system
• City Council commits to 20 percent match March
• PFR is recognized as an official corporation by the State Corporation Commission
• PFR finally gets a post office box

April

• 2nd Annual River Clean-Up is held
• Receives $500 from the Radford Environmental Improvement Commission
• PFR opens first checking account
• First Eagle Scout project (picnic area on the New River) initiated

June

• Commonwealth Transportation Board awards $250,000 for Phase II
• PFR invites the citizens of Radford to a National Trails Day Celebration and offers them a chance to walk the route of the proposed bikeway/walkway
• The Riverway is designated a “Millennium Trail”
• Anderson and Associates is chosen as the design team

July

• VDOT approves Environmental Impact Statement

August

• PFR receives a $40,000 Department of Conservation Grant
• City Council commits to a $8,000 match for Phase I of the Wildwood Master Plan
• Receives $4,150 from the Virginia Environmental Endowment and the EPA Enviro Education Program

September

• Anderson and Associates offers a timetable for construction
• Butterfly Garden construction in Wildwood begins

2001

January

• Public Hearing for Phase III of the bikeway/walkway system is conducted
• City Council commits to a 20 percent match

February

• PFR members now serve on other City-appointed commissions: Riverfront Development, Beautification and Forestry, Amphitheater

March

• Wildwood Clean-Up is held

June

• Groundbreaking ceremony for trails in Wildwood includes City and PFR representatives
• Contractor is Tri-State Construction of West Virginia

July

• PFR and the City of Radford awarded $100,000 for Phase III of the bikeway/walkway system
• First PFR brochure is printed

September

• Sterling Nichols donates 13 acres that will allow trail access from a local student apartment complex
• RU Service Learning Day (freshmen from RU volunteer time) in various city efforts including Wildwood Park is held

October

• Bluebird boxes are built by a PFR member and placed along The Riverway

November

• Phases I and II of the Wildwood Master Plan are completed

December

• PFR officially receives 501c3 status

2002

January

• VDOT review process delay construction
• PFR and City Engineer begin weekly meetings

February

• City Council approves 20 percent match for Phase IV

April

• 3rd Annual River Clean-Up is held
• Wildwood Park Celebration and Trail Dedication are also conducted

May

• Awarded $175,000 for Phase IV

June

• City begins funding Wildwood trail maintenance
• Coordinate discussions with other localities re: connectivity with other New River Valley trails

July

• PFR establishes a speakers bureau

August

• Awarded a $40,000 DCR grant
• Council approves $8,000 match

September

• RU Service Learning Day held at Wildwood Park

October

• Riverbank/Riparian Buffer Conference planned and hosted by PFR in an effort to educate citizens about the importance of protecting the riverbank

2003

January

• Four sites in Radford are included in the VADGIF Mountain Phase of Birding and Wildlife Trail

March

• PFR begins the process of converting the butterfly gardens into meadows
• Construction of the brick plaza begins using personalized bricks
• Begin meeting with City police regarding bikeway safety

May

• Halls Construction is chosen as the Contractor for Phase I

June

• Construction begins on the tunnel under Main Street connecting Wildwood and Bisset Parks (completed fall of 2003)
• Riverway logo is designed by an RU student and approved by PFR

September

• Riverway Groundbreaking Ceremony is held
• RU Service Learning Day conducted
• Civil War marker proposal presented

October

• Wildwood Trail Clearing Day “Rake and Eat Pie” feeds hungry volunteer

November

• Trees for Trails Campaign begins

2004

January - April

• 1,400 linear feet of trails on the west side of Wildwood Park completed
• Handicapped rest area and overlook completed in Wildwood
• $750 grant from the Master Gardeners and $1,000 in private donations are used to plant trees along The Riverway

May

• Eagle Scout project begins to set mile markers along The Riverway

May 22, 2004

• Grand Opening of The Riverway draws over 100 residents and media coverage