Bluestone Trail

The Bluestone Trail will be a shared-use path in Harrisonburg that will connect people between Port Republic Road and Hillside Avenue (where James Madison University's entrance is), Purcell Park and the Purcell Park Neighborhood, RMH Wellness Center, Ramblewood Park and surrounding neighborhoods, and points south near Pleasant Valley Road. The Bluestone Trail will be 10-ft wide and hard surfaced for transportation and recreational uses by walkers, joggers, bicyclists, etc.

[2.73MB] PDF of Bluestone Trail Map - Phases 1 and 2

Note: The maps available on this page are presently conceptual only.  The alignments may change as the City completes additional surveying, coordinating with property owners, and refines design.

The City plans to split the Bluestone Trail project into the following phases:

• Phase 1: From Port Republic Road at Hillside Avenue/Bluestone Drive through Purcell Park, across Stone Spring Road to Berry Road and Wellness Drive; approximately 1.1 miles. Phase 1 of the Bluestone Trail is currently under design. The portion of this phase through Purcell Park is funded by Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) from the National Park Service through Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and includes a city match. Additional funding is being explored. 
• Phase 2: From Wellness Drive at Berry Road to Ramblewood Park, approximately 0.6 miles.
• Future Phases: From the approximate midpoint on Phase 2 towards Pleasant Valley Road and another segment within Ramblewood Park.  [482KB] Proposed Bluestone Trail Map of Phases 1, 2 and proposed future phases.

Example trails in other communities:

Roanoke River Greenway, Virginia	Hawksbill Greenway in Luray, VA
The Greenbelt in Davis, California

More Information about the Bluestone Trail:

• [32KB] February 9, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes. Request from Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) to undertake all steps necessary for a shovel ready project. 
• [170KB] March 9, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes. Staff update.
• [102KB] July 27, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes. City Council adopts City Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan that includes the Bluestone Trail Phase 1 as a 5-year goal. 
• [235KB] December 13, 2011 City Council Meeting Minutes. (Video) ([5.68MB] PowerPoint slides) Update by city staff and Rich Edwards of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), and request for endorsement of trail alignment.
• [58KB] March 27, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes. (Video)  ([750KB] PowerPoint slides) Resolution to support grant application for Virginia DCR's Land and Water Conservation Fund. 
• 30-Day Public Comment Period.  [194KB]  Official notice (published in Daily-News Record July 9, 2012).
• City Council appropriates funding from General Fund towards Bluestone Trail and other projects. (Video from October 23, 2012 Public Hearing.) (Video from November 13, 2012 meeting)
• November 13, 2012 - City Council approves resolution for VDOT FY2014 Revenue Sharing Program for Bluestone Trail and other projects. If awarded, notification from VDOT is not anticipated until May/June 2013.
• More information on other city biking and walking initiatives.
• City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee and mailing list. 

Questions?

Contact Thanh Dang at 540-434-5928 or Thanh.Dang@harrisonburgva.gov.

Questions may also be directed to the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. Subcommittee meetings are open to the public.