Go Outside Black Mountain

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Jennifer Billstrom

Greenway Challenge has a new partner and a new date

Greenway, News

Black Mountain Recreation & Parks (BMRP) and the Black Mountain Greenways & Trails Committee will be partnering in 2023 to present the inaugural Valentine Greenway Challenge on Saturday, February 11. This new race will combine the fun and creative spirit of the annual Valentine 5K with the dynamic course and wonderful cause of the Greenway Challenge.

The 2023 Valentine Greenway Challenge will consist of a 5K & 10K that begins by the Recreation offices and goes to Veterans Park via The Oaks Trail. By combining resources, both organizations hope that more funds and awareness may be raised to support the Black Mountain Greenways. Overall winners for the 5K & 10K will be awarded prizes, along with the top finishers in each age category. Participants are also encouraged to dress up for a chance to win one of four spirit awards. All sponsorships, donations, and 50% of registration fees will be donated back to the Black Mountain Greenways & Trails Committee.

Registration for the inaugural Valentine Greenway Challenge is already open on https://runsignup.com/valentinegreenwaychallenge Please share this information with all your friends. We will need volunteers.

Volunteers Needed! Please contact Julie White at juliewbikes@gmail.com if you are able to help out.

Support our greenways

Register to Run

Register

National Park Service Grant Awarded to Black Mountain

Trail

The Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee (BMGTC) announces the award of the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (NPS RTCA) grant.  BMGTC grant partners include the Town of Black Mountain, the Swannanoa Valley Chamber of Commerce and Connect Buncombe.  The BMGTC and partner organizations will have two years to work with the NPS to further goals of trail connections and greenspace preservation.

In addition, the grant will work with BMGTC to teach trail easement acquisition and how to build a sustainable organization.  Building trails in built-out environments can be challenging and gaining  easements is an important part of the equation.

Formed in March of 2021, the BMGTC’s mission is “to promote greenways and trails in Black Mountain and the surrounding area.”   The vision of BMGTC  is “generous open space and greenspace to support safe walking, biking, hiking and outdoor activities for a thriving community of citizens and visitors.”   To learn more about us, please visit our website: gooutsideblackmountain.com.

For more information and to get involved in this exciting process, please contact BMGTC at: info@gooutsideblackmountain.com 

To read about the nine new communities and partners across the South Atlantic-Gulf Region that were awarded this grant, see the official NPS press release.

Greenway Challenge 5k and 10k

Greenway, News, Trail

Get ready for the 14th Annual 2022 Greenway Challenge 5k and 10k.

This event is the primary annual fundraiser for the Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee and proceeds will support the Town Council approved phase two of the new walking path in Cragmont Park.  Phase two will connect Lake Tomahawk to sidewalks at US 70 through Cragmont Park, and will require considerable expenditure on engineering for the crossing at Tomahawk Branch.

The race will begin and end in the parking lot across from the Town of Black Mountain Recreation and Parks Department building on Terry Estate Drive. The *NEW* course uses Terry Estate Drive and Vance Avenue to access several of Black Mountain’s greenways.

The route is the same for both the 5K and the 10K with runners who choose the longer distance completing the course 2 times. The course is a low traffic scenic course which will utilize the Oaks Trail, Garden Greenway, and the natural surface path around Veteran’s Park. Age group and overall awards will be given. A virtual option will also be offered.

Race registration and the results celebration will be held at the WNC Outdoor Collective on Black Mountain Avenue. We are planning on having some fun activities so spread the word! Sign up for the run can be found here: www.runsignup.com/blackmountaingreenwaychallenge

Early packet pick up and registration will be at the WNC Outdoor Collective on Friday, April 8th from 4:30 – 6:30. Packet pick up and day of race registration are at the Collective from 12:00 – 1:45 on Saturday. 

Register to Run

VOLUNTEERS are needed and signing up to help is easy. Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/NC/BlackMountain/BlackMountainGreenwayChallenge5K10K and sign up today.

Sign up to Volunteer

Please spread the word to all runners that you know.

Meeting Minutes October 2021

Greenway, Meeting Minutes, News, Trail

Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee

October Meeting

October 5, 2021

Mission:  The Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee exists to promote greenways and trails in Black Mountain and surrounding areas.

Grant Application

The committee has applied for a grant from Explore Asheville for Chalk the Walk. Pat Millington assisted the committee and wrote the grant.  We should be notified by Oct 27 with a decision on the grant.

Chalk the Walk, 2021 – Julia reported that thirty-five artists drew beautiful artwork for the event. Many families and others attended the event.  Our committee worked with the Black Mountain Center for the Arts to combine artistic expression and walking on the greenways.  Tysons was a sponsor for the event.

Geyser Growl, Oct 23 – Glory Hound organization works with local nonprofits to provide volunteers for running a ½ marathon.  Our committee is responsible for 12 volunteers to work for approximately 1.5 hours.   Volunteers need to staff water stations and give directions at certain intersections. The committee will receive a $1,000 donation for doing this work.

Village Way Greenway – Julie reported that there has been a lot of work on this section of the trail to clear it and plant with clumping grasses.  Emily Sampson is helping with the design and choices of plants. There will be a planting day scheduled on Tuesday, October 12 at 8 am.  Sally Cochran mentioned that the committee is working with the local schools to make this part of the trail a learning classroom. Students will plant seeds and add more plantings in the spring.

Black Mountain Greenway Challenge April 9, 2022.  Julie reported that volunteers are needed to serve on committees, such as the Awards and the Promotion Committee.  We already have a Sponsor Committee and Fred heading up the volunteer organization.  The committee is working to decide on a specific section of Greenway that the money collected from the event would support. There have already been some donations received to support the event.

Jen Billstrom then introduced Beth Heile, the Executive Director of the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail. Pam King and Jen Billstrom also serve as members. 

A few points from Beth’s talk:

  • The trail is planned to go from Morganton to Asheville, 100 miles. 
  • The trail began in 2018 and started as a loop around Lake James. 
  • The main goal currently is to get people connected and excited about the trail from Old Fort to Asheville. Please help spread the word about the trail. 
  • There are only 18.7 miles designated and completed thus far. 
  • There are three goals for new sections, they must be safe, sustainable and have landowner permission.  
  • There are another 30 miles ready to be added and the goal is to complete the trail in 10 years.
  • The committee depends on the land managers to assist with the trail building and maintenance.  
  • The trail is working with 9 local governments, 3 counties, six municipalities.
  • To help get the word out the committee runs “hike and learn” events.  Some upcoming events are:
    • Oct 23 – in Asheville, Lucy Crown and Connect Buncombe are working with them
    • Nov 6 – Copper Ridge
    • Dec 11 – Lake James Visitor Center and the bridge. 
  • Join the organization – $25 individual/ $50 family/ $500 lifetime member (now approx.. 100 members).  There are also about 12 Business partnership donations.
  • Funding – Her salary is funded from local governments. 
  • Great Trails State Coalition – is a way of securing money for trails.  At this point the committee is trying to get legislatures on board. A Year of the Trail Bill passed, as a unanimous vote in house and senate.  The bill declares 2023 as the year of the trail.  Beth suggests that this is a good time to invite and showcase what we have thus far and recognize volunteers.  There will be $29 million dollars available through this grant.  

Other

  • The committee will have a booth at the Farmers Market on Saturday, November 20 to introduce and educate the public about the differences between the commission and the committee. This is also the Holiday Market, the last market of the year.
  • Dec 4 at 4 pm. Black Mt. Christmas Parade.  Please come and join. This year’s theme is “A Black Mountain Christmas”.  Bring yourself, children, grandchildren, neighbors and your favorite toys- bike, trike, skateboard, hoverboard, hula hoop, skates, hiking poles and wagons.  Decorate brightly and come prepared to wave and smile!  Meet at 3:30-3:45pm behind Tractor Supply.  Look for our group with a Greenways banner.

Meeting Minutes September 2021

Meeting Minutes, News

Black Mountain Greenways & Trails Committee

Monthly Meeting

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
Held at Lake Tomahawk Pavilion, Black Mountain at 6:00 pm

Mission:  The Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee exists to promote greenways and trails in Black Mountain and surrounding areas.

Guest Speaker: Heather Cotton, AICP, City of Marion Planning and Development Director and Black Mountain resident.

She began with how she got connected to the love of trails. Two things of importance 1) she hiked the Mountains to Sea trail and helped develop the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

Then she explained how the Catawba River Greenway trail got built through the town of Marion partnering with McDowell Trails Association. Some ideas of importance:

  • The town could write grants and receive grants that the Association could not get.
  • The town of Marion received $400,000 through grants
  • Memberships and private donations raised $10,000.  The town was happy to see citizen involvement.
  • Relationships are important to local government

She gave some suggestions on how partner with local government:

  • Be cheerleaders for trails
  • Talk to others about the trails
  • Keep excellent Newsletter going
  • Use the Facebook page
  • Find someone with Grant writing ability or other/inkind services
    • Graphic design, engineering, photography
    • Don’t always have to pay for a feasibility study, just use GIS
    • Appraisal – use real estate agents to help – their estimates can be used as a match
    • Legal fees (review legal documents, pro bono)
  • Keep fundraising – people who want to donate $, nothing too small every dollar counts
  • Keep data on trail usage
    • counts of users
    • know what users look like,
    • what type of use is there
    • use volunteers can do counts
    • share data with local government… show growth.

Also, she gave suggestions on Funding Strategies –

  • Recreational trails grant – parks division Dept 25%/75%
  • Parks and Rec Trust grant – $600,000 – local match 50%/50% (local government) – there has been lobbying for non-profits to apply
  • Governor has increased money available for grants for trails
  • Take advantage for this moment in time
  • Get something submitted to the state
  • As a nonprofit there is sometimes more access to funding (like Blue Cross/Blue Shield)
  • Think about other uses… such as trails through minority neighborhoods that are underserved
  • Dogwood Trust – housing is one of their big items… have funded trails in cooperation with housing
  • Be connected to development in the community (waterline, sewage line) 20 feet from center line – for public access easements over waterlines and sewage lines – comprehensive land use plan … add this easement on lands that we have designed potential plans… get policies in place on certain lands it puts developers on notice
  • Use the for profit businesses… amazing local business that are based on local trails…businesses thrive off of trails…get them to sponsor.  business success because of trails, every shoe that is sold could give $ to trails. Engage chamber of commerce.  Eblast through chamber
  • Prioritizing and implementing
  • Think about user groups, location and exiting infastructure… Use the JEDI – justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion – provide trails for everyone!

In addition, she discussed tips for communicating with town planner/management

  • Have dialog, build partnerships
  • Use solution language… how we frame things is important…
    • we’ve been met with challenges…
    • what are other paths forward?
    • What can we do to help?
    • frame questions so that there is no opposition
  • Get the community to come together
  • Use funds to hire a part time planner that works with the town
  • Build relationships
  • Couch terms in economic development – Attract industry to our community
  • Keep fighting

Participant Questions:

Outdoor Adventure Tourism there was no money for Marion

Question of Rivers trails from NPS – larger grants only – National foundation Grants

City of Marion has almost completed their section of the Fonta Flora State Trail – road diet project… $21 million for 1.5 miles.

Question – What are some funding that is easier to get than others… Federal DOT (not easy

  • Dogwood trust
  • National foundation – tie into regional grants… they are looking to promote themselves through your name.
  • Stalk the board members on the foundations and write the grants toward their interests
  • Sorba, East Coast Greenways
  • Put together a spread sheet with what grant will do what, deadline,
  • Converse with Amanda Edwards… in relation to depot to depot project
    • what can we do…
    • can we figure this out?
    • Potentially go to the elected official;
    • Go rouge.. paint feathers on the road.  (JOKE!)
    • Needs to be in the comprehensive land use plan. 
    • Try to incorporate it into all the plans…
    • let it be known that this a priority. 
    • Squeaky wheel gets the grease…
    • Do it in tactical and respectable way. 

Meeting minutes:

Upcoming Events were shared:

  1. September 14 @ 0830 – Volunteers needed for heavy digging/ weed removal on Village Way Greenway on Tuesday, we will be cleaning out dead thatch, planting grass seed. We are turning this into a butterfly garden.  It has been a slow-moving project.  We need willing volunteers or recommend some young people. If anyone knows of groups to recommend.  There are some tools available.  Contact: Annwnc@gmail.com
  1. September 25. Chalk the Walk event.  It is both a contest to chalk the walk and walk the chalk.  Done with center for the Arts.  Any school groups and cash prizes.  Trying to get people out to walk and see the art.  Registration is at the BM center for the Arts website.  Spread out through the town.  Town square, … group/family categories.  We need volunteers and participants.  Annwnc@gmail.com
  1. April 2022 Greenway Challenge Run – 5 and 10 K…Lincoln Walters and Noah West approached us to bring community together… So, they are interested in helping with the challenge.  On the Greenways, near the collective. Julie will hold a meeting… a committee event.  Very exciting!
  1. Update Garden Greenway project. We have earmarked $20,000 for that project, but it is put on hold, since the town needs 3 contract bids before they can approve the project.  There are not enough contractors willing to give estimates.

New Business, next meeting is on Tues, Oct 5, speaker will be Beth Hile – Fonte Flora State trail executive director

  1. Election of officers. 
    • Chair – Ann Lutz, nominated and approved
    • Vice Chair was left open
    • Secretary – Dottie Shuman, nominated and approved
    • Treasurer – Julie White nominated and approved
  2. Volunteer coordinator Ideas still needed.
  3. December Parade, first Saturday in December… the committee will take up the torch of the Greenways commission.  You are welcome to join, by marching, riding walking, or doing anything that can be done on a Greenway.
  4. October meeting, Tuesday, October 5 at 6 pm Lake Tomahawk pavilion.  Speaker Beth Heile FFST.
  5. Ann suggested offering history walks to the public this winter.
  6. Doug Chamberlain built bluebird boxes at the garden.  We may think about asking him to do some education about bluebirds.

Small discussion about the minutes.  Dottie will send them to the executive committee for approval before they go out to the entire list. 

Meeting Minutes June 2021

Meeting Minutes, News

Kick Off Meeting

June 22, 2021
Held at Lake Tomahawk Pavilion, Black Mountain at 6:00 pm

Welcome

Steve Cochran and Julia Weatherford

Julia: Introduction/Explanation of Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee, (Committee) and the Black Mountain Greenways Commission.

Black Mountain Greenways Commission provides greenway related guidance to the Town Council. Recent good governance changes to the town’s operations required that the
Commission’s responsibilities narrow from its prior roles that included events and
fundraising among other duties to advisory board.

The Committee was formed as a 501c3 under the Black Mountain Parks and Greenways Foundation to expand outside of the boundaries allowed the Commission.

Julia shared the Purpose, Vision, and Mission of the Committee.

Greenways on the ground and planned

Julie White

Current on the ground greenways and future plans may be found on the Town website under Adopted Plans tab.

All are invited to join in volunteer workdays to perform trail maintenance and trail building (in collaboration with the Town of Black Mountain ).


Go Outside Black Mountain

Jen Billstrom
Go Outside Black Mountain is the first initiative of the Committee to help neighbors and visitors find ways to enjoy Black Mountain by going outside. Please sign up for the the email list at: gooutsideblackmountain.com

Current and Future Projects

Sally Cochran, Julie White and Ann Lutz
Greenway Challenge is the annual fundraising run staged in April. Julie asks for volunteers to help with all aspects of the race and runners.

Chalk the Walk, an ephemeral art show will be staged for the third year on September 25 (26th rain date). Black Mountain Center for the Arts will partner with the Committee to stage this juried, awarded event at the Arts Center, Town Square and Flat Creek Greenway. Volunteers will be needed for preparation of surfaces the day before, hosts/hostesses to assist artists and guests to view the show.

Village Way Greenway will undergo renovation to eliminate invasive plants and be replanted as a Pollinator Garden. Volunteers will be needed for weeding, planting, and watering. When established the Pollinator Garden will become an educational garden for local schools. These plans for improvement have been approved by the Black Mountain Town Council.

Garden Greenway Improvement– The Committee will fund repairs to a section of greenway that floods and becomes impassable. This plan for improvement has been approved by the Black Mountain Town Council.

Christmas Parade– The Committee plans to participate in the parade by distributing pickles, candy, and maybe dog biscuits. Need participants in costume representing activities they enjoy on the greenway to join us and distribute goodies.

Garden Greenway Children’s Activity Path– Anna Faith, a local student pursuing a Girl Scout Gold Award, presented a description of the stenciled activity path she intends to install on the Garden Greenway to give children of gardeners an outlet for structured movement while awaiting their family member.

Current amenities along our greenways
•Sculptures in Riverwalk park, along the Garden Greenway, and at the entrance to the
underpass in Veterans Park
• Birdhouses in Riverwalk Park


Community Ideas-posted by attendees on Future Projects Board.
● Storywalk-a changeable installation of children’s books to be read by families as they
walk a greenway.
● Deck the Trail-small banners, art display
● Hopscotch trail
● Pop up Picnic
● Water bottle and dog bowl refill station
● Determine need for more benches
● Safe crossing at Hwy 9 and interstate
● Safe walk educational efforts
● “Pass the Torch” Parade around Lake Tomahawk involving passing a torch.
● Full moon walk at golf course
● Amphitheater
● Musical instrument pocket park
● Treasured Trees walking map