*Press Release*

Contact: Peter Hujik
Orange & Madison Field Representative
The Piedmont Environmental Council
phujik@pecva.org
(540) 395-2911

Town to Trail, a working group of the non-profit The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), is excited to announce the acquisition of the vacant lot at 204 Allen Street, which PEC purchased with contributions from private donors over the last year. This is the second parcel of land that PEC’s Town to Trail group has folded into the Verling Park redesign project. Last year, they helped the Town of Gordonsville purchase the first parcel at 112 Linney Street, where the Town removed an abandoned home to open up and expand Verling Park to a full town block.

This latest acquisition, located within the block between Fireman’s Fairgrounds and Verling Park, is a key piece of Gordonsville Visions, a conceptual plan that includes specific park and trail projects that help advance the Town’s comprehensive plan. Gordonsville Visions was developed by UVA’s School of Architecture’s Historic Preservation program in collaboration with the Gordonsville community.

Town to Trail’s initial focus has been on developing the plan’s network of parks, which if realized, will enhance outdoor recreation opportunities by connecting the two large open spaces in town — Verling Park and Fireman’s Fairgrounds. The acquisition of the Allen Street parcel strengthens the connection between these well-used open spaces. It also ensures that this vacant parcel will remain as open space available for both the Town and Volunteer Fire Department for their continued use for overflow parking during large events at the Fairgrounds.

PEC’s Town to Trail working group is eager to enter the design phase of the park network project, in which we anticipate working closely with the Town, Volunteer Fire Company, and citizens in the community to develop a plan that will enhance and connect existing public open spaces. PEC and members of the Town to Trail working group are grateful to all of the people in the community who have made these acquisitions possible. Stay tuned for updates as the project moves into the design phase. Visit the Town to Trail table at Gordonsville’s Annual Fall Festival on October 5th to learn more and share your thoughts.

For more information about Town to Trail, please visit www.pecva.org/towntotrail.