Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Blacksburg has officially opened a new greenway, connecting trails in the town to those near Heritage Park and into the Jefferson National Forest.
Town leaders cut the ribbon Thursday, May 14 on the Meadowbrook Greenway.
Mayor Michael Sutphin said the project provides a pivotal, connective link in the town’s outdoor recreation network.
“This greenway may be just over half a mile long, but its impact on our community is much greater than the distance itself. Both Heritage Park and the Brush Mountain trail system are beloved parts of our recreation network, and by connecting them together, we are creating even more opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors,” he said.
The town received two grants from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation, along with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, to design and construct this greenway.
This greenway connects the Heritage Park (169 acres) and the Huckleberry Trail to the Brush Mountain Trails (600 acres) and to the Poverty Creek Trail system in the National Forest (over 5,000 acres).
“Today, we are celebrating more than just a new trail. We are celebrating connection—connection between parks and neighborhoods, between people and nature, and between different parts of our community,” Sutphin said.
This project contains 330 feet of boardwalk, 1,600 linear feet of micro piles, 115 tons of asphalt and bioretention swales, which promote groundwater recharge, slow the runoff, reducing erosion, and removes sediment and containments that can impact the Toms Creek water source.
Dean Crane is the town’s recreation director and said project now provides an off-road connection to over 55 miles of adventure.
“Users of all types from (dog walkers to trail runners, hikers, to mountain bikes and horseback riders) now have access to these wonderful resources,” he said.
Construction of the Meadowbrook Greenway began in March 2025. The trail and boardwalk were designed by RK&K and constructed by King Construction, with funding provided through ARPA and town resources. Two landowners granted easements to support this segment of the project.
This project would not have occurred, according to Crane, if it had not been for the landowners, Daniel and Susan Lundberg and John and Phylis Youhas, for seeing the bigger picture and granting the town easements for the greenway to run through their properties.
The total price tag was $2.4 million.
A future phase of the greenway will extend the trail to the parking lot located at the corner of Glade and Meadowbrook near McDonald Hollow. An additional supportive project will include enhancements to the existing parking lot to accommodate horse trailers and additional vehicles, ensuring accessibility for all visitors.
Design work has been completed, and Crane hopes the next phase can occur in the next year.
The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) was established by the Virginia legislature in 1966 “to promote the preservation of open-space lands and to encourage private gifts of money, securities, land or other property to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, scientific, open space and recreational areas of the Commonwealth.”
VOF has protected more than 910,000 acres across Virginia, making it one of the largest land conservation organizations in the nation.
The town also opened a North Main pathway this past week, near Maywood Street and Oak Meadow Lane, adding more accessibility to adjoining neighborhoods.
“Together, these projects reflect Blacksburg’s long-standing commitment to building a more connected, accessible, and active community, and residents will benefit from them for years to come,” said Mayor Sutphin. “I look forward to seeing even more positive outcomes from these investments in the future.”
The North Main project received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
