Elizabeth River Trail Foundation

CREATE AN INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT URBAN RIVERFRONT TRAIL THAT CONNECTS AND INSPIRES PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN THE REGION. THE ERT FOUNDATION PROVIDES THE PLANNING, FUNDRAISING, PROGRAMMING AND MARKETING TO GENERATE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR A HEALTHY AND DYNAMIC REGIONAL TRAIL, IN SERVICE OF OUR VISION TO BUILD A TRAIL AS DIVERSE AND VIBRANT AS THE LAND IT SITS ON, THE RIVER IT FOLLOWS, AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.

THROUGH FREE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, TRAIL SURFACE WIDENING AND MAINTENANCE, AND INSTALLATION OF AMENITIES FOR PUBLIC USAGE DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE AND ENHANCE THE ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL IN NORFOLK, VA. AN UPGRADE OF 4 DIGITAL TRAIL COUNTERS ALLOWED US TO ACCURATELY RECORD TRAIL USAGE AT 622,000 USERS PER YEAR. WIDENED AND IMPROVED THE EAST END OF TRAIL FROM DOWNTOWN NORFOLK TOWARDS NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY, ADDED NEW FREE PUBLIC WATER BASED PROGRAMMING FOR GROUP KAYAK TOURS AND INCLUDED AN INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMMING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR A THREE PART WALK AND TALK SERIES ON THE TRAIL.

THE ECO-COUNTERS MULTI SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS ALONG THE ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL AND ELSEWHERE ON NORFOLK'S BIKE NETWORK TO ACCURATELY COUNT PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST USE ALONG THE TRAIL AND BIKE NETWORK. THE SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM MULTIPLE USER TYPES OVER TIME. THIS SYSTEM COMBINES THE PASSIVE INFRARED SENSOR AND AN INDUCTIVE LOOP SENSOR. AN INTELLIGENT SUBSYSTEM ANALYZES THE SIGNAL FROM BOTH SENSORS IN ORDER TO COUNT AND CLASSIFY EACH USER. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HAS ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE ENCHANCED THE EXPERIENCE OF USING THE TRAIL. COST OF ENHANCEMENTS NOT DONATED BACK TO THE CITY ARE INCLUDED IN FIXED ASSETS AND DEPRECIATED OVER THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE ASSET. COST OF ENHANCEMENTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE INCLUDED IN CONSTRUCTION IN PORCESS. SOME ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, TRAILHEAD AND WAYFINDING SIGNAGE, BIKE REPAIR STATIONS, TRASH CANS AND MANY OTHER AMENITIES.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 60 COMMUNITY PARTNERS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH 3,425 EVENT PARTICIPANTS AND PROVIDED 92 FREE EVENTS ON THE TRAIL FOR THE PUBLIC. ENCOMPASSING 1,322 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND REMOVING 3,808 POUNDS OF LITTER. WE PLANTED SEVEN TREES, A POLLINATOR GARDEN AND NATIVE PLANTS TO ENHANCE OUR MANAGED MEADOW. INSTALLED THE FIRST HYDRATION STATION ON THE TRAIL FOR DRINKING WATER ACCESS, INSTALLED A BENCH NEAR A PLAYGROUND, CREATED A POCKET PARK WITH LITTLE FREE LIBRARY AND THE FIRST COMMUNITY NEEDS PANTRY ON THE ERT.