The Huckleberry Trail
Heritage Park & Trail System
2000 Users Survey: Conclusions
The survey included an open-ended question which asked respondents what changes
or additions they would like to see on the Huckleberry Trail. Of the 142 trail
users surveyed, 104 provided specific answers. Some of the respondents listed
only one change; other listed multiple changes. The responses fell into 9 categories:
- Length and Additional Links to Other Trails;
- Facilities (Restrooms, Water Fountains);
- Maintenance (Mowing, Trimming, Trail Upkeep, Trash Collection);
- Amenities (Benches, Picnic Areas, Trash Cans);
- Trail Conditions (Pavement, Plowing, Bike Lanes, Widening);
- Signage (Crossings, Trail Rules, 1/4 Mile Markers, Speed Limit
Signs)
- Public Safety (Lights, Call boxes);
- Landscaping (Additional Trees, Berry Bushes, Tomato Plants);
and
- Miscellaneous.
Forty-nine respondents (representing 47.1% of those who offered specific comments)
suggested lengthening the trail and/or linking to other existing trail systems.
In the majority of cases, those who suggested lengthening the trail specifically
mentioned extending the Huckleberry into Christiansburg. Others wanted the trail
extended through Blacksburg to Pandapas Pond, extended to Radford, or extended
to the New River Trail. In most, but not all cases, the respondents requesting
the trail be lengthened also wanted the the Huckleberry linked to other trails
and trail systems. While an additional link trail could be built along Slate
Branch, eventually connecting the Huckleberry to the public boat landing at
Whitethorne, the trail is, at best, still in the preliminary planning stage
and is unlikely to be added in the foreseeable future. A more realistic addition
to the Huckleberry Trail involves connecting the trail to the facilities at
Mid-County Park. This would involve the construction of a bike lane along Merrimac
Road (constructed when VDOT widens Merrimac between Prices Fork Rd and U.S.
460), a pedestrian bridge across U.S. 460, a possible pedestrian bridge across
the new by-pass, and two short linking trails connecting the pedestrian bridges
and the Mid-County Park. Given the cost of bridge construction, it may be necessary
to look at alternative routes between U.S. 460 and Mid-County Park.
The second largest group of requests and suggestions (26% of the respondents
who provided specific answers) dealt with trail facilities, most notably restrooms
and water fountains. Currently, water and restrooms are unavailable between
the Christiansburg trail head and Warm Hearth. Private facilities at Warm Hearth
and in Blacksburg alleviate the problem for only a portion of the user population.
Three of the respondents who raised the issue of restrooms specifically suggested
the placement of porta-potties at the mid-trail point. Ideally, porta-potties
should be placed between Warm Hearth and Hightop Road and in the Coal Mining
Heritage Park (located between the 4.0 and 4.5 mile markers). The provision
of water fountains is somewhat more difficult to address inasmuch as it requires
a much larger expenditure of funds and the existence of public water lines from
which to draw. In areas away from Lick Creek and the mining district surrounding
Merrimac, it may be possible to use well water. Unfortunately, a well source
on or near the portion of the trail between Hightop Road and the cut beyond
the Railroad Bridge, at the Christiansburg end of the trail, is probably not
possible, at this time, due to the undermining and the level of rust in the
ground water. As the Coal Mining Heritage Park is developed, public water can
be brought in from the PSA line serving the Forest Park MHP, but, again, that
is unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future. A more immediate, albeit temporary
fix, would be to install a drink machine (including bottled water) at the Collections
Facility at Merrimac. The Merrimac Link Trail in the Coal Mining Heritage Park
(slated for construction this summer) will provide direct access between the
Huckleberry Trail, additional parking facilities, and the Collections Facility.
An arrangement would need to be made with Public Facilities in order to place
a small shelter for the drink machines and a couple of porta-potties within
the fenced area of the Collections Facility. Due to the potential of vandalism,
it is probably not wise to place either outside of a secured area.
The third largest group of suggestions (17.3%) dealt with trail maintenance
and upkeep . The three most common complaints (excluding problems with dogs)
and suggestions dealt with trash collection along the Huckleberry Trail, mowing,
and trimming low-hanging branches. These issues are probably best dealt with
by the public facilities and grounds departments in the three jurisdictions.
A number of the respondents did suggest the formation of a trail upkeep organization
or the adoption of an “adopt a stop or spot” program to coordinate
volunteer activities. Adopters would be responsible for picking up trash on
or near the trail and removing small debris from the trail. A more immediate
fix, however, for the problem is the provision of trash receptacles. At this
time, there are no trash receptacles available for public use. While it certainly
won’t eliminate the trash problem, the provision of trash cans may well
cut down the number of empty drink cans and food wrappers, as well as encouraging
dog owners to clean up after their pets.
The next largest group of suggestions (representing 15.4% of respondents)
addressed additional amenities along the Huckleberry trail, most notably benches
and picnic areas. Given the range and nature of trail users, benches should
be placed at the 1/4 mile points along the trail in order to provide adequate
rest facilities. Currently, benches have been installed in the Coal Mining Heritage
Park which will also serve Huckleberry Trail users. The installation of additional
benches and a small picnic area are in the Coal Mining Heritage Park (included
in the 2001 work program for the park) should address at least part the problem.
The physical condition of the trail, including width, snow removal, small
debris on the trail, and pavement conditions ranked as the fifth largest category
of concern/suggestions (13.5). Rollerbladers were primarily concerned with the
amount of gravel and other debris on the trail and surface conditions, while
runners and commuters seemed were likely to raise the issue of snow removal.
The most common concern/suggestion, however, dealt with the area immediately
surrounding the 460 underpass on the Virginia Tech campus. Those who raised
this particular point were concerned with the rough surface of the trail and
the blind corner on west/south end of the underpass. It may be necessary to
look at the possibility of additional signage warning of the blind spot, the
introduction of a dismount rule for that particular portion of the trail, and
potential resurfacing in order to address the concerns.
The sixth category of suggestions (13.5%) dealt with signage along the trail.
The majority of suggestions centered on the placement of 1/4 mile markers along
the trail (or within the first mile of both trail heads). Others requests included
speed limit signs, plant information signs, additional road crossing signs (including
either a stop sign or a stop light at the point where the Huckleberry Trail
crosses Merrimac Road). One of the most common complaints expressed in the survey
had to do with trail users concerns over mixed trail use (potential conflicts
between cyclists and walkers, specifically). Adding additional trail rules on
mixed use and posting “reminder” signage along the trail may address
at least part of the problem. Again, these requests should be taken up by the
Trail committee staffed by the three jurisdictions.
The number of suggestions and responses (11.5%) dealing with issues of personal
safety fell into two categories: lights (for night use and safety at dusk) and
call boxes. Although the number of specific suggestions regarding the installation
of call boxes (a total of 9 respondents) is fairly low, the interest in increased
safety was evident in other written comments concerning the introduction and
increase presence of bicycle patrols and the questions dealing with users’
perceived levels of safety while using the Huckleberry Trail. A network of call
boxes would go a long way in addressing issues of personal safety, access to
emergency healthcare (an issue for those over 45), and an increase in the comfort
level for those currently using the trail and for those who may not be using
the trail because of the lack of safety or emergency features. In some ways,
those who use the trail are already self-selecting in terms of perceived safety
level. There is no way to determine the number of potential users who do not
use the trail precisely because they don’t feel safe. It is the recommendation
of the staff that, along with the provision of additional public facilities,
call boxes should be one of the first issues addressed by the multi-jurisdictional
committee, in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies in Blacksburg, Christiansburg,
and Montgomery County.
The final specific category of suggestions, landscaping (6.7%), centered on
the planting of additional shade trees near the trail. Indeed, one of the more
common complaints was the lack of shade along portions of the Huckleberry Trail.
There are number of methods available for addressing the lack of trees (including
encouraging plant/tree donations from individuals, the installation of small
“park” areas along the trail which could be designed and built by
classes and student organizations from Virginia Tech and Radford, or through
grants available from the Virginia Department of Forestry). However, the planting
of additional trees does not, in the immediate future, address the problem of
lack of shade. The joint committee may want to look at the provision of small
shade shelters (benches with coverings) as a short to mid-term solution. In
addition to the more trees, a few trail users requested specific plants be introduced
along the trail (huckleberries, blackberries, and tomatoes). While at least
a couple of the suggestions provided a certain amount of amusement on the part
of the researchers, it is the staff recommendation that additional berry bushes
not be introduced. Given the range of poisonous and semi-poisonous shrubs along
portions of the trail (including nightshade), it does not seem wise, at this
point, to encourage trail user appetites. However, the introduction of “plant”
signage (signs designed to educate trail users on the plants bordering the trail)
may lessen the chances of inappropriate munching.
On the whole, the response to the Huckleberry Trail Users Survey was positive
and produced remarkable positive results. Participants, overwhelmingly, described
the Huckleberry Trail as a major contributing factor to the quality of life
in Montgomery County, as an accessible and well designed community asset, and,
on the whole, as a a fairly safe recreational facility. While the survey should
be reconducted during other parts of the year to insure as full coverage of
trail users as possible in order to determine, primarily, the level of student
and seasonal employee use of the trail, one suspects that the results will remain
similar to those presented in this report.
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