Blue Ridge Discovery Center (BRDC) is pleased to announce it has received $25,000 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Get Outdoors (GO) Fund. These funds will support the Accessible Interpretive Trail to increase equitable access to safe open space at the Center.

The trail will be approximately 0.65 miles long and meander through various habitats and native plant communities, including a riparian corridor, a restored wetland, wildflower meadows, a rain garden, through a northern hardwood cove forest, and return to our education facility. With different portions of the trail composed of compacted decomposed granite, sidewalk, and boardwalk, this trail will allow visitors to fully engage with and explore the natural resources surrounding them.

We plan to create a universal design for the Accessible Interpretive Trail to provide equal opportunity not only for persons with disabilities but a variety of situations such as a parent pushing a stroller, a child on crutches, or a person with arthritic knees. The goal of this project is to ensure that all people have the opportunity to access and enjoy the outdoors at BRDC while also protecting natural resources and maintaining the biological integrity of the property.

Much thanks to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and their staff for support on this project!