Richmond Liberty Trail To Get A New Coat of Paint

The Richmond Liberty Trail is getting freshened up for spring. Nearly 30 volunteers from Capital One will hit the streets of downtown Richmond armed with spray paint and stencils Friday, April 4. In addition, an interactive mobile map is now available for the Richmond Liberty Trail at www.RVALibertyTrail.com.

Volunteers to repaint trail, April 4
New interactive mobile map launched

Richmond, VA – The Richmond Liberty Trail is getting freshened up for spring. Nearly 30 volunteers from Capital One will hit the streets of downtown Richmond armed with spray paint and stencils Friday, April 4. The Richmond Liberty Trail launched last April as a 6.2 mile pedestrian route that connects a number of downtown Richmond’s historic attractions. The Trail guides visitors and residents past a broad range of key historic sites, including an overlap with the Richmond Slave Trail at Lumpkin’s Jail and the African Burial Ground, and winds through neighborhoods such as Jackson Ward, Monroe Ward, Court End, Capitol Square, Church Hill, Tredegar and Brown’s Island, the Canal Walk and Shockoe. Capital One volunteers will also deliver marketing kits to restaurants, museums and hotels along the route to supply them with materials to promote the trail to their guests.

“The timing of the trail refresh in intentional,” said Anedra Bourne, Tourism Coordinator for the City of Richmond and Richmond Liberty Trail Committee member. “We want it looking its best before Civil War and Emancipation Day on April 12.” The Richmond Liberty Trail has a starring role during the event as the route for the Richmond Times-Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond walk. Two guided walks of the trail will take place during the day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Pre-registration is encouraged online at http://civilwar.emancipationday.net.

Outside of Civil War and Emancipation Day, walkers on the Trail navigate the route following the logos painted on the sidewalk, with maps available at the local visitor centers and locations along the way.

This year, a new interactive mobile map is available to enrich the experience. The map includes points of interest along the trail including museums, restaurants and hotels presented in an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly environment.  Visitors using a smartphone can access the map at www.RVALibertyTrail.com.  The map, built by Richmond Region Tourism, pulls listings of trail sites from the organization’s central database that also powers the official Region tourism website, www.VisitRichmondVa.com.

“We know visitors interact with the world via smartphone in record numbers,” said Katherine O’Donnell, Richmond Region Tourism Vice President of Community Relations and Richmond Liberty Trail Committee member. “The new map will improve the visitor experience and increase the exposure for our local businesses.”

The Richmond Liberty Trail project is a collaborative effort among Richmond’s business, history and tourism communities to make it easier to enjoy downtown Richmond’s attractions, retail and sites on foot.

ABOUT THE GREATER RICHMOND CHAMBER

Since 1867, the Greater Richmond Chamber (www.GRCC.com) has taken the lead to enhance and institute change in the Richmond Region, making the region an ideal location for businesses to prosper.  The Chamber, a not-for-profit business membership association with more than 1,100 members, is a catalyst for business development and the voice of business in Greater Richmond.

ABOUT RICHMOND REGION TOURISM

Richmond Region Tourism, the official destination marketing and tourism organization for the Richmond Region, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Region to meeting planners, tour operators and leisure travelers. Richmond Region Tourism operates three Visitor Centers located at the Greater Richmond Convention Center downtown, the Richmond International Airport and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Hanover County. More than 7 million people visit the Richmond Region annually, contributing more than $2 billion to the local economy. Tourism generates more than 22,000 jobs in the Richmond Region. For more information, visit www.VisitRichmondVA.com.

ABOUT THE VALENTINE RICHMOND HISTORY CENTER

The Valentine Richmond History Center collects, preserves and interprets Richmond’s 400-year history. Located in the heart of historic downtown Richmond, the History Center provides a lively, compelling venue for Richmond residents and tourists to discover the diverse stories that come together to tell the intriguing history of Richmond.

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PRESS CONTACTS:

Domenick Casuccio
Valentine Richmond History Center
(804) 649.0711 ext. 322
(804) 467.2431 Mobile
dcasuccio@richmondhistorycenter.com 

Katherine O’Donnell
Richmond Region Tourism
(804) 783-7414
kodonnell@visitrichmondva.com