HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34

(By Delegates Lawrence, Doyle, Azinger, Barill, Cann, Ennis, Ferns, Ferro, Hall, Hatfield, Manchin, Martin, Morgan, Moye, Paxton, Perry, R. Phillips, D. Poling, Rodighiero, Shaver, Skaff, Smith, Staggers, Sumner and Williams)

Requesting the Legislature to proclaim that Groundhog Day, February 2, 2011, be celebrated as the first anniversary of the Eastern Panhandle Trailblazers and the birthday of the Eastern Panhandle Recreation Trail.

    Whereas, The activities of walking, running and bicycling have profound and positive impacts on personal and social health, mobility, economic development, recreation and tourism for people of all ages, skill levels and economic circumstances; and

    Whereas, A variety of convenient, safe and attractive trails is required to support walking, running and bicycling activities; and

    Whereas, The variety of such trails to, from, within and across Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties is currently quite limited; and

    Whereas, All citizens and governments within Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties, plus numerous other constituents and organizations within and beyond these borders, share an interest in improving walking, running and bicycling opportunities in this region; and

    Whereas, West Virginia’s Region 9 Planning and Development Council assisted in creating the Eastern Panhandle Trailblazers to facilitate trail development to, from, within and across Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties in order to improve walking, running and bicycling opportunities in this region; and

    Whereas, The Eastern Panhandle Trailblazers has embraced the Eastern Panhandle Recreational Trail as its signature project. This trail anticipates a safe, attractive, uninterrupted pathway for walking, running and bicycling from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, via Ranson, Martinsburg and Hedgesville, utilizing trails already constructed or planned along WV Route 9, the Raleigh Street Extension and Edwin Miller Boulevard with connecting spurs to the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and from Martinsburg to Shepherdstown; and

    Whereas, This Eastern Panhandle Recreational Trail addresses the needs previously described, provides critical access to and from such nearby assets as the Appalachian Trail, the Tuscarora Trail, the Western Maryland Rail Trail, the C&O Canal Towpath, Fort Frederick, Harpers Ferry National Park, Antietam National Battlefield and the Potomac Heritage Trail, and provides the necessary backbone for local trail networks throughout Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties; and

    Whereas, The Eastern Panhandle Trailblazers was formally organized on February 2, 2010; and

    Whereas, The admirable efforts, accomplishments, goals and aspirations of the Eastern Panhandle Trailblazers should not go unnoticed and should affirmatively be celebrated; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That Groundhog Day, February 2, 2011, is hereby proclaimed and shall be celebrated as the first anniversary of the Eastern Panhandle Trailblazers and the birthday of the Eastern Panhandle Recreational Trail.