(Danville) — A local group is trying to get more people to enjoy water recreation in Southside Virginia.
The Dan River Basin Association wants to create Southern Virginia Blueways. It includes three rivers — the Dan, the Staunton and the Banister — with over 100 miles of navigable water. Of that, over 80 have been designated as Virginia Scenic Rivers.
The first step involves crafting a Master Plan to bring together leaders across a nine-county region to collaborate on a five-year marketing and infrastructure plan. The goal is to establish Southside Virginia as a top region for paddling and water-based recreation, translating into more tourism.
The Association is asking the Tobacco Commission for 150-thousand dollars to be added to pledges they’ve received from the Harvest Foundation, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the Danville Regional Foundation.
The Tobacco Commission’s Southern Virginia Subcommittee will make a recommendation on their request later this month when they meet in Martinsville.