The Napa Valley bike path has been in the works for some time and is making progress as sections are added over time. But it has not come without its share of obstacles along that route as the project navigates its way through the towns and land owners along its course. Officials in the town of Calistoga at the north end of Napa Valley are currently voicing concerns over the project as the proposed path threatens to cut through land which is designated as part of Napa Valley’s Agricultural Preserve.
The Napa Greenway is currently in the feasibility study phase and exploring the impact of the bike trail on the environment and communities along the route from Napa to Calistoga. The bike path is largely seen by residents and business leaders as being positive, bringing a healthy, enjoyable activity to connect not only serve to connect people within communities, but also connect them between communities and offer tourists a compliment to their wine country tours when choosing the destination as a family vacation spot. Yet while the plan will likely be a beneficial venture, city officials are looking at the impact from a number of angles, exploring concerns from agriculturalists, vintners, business leaders, land owners, and environmentalists.
The current concern is that the proposed route encroaches upon Agricultural Preserve land and concerns have arisen for the reason that preserve lands are to be preserved and not developed. This then opens to debate the definition of development, and whether the bike path warrants an exemption based on the community’s benefits from gaining the path. Alternative routes are being considered if the Agricultural Preserve lands are deemed to be off-limits. Other possibilities include a path along the Napa River, a cut through the middle of Napa Valley amongst the vineyards, a parallel route which would follow Highway 29 and the Wine Train tracks, or something along the Silverado Trail.
