Multi-Use Trails for Adventure Tourism and Economic Development

(Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Motorized, Birding, Fishing, Geo-caching, Blue-ways)

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

Multi-Use Trails for Adventure Tourism and Economic Development

(Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Motorized, Birding, Fishing, Geo-caching, Blue-ways)

Mark A. CarusoSRRA Vice Chairman

Jack McClanahanSRRA Chairman

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

Purpose

Describe the “Way Ahead”

for SPEARHEAD TRAILS

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

Short History

Jack McClanahanSRRA Chairman

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

SRRA TODAY

Mark A. CarusoSRRA Vice Chairman

We are created by statute to establish, operate, and maintain public, multiple use, recreational trails and related facilities that are part of the Southwest Regional Recreation

Area, also known as the Spearhead Trails. We are governed by a board of directors that includes appointed representatives of the following jurisdictions in Southwest Virginia:

City of Norton Russell County

Buchanan County Scott County

Dickenson County Tazewell County

Lee County Wise County

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority

The Concept:1. Facilitate recreational trails development that will Create

economic opportunities for local businesses.

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

The Concept:

1. Facilitate recreational trails development that will Create economic opportunities for local businesses.

2. We will seek cooperative easements on tracts of private land to create public use trails.

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

3. We will work with public land holders to assist in the development of trails on public lands that have economic potential for local communities.

The Concept:

1. Facilitate recreational trails development that will Create economic opportunities for local businesses.

2. We will seek cooperative easements on tracts of private land to create public use trails.

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

Appointed SRRABoard

Wise Co. Russell Co.

Tazewell Co. Scott Co. Lee Co. Dickenson

Co.City of Norton

Buchanan Co.

Steering Committee

Equestrian

Hiking

Motorized

Waterway

Fishing

TRAILBLAZERS

SRRABoard of Directors

Office &Human Resources

Manager

Director of Marketing

Executive Director

Accounts Payable& Payroll Manager

OfficeAssistants

Customer Service Coordinator

Trailhead CustomerService Reps

Chief RangerTrail

Development Coordinator

Equipment Operator

Field Technicians

Part-Time Field Technicians

Interns

Full-TimeRangers

Part-Time Rangers

Part Time Clerical & Office

Deputy Executive Director /Director of Field

Operations & Enforcement

Southwest Regional Recreation AuthoritySpearhead Trails Organizational Chart Draft :1 Feb 2010

Proposed manning / funding by FY

Yellow = In place nowGreen = FYE 2011Blue = FYE 2012Red = FYE 2013Orange = FYE 2014

MarketingSpecialists

Directorof

Sales and Permits

Retail CenterManager

OBJECTIVE PLAN BFunding100-200 miles of trails$1.5 Mil in Funding

Director ofConservation

and Recreation

We have everything that’s needed Beautiful mountains – great existing and potential trails

Mined/forested land that leaves behind hundreds of miles of trails Necessary land ownership patterns and topography

Customers desperate for great trails

Adjacent to two other states working same concept Complementary Tourist Attractions (Crooked Road,

Country Music Highway, etc.)

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

We CAN develop the premier recreational trail system in the Eastern United States.

AND reap the resultingeconomic rewards

Millions ofpotential

customerswithindriving

distance

Location! Location! Location!

Developed road system and

infrastructure to accommodate

adventure tourists

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

• Comprehensive Plan Developed

• Public Awareness Growing

• Operational Planning Ongoing

• Trail Mapping ready to begin

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

• Legislation in Place

• Authority Board In Place and Working

• Local Government Support Strong

• Support Group (Trailblazers)

• Study Completed (Glowing Report)

SWVA is poised for success:

• Gateway to trails • (North, South, East and West) • Crossroads (TN, VA, KY, WV) • (58 /23/19/460 give easy access)

• Potential trailheads in almost every community

• Great location for an ATV Safety Center

• Established non-motorized trail system and outdoor recreation facilities

• Land patterns that create a unique environment for Off Road Vehicles

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

Near Perfect ExistingLand Owner / Topographic Patterns

We have hundreds of miles of coal, gas, and timber roads; yet we do not have one mile of trails for public

motorized recreation

SRRA TodayReady to Take the Next Step!!!

Three Regional Initiatives

already exists

Hatfield-McCoy Trails

Southern West Virginia

www.TrailsHeaven.com

Hatfield-McCoyTrails

opened in late 2000

30,000 Permits

Over 100000 user

days

They will come from: Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, etc…

In April 2009, through grants from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission and the Motorcycle Industry Council/Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA) hired "We Make Things Happen" (WMTH) Corporation to complete a feasibility study and develop a comprehensive plan for the Spearhead Trails initiative.

Summit Engineering developed maps and provided assistance.

Feasibility Study&

Comprehensive Plan

Southwest Virginia is blessed with many existing and potential trail opportunities!

•

Economic Impact: Virginia Creeper

• Brings $2.5 million to Virginia• $1.5 million into the counties of Washington and Grayson counties• Created 27 new jobs!

Economic Impact: Horseback RidingKnott County KY Annual Trail Ride

10,000 people and 7,000 riders this year!

Economic Impact on the Region:

0ver $2.3 millionThis could be happening in SW Virginia

This could be happening in SW Virginia

Economic Impact: Canoeing & Boating

The Meramec River in Missouri attracts over 8,000 people on a given weekend

This could be happening along the Clinch River in Scott, Russell and Wise counties and along the

Powell River in the southern portion of Lee County.

Economic Impact: Birding & Wildlife

A small town in Texas marketed bird watching which resulted in 160 new jobs and

a 28% increase in sales tax!

Virginia has the best and most complete Wildlife & Birding

Trail System!

SW Virginia could include wildlife viewing as part of all their trails and set themselves apart from others.

Economic Impact: Off-Road Vehicles

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA) could potentially generate over $2 million

in permit fees alone enabling the Authority to one day be self-sufficient.

Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trail System is

bringing $$’s and creating jobs in West Virginia!

Black Mountain Trails in East Kentucky

The Evarts Trail Head has seen 5 ATV shops open up, 14 new log cabins built, 2 new RV/camps, 31 rental

homes and apartments, 3 new restaurants, 2 new car washes, 2 new restaurants, and 61.5 new jobs created.

Southwest Virginia has tremendous potential to become

“A Trail Destination” for OHV riders horseback riders,

bikers, hikers, canoeists, naturalists and others.

The Spearhead Trail Systemcould bring an additional

$30 million to local economies at a time

when economic growth is desperately needed.

Under the guidance of SRRA:

The Spearhead Trail System has the potential to bring

200,000 visitors to the region and to create

300 to 500 new jobs!

Under the guidance of SRRA:

“The Way Ahead”

Acquire Operational and Capital Start up Funds

Conduct entrepreneur workshops for Adventure Tourism :( 9 April Norton Holiday Inn ) Adventure Tourism Entrepreneur Workshop April 09, 2010 - 08:30 AM to 04:00 PM http://www.vastartup.org

Conduct Hands On Trail Building workshops (1-2 May)

Establish Spearhead Trails Executive Director Position (1 July)

Develop Spearhead Trails Operational Policies and Business Plan

Develop an April – December Trails Events Calendar

“The Way Ahead”

Establish Landowner Agreements (Cooperative Easements) 100-200 miles of existing coal, gas or logging trails

Hire Key Spearhead Trails Staff (1 Aug)

Mapping Potential Trail Systems

Develop and Implement a Marketing Plan

Compete legislative initiatives

Appropriations in GA

Civil Penalties

Permits

OHV on the Roads

Rules and Regulations for the Trails and the Road

Legislation and Regulations

Trail Initiatives

Studies Indicate ThatAn Individual Represents About

$500 Per Trip To Our Community

This Group Of Five Represents $2,500 Per Trip

To Our Community

30,000 Riders Annually Represents $15,000,000

To Our Region

Add 10,000 more equestrians, bikers, hikers, birding, geo-cashing, and blueway users

Resulting in an additional $5 million Annually to our communities

Spearhead Trailsin Southwest Virginia

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE:If We Build It… They Will Come!

…and bring th

eir money with

them!

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority Trails Conference

Tina Rowe, Town Manager

Pennington Gap

Stone Mountain Trail System

Trail Destination

CDAC Conceptual Master Plan

Leeman Field

Trail Head Conceptual Design

Multi-Use Trail System

OHV’s EquestrianHikersMountain Bikers

Economic Development

Adventure Tourism Outfitters and Rentals Local Entrepreneurship Attract New Restaurants Additional Lodging Specialty Shops Community Based Facilities & Services

Former Plumbers Shop

ATV Center

ATV Outfitters & Rentals

Cabin Rentals

Bike Shop

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

Ready for the next Step!

Multi-Use Trails for

Adventure Tourism and

Economic Development

(Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Motorized, Birding, Fishing, Geo-caching, Blueways)

How do we make the Spearhead Trails

a reality here?

Spearhead Trails

“The Way Ahead”

Challenges

Operat

ional

and

Capita

l Sta

rt-up F

undingLand Owner

Cooperation

Energizi

ng the

Entre

preneu

rs

Spearhead Trails

Organization

L

ocal G

ov

Co

op

eration

QUESTIONS