Spotsylvania County residents have until Wednesday to let planners know of concerns or comments on a proposal to create a comprehensive trail network.

County planners revealed a draft master plan for this trail network for cyclists, runners, walkers --and potentially horseback riders--at a community meeting last week. The long-term plan proposes about 83 miles of trails and provides the framework for an extensive network that connects historic sites with neighborhoods and rivers.

About 40 people--mostly equestrians--attended the community meeting last week at the new county office building in Courthouse Village.

Marlene Sisbarro, president of the Battlefield Back Country Horsemen, said there are not many public places where riders can go with their horses. She said having horse-friendly trails could boost tourism.

"I know a lot of people who like to go away with their horses and stay," she said. "They like to eat at nice places, and they don't mind paying board for their horses and staying at different places."

County staff said the trails could potentially allow horses.

County planner Jacob L. Pastwik said the county needs more trail networks to provide safer paths for people to walk or ride. During the community meeting, he showed pictures of local residents walking along shoulderless roads.

He said the chief concern he has heard is that people do not want local tax money used to build the trails.

"Most people also want to know if this is going to happen in their lifetime," he said.

Spotsylvania Planning Director Wanda Parrish said the goal is to have all of the trail network--almost 100 miles--walkable by 2036.

Parrish said the county hopes to use the Virginia Central Railway, which roughly parallels State Route 3, as a trail within 10 years. The rail bed, south of Route 3, runs from Fredericksburg to Orange. A portion of trail is already built and is accessible at Salem Church Road.

She said a major concern people have expressed is that the Virginia Central rail bed runs close to private homes.

The trail alignments have not been completed. Parrish said the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will manage an alignment study later this year.

Parrish said residents may e-mail planners until Oct. 6 with ideas or concerns about the trail network.

The Board of Supervisors has partnered with the nonprofit Spotsylvania Greenway Initiatives, which will help educate the public on the benefits of trails. Greenway Initiatives members will also help the county get easements and maintain some of the trails.

The group has already finished a small stem of the Ni River Corridor trail that they call Salamander Loop across U.S. 1 from Massaponax High School on property owned by Luck Stone.

"They want to get out there and educate," Parrish said.

Dan Telvock: FLS