Lynchburg, Virginia

beautiful, and it’s neat to see some of those are coming alive again.” Known as the City of Seven Hills, one of Lynchburg’s challenges is walkability. The sprawling neighborhoods and hilly landscape make walking and biking less practical in some areas. Speaking to the issue, Wodicka reports, “We are investing in sidewalks throughout the city, where there haven’t been sidewalks before, as well as bike lanes and other amenities that are making it better. In some places, it is really just the topography that is not conducive, but we see it in terms of sections of the city and making them walkable within themselves. We’re doing that in some of our industrial parks and in other places as well.” For those committed to actively hiking, or wanting to enjoy a leisurely walk, the Blackwater Creek trail system connects the city from end to end and is accessible from many points throughout the community. Developed from an old rail trail, the grades are less steep, making it a desirable walking location for many residents. Currently underway in the city is an ambitious project to remove an old dam, supporting a manmade recreational lake which is no longer being used. The waterway known as College Lake, was created in the 1930s next to the University of Lynchburg. “We are intending to set the standard for how to remove these old, high-hazard earthen dams that are really an environmental travesty,” states Wodicka. “Prior to when stormwater regulations developed, pretty much anything could go downstream, ending up in a lot of these lake beds.” The long-term plan is to transition the area into an urban wetland. That wetland project is currently being designed, with plans to offer it as a learning space for students from Kindergarten to University level. Another part of Lynchburg’s robust environmental program is a tree replacement plan, through the Parks and Recreation department. The city also intends to add solar lighting on trails and in park pavilions to make community parks as green as possible. An electric vehicle program is part of next year’s city budget, with the intention of replacing city-run vehicles with electric options. Wodicka notes, “Those are some of our green initiatives, but the wetland is going to be something that will ultimately be an attraction to the city. We are not only solving an environmental issue, but in a public-private partnership, we are creating this urban wetland learning laboratory that will be, I think, really impactful for a lot of people.” Lynchburg is moving forward as an innovative, vibrant, and growing community that embraces its rich past. A source of pride for present and future generations. LYNCHBURG V I RGINI A