State of the Trail Report
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Assessment by County
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General
With more than 250 years of history to its credit, Alexandria retains much of the character and charm from its days as a bustling port city. Alexandria's numerous historic homes, churches, businesses and museums allow residents and visitors alike to connect with the past that made this city the charming and historic town that it is today. Here one can visit the African American Heritage Park, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, the National Cemetery or the tour the Torpedo Factory art center. The City of Alexandria is relatively comfortable with development of trails and the associated influx of outsiders and tourists. The city expends considerable effort to attract visitors to the Old Town area and its other historic attractions. Many of the trails follow city streets, but the parks and stream valleys also have many miles of heavily used trails. The City of Alexandria has a designated walking and biking trail along the entire Potomac River waterfront as well as boat access in the river itself. It also has several connecting and proposed trails that will contribute to the concept of the PHT.
Existing Trail Segments
The Mount Vernon Trail, recognized as a segment of the PHT, generally follows the Alexandria waterfront between Fairfax and Arlington counties. From north to south, it is routed along the George Washington Parkway past the Daingerfield Island Marina where it turns toward the river and runs along the shoreline until it reaches Old Town. It passes southward on Union Street in the waterfront area, which has been redeveloped with an emphasis on historic preservation. The trail passes through Jones Point Park, which is being extensively redeveloped with the construction of a new Woodrow Wilson Bridge. A short distance after it exists the park, the trail rejoins the George Washington Parkway on its route south across Cameron Run and into Fairfax County.
Over the past two years, Alexandria Archaeology, a division of the City government, and the Friends of Alexandria Archaeology, has developed the Alexandria Heritage Trail. This trail is a 22-mile interpretive bicycling and walking loop through the city, which connects with the Mount Vernon Trail. The current on-street alignment of the PHT through Old Town presents congestion and safety concerns for trail users; Alexandria and the National Park Service should be encouraged to study ways to improve flow through this area.
Also, Virginia and Maryland have completed a cooperative designation of the Potomac River Water Trail within the tidal sections of the river, including along the Alexandria waterfront.
Planned Trail Segments
An extension of the Eisenhower Valley Greenway is planned eastward along an old mill stream and westward from Cameron Run Park to west end commercial areas, residential areas, and the Van Dorn Street Metro station. A linear trail along the railroad tracks from Braddock Road to the Arlington County line is planned in the Potomac Yards Development. The Potomac River Water Trail system is planned to include spurs that direct boaters to points on land where they can obtain lodging, food, and other services. Within Alexandria, a spur is planned for the waterfront in Old Town, Daingerfield Island, and Jones Point Park. Boaters currently access docking facilities at Daingerfield Island and Old Town, and when approaching Jones Point Park are able to reach land at a beach near the lighthouse. Current plans for the bridge that will replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge include pedestrian and bicycle access across the river.
The redevelopment of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge should be closely monitored to ensure: a) a continuous, safe route between Old Town and the Mount Vernon Trail to Mount Vernon, and b) connections between the Mount Vernon Trail and bicycle and pedestrian facilities on the replacement Bridge.
Contacts
City of Alexandria
Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Ph (703) 838-5041
Alexandria Archeology
and
Friends of Alexandria Archeology
105 North Union Street, Studio 327
Alexandria, VA 22310
Pamela Cressey, Ph.D., Ex. Dir.
Ph (703) 838-4399
National Park Service
Mt. Vernon Trail, George Washington Memorial Parkway
Turkey Run
McLean, VA 22101
Ph (703) 285-2600, 289-2500
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