Parks staff briefed the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Oct. 21 on the city’s trail network, usage figures, and Richmond Inspire, a planning effort to improve park connectivity and performance.

Staff described three types of trails in Richmond: single-track trails (for example Buttermilk and Northbank within the James River Park System), multimodal greenways that support recreation and transportation (including the Capital Trail and James River Branch Trail spurs), and neighborhood VITA fitness circuits. The presentation said the city maintains roughly 52 miles of single-track trails, about 20 miles of greenways either existing or under construction, and 12 VITA courses. Parks staff estimated the James River Park System receives about 300,000 users annually and said trail improvements generate regional visitation and economic activity.

Staff said Richmond Inspire — an initiative to map park access and prioritize investment — will provide tools to measure success, such as ensuring residents are within a 10-minute walk or bike ride of a park and tracking usage at facilities. Staff indicated they will present an approximately 90% draft at the Organizational Development meeting on Dec. 10 and expect to return later in the year with a near-final (about 98%) Richmond Inspire draft for additional review and public input. The plan will include priority zones, mapping and data tools to measure park usage and guide investment decisions.

Committee members asked about funding and timelines; staff said past park master-plan projects have combined city funding with private and grant dollars and that comprehensive plans help the city attract partners for priority projects. Staff noted that draft Richmond Inspire materials will include analytic tools and usage data that can demonstrate demand and support grant applications.