By Rob Case, PhD., P.E.
Thanks to the new one-mile Foxfire Trail, cyclists and pedestrians can travel between Foxfire neighborhood and the Municipal Center for transportation or recreation, enjoying the woods in between.
Foxfire Trail (red)
(also showing planned Chesapeake Bay Southside Loop and Va. Beach Trail)
Source: Google Maps
Foxfire Trail (yellow), Loop Trail (grey), and natural surface trails (dashed)
Source: https://parks.virginiabeach.gov/outdoors/city-parks/west-neck-creek-natural-area
The Foxfire Trail crosses West Neck Creek and links to trails in the West Neck Creek Natural Area.
Foxfire Trail (red) and Environs
Source: Google Maps
North of the trail lies the Municipal Center containing city government agencies including courts, public works, police, city council, etc.
South of the trail lies the Foxfire neighborhood.
Foxfire Trail (red) and Loop Trail (blue)
Source: HRTPO staff via Google My Maps
Lettered locations along the Foxfire Trail and in the West Neck Creek Natural Area are explored below. Follow me from Foxfire Park to North Landing Road near the Municipal Center to see what’s out there…
A - The southern end of Foxfire Trail can be reached at the Foxfire Park in the Foxfire neighborhood of southern Virginia Beach. Note that, as shown below, there is no trail-identifying sign in the park. (There is, however, a white “No motorized vehicles” sign above a smaller white “No trespassing after dark” sign, as shown below.)
B - At the edge of the park, the trail enters the woods.
C – A beautiful bridge crosses West Neck Creek.
D – Foxfire Trail tees into the paved Loop Trail of the West Neck Creek Natural Area.
E – At the southern end of the paved Loop Trail, natural surface trails in the West Neck Creek Natural Area begin.
F – At the northern end of the paved Loop Trail, a parking lot for city vehicles and Natural Area visitors lies off North Landing Road across from the Municipal Center.
G – For those driving to the northern end of the Foxfire Trail, the existence of the West Neck Creek Natural Area and parking lot is marked only by a small brown sign with a pedestrian icon. (There is no bus route at either end of the trail.) Municipal Center employees need only cross North Landing Road to access the Natural Area and adjacent Foxfire Trail.
Whether for commuting to the Municipal Center, or communing with nature, take advantage of this beautiful, useful transportation/recreation trail system.
