community life A HEALTHY boo$t Napa Valley Vine Trail gets $5 million in donations toward its completion Clay Gregory (left) of Visit Napa Valley and Linda Reiff (second from right) present Chuck McMinn and April Gargiulo with checks to help complete the Napa Valley Vine Trail Sections of the new Napa Valley Vine Trail for bicyclists, walkers, runners, family members, Napa Valley exercise enthusiasts and visitors are ready to use daily—and, thanks to a total $5 million contribution from the Napa Valley Vintners and Visit Napa Valley, the sections will continue to grown with the goal of connecting the ferry terminal in Vallejo with downtown Calistoga, 47 total miles when complete. Recently, Napa Valley Vintners and Visit Napa Valley each announced it would donate $2.5 million to extend the trail. Their combined $5 million contribution is providing 40 per cent of local funding needed. Currently the trail plan projects a $12 million goal, and with these announced donations and others, $7.5 million is in hand. The full announcement can be viewed at www.VineTrail.org. This trek through Napa Valley gives everyone the opportunity to leave cars and other motorized vehicles parked in convenient park-and-ride lots and take advantage of the opportunity of walking, riding, running, jogging, strolling and just being together with friends and family for outdoor excursions. As many outdoor enthusiasts have mentioned in articles in newspapers and online reports, on local radio and television, there is a need for accessible locations for the general public to get outside and exercise. Several other California communities have completed their own trails to do just this, and now Napa Valley has its very own. In addition to providing beautiful experiences, safety is a prime concern for outdoor enthusiasts. Instead of having to share busy roads and highways throughout the area, exercise trails take the participants off roads and place them in safe excursion areas for all ages. Because of former avenues along the valley floor having to be shared throughout the area, local businesses 64 www.nAPAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine. c om have had to locate business opportunities along these same byways. In the very near future, businesses are planning new ventures for local visitors. Soon, stops along the way to refresh themselves with wonderful juice drinks, healthy sandwiches from deli restaurants, cafés, benches built and placed by local community groups, rest stops for bicycles, and nearby conveniently located hotels and bed-and-breakfast lodging, as well as the newest affordable and beautifully appointed motels and hotels, will be available. Fun and adventure throughout our valley is growing daily with these enthusiastic contributors, contractors, organizers and everyone interested in having a new opportunity to see the valley outside of cars and other vehicles. The Vine Trail and its Premier Partners, the Vine Trail Founders Circle of 2014 under the leadership of April Gargiulo and Gargiulo Vineyards, are seeking 100 community donors to contribute $10,000 or more by the end of 2014. More information for donations can be found at FoundersCircle@ vinetrail.org. Chuck McMinn of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition and Clay Gregory of Visit Napa Valley, along with Linda Reiff of Napa Valley Vintners, are coordinating all these efforts. Local hotels and inns encourage tourists and locals alike to visit their tourist desks, where very friendly and helpful guides will direct anyone interested in this wonderful adventure to view where bicycle rental agencies with helpful and hands-on maps and interactive guideposts give everyone easy access to the trail locations. For more than 100 years Napa Valley has been a destination for visitors to explore and enjoy. Today the safety and healthful outcomes for the general public are inspirations for local enthusiasts to provide opportunities for everyone to become active participants while visiting Napa Valley. by JEFF JOHNSON
NVLife_MayJune_2014
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