Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve to allow more equestrian use on trails

By Grace Bennett

On Wednesday, May 21, representatives from Parks, Recreation, and Community Services met with the Board of Supervisors to present four alternative ideas to open equestrian trails within Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve.

The various ideas are still in their early stages despite being under consideration for over a year. Once a plan of action has more official momentum, thorough research on trail usage and environmental impact assessments will be conducted. Remediation work will be performed by an independent contractor, and consultations with engineers will be hosted in order to take the most cost-effective and sustainable path.

While four alternatives were presented to the Board, representatives recommended the fourth and final of the ideas—namely, a plan to include all trails that could support equestrian access within the expansion, which would keep horses towards the upland areas of the preserve but maximize on their usage. This idea would mostly utilize old road-width trails with significant prior hardening.

An implementation of the fourth alternative would create the need to update the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Master Plan. There would be no fiscal impact associated with doing so; however, an estimated $570 K to $795K would be funneled into contracting, assessments, and any related construction.

The Board of Supervisors expressed interest in hearing more about the first idea presented by the representatives. While that option did not include any more horse trails, it would prioritize the preservation of the area, and it would include an additional section to Evergreen Mills Trail to complete the loop and improve the existing equestrian experience. 

The Board was particularly interested in the aforementioned additional section. As long as slope grades, redundant trails, and expanded parking are taken into consideration—among costs and environmental impacts—the Board is supportive of maximizing the equestrian experience for Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. Consultation with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation would resolve the issue of redundant trails.

Supervisor Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) gained support with the approval of option four along with its requirements. She then moved that the Board direct staff to make further assessment of additional mileage inside Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve within a requested period of twelve months. 

A unanimous vote from the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Board foreshadows improvements to the local equestrian experience soon to come.