The Woodstream Trail, a trail that is being built to connect the Woodstream community to Smith Lake Park, will begin to be constructed in Stafford.
“This trail will connect the [surrounding] neighborhood[s] to the park,” said Chris Hoppe, a project manager for the county.
After a bidding process that began in January, the Stafford Board of Supervisors approved a bid on February 24 from Southwood Building System, Inc. for the project, according to county documents.
According to minutes of the February 24 board meeting, the board has allotted $548,700 for the project, which is being funded from county capital reserves.
There were some considerations that had to be addressed during the design process of the trail, including steep slopes and stream crossings, from the community to the park.
Hoppe stated that there was no safe way for residents in the surrounding neighborhoods to access the park without riding in their car.
“There are several people who live in the Woodstream community in North Stafford, and there are communities immediately adjacent…who access the [Smith Lake] park by foot and by bicycle,” Hoppe said, continuing, “[Building of the trail] was an initiative taken on by citizens, so that they can get to the park without having to drive their cars or walk along a relatively narrow two-lane road…we’re providing safer access for the citizens, so they’ll be able to walk to the park.”
The county is currently finalizing the contract for construction, and look to have the project completed by the fall.
“We are in the process of getting our contract in place [to move forward], and we’ll be letting our contractor know to proceed with construction, and the trail should be complete in September of this year,” Hoppe stated.
