Mission and Objectives of AVI Our Three Legged Stool Information Updates Planned Housing Project Planned Town Center -- New! Valley Trails Parks and Greenways Valleytown Cultural Arts Center Smart Growth Home Town of Andrews Andrews Chamber of Commerce One Dozen Who Care, Inc.		Valley Trails Overview As Andrews and the Valley strive to become a "Nature-based community", restoring the pride of heritage and community cohesion, a strong heritage tourism program has been developed to attract visitors and newcomers to this beautiful valley. The construction of a multi-purpose, multi-phased network of hiking, biking and educational trails to include the recreational, day-to-day living, businesses and the education system activities would ultimately link neighboring towns. The emphasis would be on alternative transportation, historic and environmental learning experience for visitors, local residents and our students. The plan and action to enhance and revitalize the Town of Andrews and protect water resources while providing an economic stimulus and a better way of life is underway. People; from elected State, County and City officials, support groups, teachers, volunteers from all walks of life and ages, along with State recreational specialists, representatives from the TVA, Forest Service and NC DOT are committed to the success of this multi-phased project. All are working in unison with the AVI Trail Committee providing experience, expertise, leadership, vision, and above all; optimism. Bike Trails Program Andrews has no biking or pedestrian transportation system other than city sidewalks and streets. There are no bikeways other than busy roads. Sidewalks are limited to the downtown areas and do not comprehensively connect schools. Students are not encouraged to use bikes because streets and roads have no appropriate shoulders. Even though Mountains to Sea Bike Route #2 passes through, there are no designated local routes for warm-up or pleasure rides. Local state roads have no bike signage or lanes. Our plan in 2003 was put together with six phases: Preliminary Phase 0 is the request for DOT to designate some existing state roads around Andrews as Bike Routes. They would intersect with Mountains to Sea Bike Route #2. As end of 2008 this effort needs management assistance. Phase 1 will connect the town's two recreation parks along/near an existing sewer easement by a multiple use, DOT standard paved handicap accessible trail along the beautiful Valley River. General amenities will include plant markers, bridges, fishing accesses, benches, lighting, and environmental study centers. The trail will loop the city via sidewalks connecting the elementary and high schools, business district and living areas. See status below. Phase 2 will follow the Valley River from the DOT Rest Area, following DOT property, a sewer easement, and NC Cleanwater Management Trust easement to the Marble School, where it will follow old US 19 to Murphy. We expect this trail to be similar to the one recently constructed in Nantahala Gorge. Although not clearly documented, we believe this route to be very close to that taken during the removal of the Cherokee in 1838. As of year end 2008, some additional river frontage has been improved by Hiwassee River Coalition and the Marble Springs Outdoor Education Complex has been designed. Phase 3 of the trail leads from the Old Football Field along sewer easements to Aquone Rd, then along Junaluska Rd to the Andrews Middle School. It returns along Junaluska Creek and Valley River to the Ball Fields. This route provides excellent transportation routes to the school and use as a cross-country track. This route is under review as of end of 2008 to possibly run parallel with the four lane and come up Junaluska Creek to IOI and Middle School. Funding pending, DOT plans to construct sidewalks from the Baptist Church to Junaluska Road in 2009. Phase 4 is designation/improvement as a mountain bike route from the Old Ball Field via abandoned road, state road, and Forest Service Road to Robbinsville along the Trail of Tears. Project manager is needed. Phase 5 consists of identification of old road-beds and trails in the Snowbird and Valley River Mountains that would be appropriate as hiking trails. Trails need trailheads and easements. Project Manager is needed. This project would make an excellent Senior Exit or Eagle Scout Project. Status through 2008: Grants have been requested from private grantors and the NC Cleanwater Management Trust for planning, and design and fund raising efforts parallel these expectations. Easements are being negotiated and/or purchased. A Greenway has been designated along the Valley River and Tatham Creek by the City Council. Our Team developed a "Microsoft Project" plan and local stakeholders have documented their support via letters Contributions have been received and more funds are periodically requested. The schools are currently supporting the trail as learning and environmental experiences. Since there are no safe bike routes to and from the schools until the trails are built; safety education is planned later. As of January 2009, a grant is being requested from NCDOT for Safe Routes to School which involves an educational grant as well as construction of sidewalks. The Town of Andrews and the Cherokee County School system are sponsoring with an AVI person spearheading the effort. This will fit nicely with the request for a DOT Pedestrian Planning grant which was requested the first of Dec 2008. The Andrews-Valley Initiative Trail Committee has been officially designated by the City to be the implementing agency for the city. They are working with our City and Cherokee County officials to assist in secure the easements, preparing briefings, and applications, co-originating the engineering and planning, raising funds, and working with state and federal agencies. The team is composed of several professional engineers, senior managers, educational officials, and professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds. As of the end of 2008, a ten foot wide, 2500 foot long, asphalt paved trail around the Old Football Field is completed. A grant was obtained from the NC Trails Program for $10,800 for 1510 feet of the trail. Contributions and volunteers completed the project to include landscaping, benches and trash receptacles. The NC Fish and Wildlife constructed a handicap assessable fishing pier in late 2008. With funding from a grant from the Conservation Fund, fencing and finish work makes this an outstanding contribution to the persons who might not be able to access the beautiful Valley River. Landscape work continues. During the easement investigation period early in the trails program, the owners of a 32 acre tract behind the existing Recreation Park agreed to sell the entire property. A grant was obtained from the NC Clean Water Management Trust to purchase the stream frontage and the County purchased the remainder. Using a grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, County and City employees, and volunteers; a near mile long gravel trail encircles the property now known as Heritage Park. About a fourth of the distance is along the Valley River. Negotiations are underway to get a bridge across to the DOT Rest Area. The Town of Andrews has completed a range plan for a multi-use recreation complex. Ready for enjoyment. Work continues on the Old School House Hill Freedom Park. The Pavilion is designed and work is planned to start this spring. Some funds are available form the Western North Carolina Community Foundation, Walmart, and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. A trail/sidewalk is planned from the Pavilion to the High School.