Mount Airy’s newest greenway is about 15 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it’s being “connected” to the scenic highway through a program that encourages kids to experience the Great Outdoors.

The greenway along with the Ararat River has been selected for the “Kids in Parks” program operated through the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Through that effort, the local facility will offer a TRACK Trail adventure for children.

TRACK Trail adventures are designed to help kids explore nature through the use of self-guided brochures. The program is free to participants, who also can receive prizes from their involvement.

“Yesterday, a representative from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation visited with us,” Mount Airy Parks and Recreation Director Catrina Alexander announced Wednesday.

“I can’t really express how exciting that is,” Alexander added during a meeting of the city Parks and Recreation Commission held at the new H.B. Rowe Environmental Park on Hamburg Street. “Because I think it’s exciting to be part of the Parkway in any fashion.”

Through the effort, a local Boy Scout, James Brintle, and his troop will construct an informational kiosk as part of a scouting project, which will serve as a “trailhead.” Brochures kept there will guide local youths on an “adventure” that foundation organizers say is healthy, fun and free. A new adventure unfolds in each brochure.

Since TRACK trails are “superimposed” on existing trails, the educational and recreational value of each is maximized, organizers say.

To motivate children to leave their computers and get outside, incentives or “rewards” are provided to those who register on the Web site www.kidsinparks.com. These include a bandana for tracking one trail, while a field guide will be available to those who complete four trails.

Alexander said a minimum of four trails will be established on the Ararat River greenway by the foundation. Similar efforts have been implemented recently in other communities near the Blue Ridge Parkway, including one launched on June 12 in the Pisgah National Forest.

TRACK Trails in both Mount Airy and Wytheville, Va., will be established by the end of the summer, according to the Kids in Parks Web site.

Alexander said Mount Airy’s inclusion in the program should be especially beneficial to students of two schools located in the vicinity of the new greenway, Tharrington Primary and Mount Airy Middle.

“They will be able to come out and have a free field trip,” the parks and recreation director said. “So I think that is just a phenomenal thing.”

The overall intent of the TRACK Trails program and the Kids in Parks initiative is to increase visitation at public park facilities at a time when childhood obesity has become an issue.

Since funding is tight at all levels of government to deal with this problem, the program makes use of existing facilities to improve children’s health while also promoting their appreciation for nature.

Skate Equipment Rentals?

Also at Thursday’s Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, Alexander reported that efforts are continuing to ensure compliance with rules for Mount Airy’s newest outdoor facility, a skatepark on Riverside Drive.

Chronic rules violations have been a problem since the facility opened earlier this month, mainly involving skateboarders not wearing required helmets, knee pads and elbow pads. Such a violation is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of $136.

But since equipping a skateboarder can cost $160 or more, Alexander said efforts are under way to provide cheaper means for youths to obtain gear. She told commission members that she has contacted medical providers around town to possibly make donations to supply equipment to those in need, through a campaign to prevent injuries.

Another effort could involve rentals of helmets and other skateboarding equipment from an operation already under way at Riverside Park which rents bicycles to greenway users.

“They’re looking to see if they can tack that on to what they’re doing,” Alexander said of the equipment rentals. This involves checks with insurance agents to determine if the skateboarding items can be incorporated into the existing operation.

Alexander said officials want to gain voluntary rules compliance, pointing out that this will ensure a free, open and unsupervised facility that many communities lack. Having someone to supervise the skatepark likely would mean fees for users, which Mount Airy is trying to avoid, she said.

“It’s a phenomenal resource,” the parks and recreation director said of what’s been provided by the non-profit group Skate Mount Airy Inc.

“We are very fortunate.”

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.