town council walking path
Washington Vice Mayor Fred Catlin reviews details of a new walking path with town council members, who unanimously approved its construction at Monday night’s meeting.
The Washington Town Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a contract to construct a multi-use walking trail in the town after a local couple donated the remainder of funds needed for the project.
The trail will run from Gay Street to the Washington post office and Rush River Commons, before continuing on to Mt. Salem Avenue near The Washington School.
At the council’s December meeting, Vice Mayor Fred Catlin, who has headed up the multi-year project, informed the council that $5,000 more was needed to complete the $62,000 budget to build the path. Catlin asked if the town would consider increasing its commitment from $5,000 to $10,000, and a public hearing on the issue was planned for this month.
The hearing was not needed, however, after residents Bill and Sarah Walton volunteered to donate the remaining balance, Mayor Joe Whited announced at Monday’s meeting.
Watch the meeting:
Washington Town Council, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2025
“Last time that we had a meeting, we identified a $5,000 gap in funding. Over the holidays, I spoke to Bill Walton, and he and Sarah very generously volunteered to cover that gap in funding,” Whited said. “It’s a great contribution to the community.”
Bill Walton said in an interview that the walking path is a “logical” addition to the town, and that he and his wife, Sarah, were happy to donate funds to make it happen.
“It’s easy — it seems like a good project … so I want to chip in wherever I can,” Walton said. “We love the town, enjoy walking, and it seems like a logical thing to have a path between the courthouse part of town to Rush River Commons. I think it’s a nice connector. It’s hard to walk up and down Warren Avenue.”
Catlin said $50,000 of the path’s funding came from pledges from two foundations, and including the Waltons’ donation, $7,000 in individual gifts. The town government contributed $5,000.
The company retained to construct the path, Ironwood Designs, also designed and built the Sperryville River Walk, according to Catlin.
“We wanted to make this the best we could make it,” Catlin said. “I want to thank the Waltons for their generosity. It’s a great help.”
(Editor’s note: Bill Walton is a member of Rappahannock Media LLC, owner of the Rappahannock News.)
Lower speed limits coming soon
During his report, Whited told the council that according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), speed limit signs in town should be switching from 25 mph to 20 mph
“within the next month.” Whited said mid-February is the goal for the new sign installation, and due to the holidays and recent snowfall, the “gears ground a little slowly” on the project.
The council voted unanimously in October to approve the decreased speed limit in an effort to protect pedestrians in areas of town with no sidewalks.
Council member Jean Goodine asked at Monday’s meeting if the radar speed signs — the ones that tell drivers their speed as they approach — will still be used. Whited said the radar signs will remain in their current locations.
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