From Hot Springs to Cold Bays – the Napa Valley Vine Trail
Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized
Momentum is gaining for The Napa Valley Vine Trail, which will one-day be a long-overdue, contiguous, multi-use path from Calistoga to the Ferry Terminal building in Vallejo.
Imagine this reality – one day soon, you will be able to ride your bike from the hot springs of Calistoga, 44 miles south through the vineyards of Napa, then hop on a ferry to San Francisco or Marin – all without having to compete with automobiles and traffic.
Surprisingly, the path has not received much resistance from the decision-making governing bodies and agriculture groups. A joint statement from the founding members of the Vine Trail Coalition was issued May 7, 2009, indicating support for the trail plan: “The Napa Valley Grapegrowers, the Napa County Farm Bureau, the Napa Valley Vintners and the Winegrowers of Napa County support the voluntary development of a trail along the existing major transportation routes that does not require any modification of the Agricultural Preserve,” it reads.
At a recent NVVT Committee meeting, I learned of the following progress:
- NVVT has received its 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization
- As part of above, they have organized a board of directors, and are now able to accept volunteers and donations.
- A new website (napavalleyvinetrail.org) is under development and will launch Q1-2010.
- Yountville is breaking ground on the first part of designated NVVT around April 15th, 2010.
- The first phase, from Trancas in Napa to Calistoga, is 22 miles.
- Current budget for the project is at approximately $40M, of which the NVVT Coalition is responsible for raising 20% and is counting on goverment funds for the remaining 80%.
- Committees are actively working on capital campaign, permits, and all other aspects of making this trail a reality.
To volunteer, get additional information, or provide comments contact NVVT: info@napavalleyvinetrail.org
