Luray Goes GreenLuray Goes Green

Reduce - Reuse - RecycleReduce - Reuse - Recycle

Town Offices Town Offices

Information of our greening efforts are distributed via Information of our greening efforts are distributed via the Town website and our local cable information the Town website and our local cable information channel 15channel 15

Doing away with Triplicate FormsDoing away with Triplicate Forms Moving towards half-page and possible quarter-page Moving towards half-page and possible quarter-page

receipt printing to conserve paperreceipt printing to conserve paper Using double-sided copies whenever possibleUsing double-sided copies whenever possible Using energy-efficient light bulbs throughout buildingUsing energy-efficient light bulbs throughout building Looking at creating paperless Council meetings via use Looking at creating paperless Council meetings via use

of laptops and CD’sof laptops and CD’s

Town Offices cont.Town Offices cont.

Recycling paper, aluminum cans and plasticsRecycling paper, aluminum cans and plastics Promoting the use of reusable shopping bags to Promoting the use of reusable shopping bags to

reduce dependence on plastics and paper. This is a reduce dependence on plastics and paper. This is a community partnership programcommunity partnership program

““Green is Good” magnetic decals on all Town vehicles Green is Good” magnetic decals on all Town vehicles as a reminder to all citizens to do their partas a reminder to all citizens to do their part

Participation with the Page County Transit Program for Participation with the Page County Transit Program for bus travelbus travel

Town Offices cont.Town Offices cont.

Community Development Block Grant restoring 32 Community Development Block Grant restoring 32 downtown building facades with associated landscapingdowntown building facades with associated landscaping

Train Depot restoration will utilize pervious pavers and Train Depot restoration will utilize pervious pavers and parking surfaces to enhance absorption and reduce run-offparking surfaces to enhance absorption and reduce run-off

Implementation of Landscaping and Lighting requirements Implementation of Landscaping and Lighting requirements for the Town to reduce light, run-off, and noise pollutionfor the Town to reduce light, run-off, and noise pollution

Public WorksPublic Works

Using mechanical versus chemical means of Using mechanical versus chemical means of control for weeds and brush wherever possiblecontrol for weeds and brush wherever possible

Daily trash pickup around town to reduce Daily trash pickup around town to reduce environmental contamination and environmental contamination and animal/human hazardsanimal/human hazards

Looking to establish a Town-wide Recycling Looking to establish a Town-wide Recycling Program (see handout)Program (see handout)

Reuse of our sidewalk replacement material to Reuse of our sidewalk replacement material to aid in stream bank stabilizationaid in stream bank stabilization

Public Works cont.Public Works cont.

Mow our grass at a taller height to reduce Mow our grass at a taller height to reduce number of mowings per year, and number of mowings per year, and provide a healthier grass environmentprovide a healthier grass environment

The reuse of asphalt millings on various The reuse of asphalt millings on various projectsprojects

Recycling Christmas trees to provide Recycling Christmas trees to provide mulch to the citizensmulch to the citizens

RecreationRecreation

Development of riparian areas to Development of riparian areas to enhance wildlife habitat and reduce enhance wildlife habitat and reduce maintenance (mowers, gasoline, etc.) maintenance (mowers, gasoline, etc.)

Development of the Greenway Trail Development of the Greenway Trail System with it’s associated plantings; a System with it’s associated plantings; a healthy and safe environment for citizens healthy and safe environment for citizens to walk and exercise (see handout)to walk and exercise (see handout)

What was once an overgrown, unsightly What was once an overgrown, unsightly corridor, has now been transformed into corridor, has now been transformed into a beautiful well kept linear park which a beautiful well kept linear park which runs along Hawksbill Creek and through runs along Hawksbill Creek and through our downtown areas. This trail corridor our downtown areas. This trail corridor also is the first thing you see coming into also is the first thing you see coming into Luray. It gives visitors a first impression Luray. It gives visitors a first impression of vitality and livelinessof vitality and liveliness

Creation of walking and bicycling trail Creation of walking and bicycling trail along Greenway for multi-modal access.along Greenway for multi-modal access.

Many other localities have toured our trail Many other localities have toured our trail to gather information with the intent of to gather information with the intent of developing a trail like ours in their own developing a trail like ours in their own towntown

Recreation cont.Recreation cont.

Luray Tree and Beautification Committee projects for planters, trash Luray Tree and Beautification Committee projects for planters, trash receptacles, murals and flowers, shrubs, and trees downtownreceptacles, murals and flowers, shrubs, and trees downtown

Mural paintings as an aesthetic enhancement of the urban landscapeMural paintings as an aesthetic enhancement of the urban landscape Plantings that help shade the Hawksbill Creek to cool the water and Plantings that help shade the Hawksbill Creek to cool the water and

provide a healthier environment for troutprovide a healthier environment for trout Youth Trout Day Fishing Activities each year along Hawksbill, now a class Youth Trout Day Fishing Activities each year along Hawksbill, now a class

A Trout streamA Trout stream Concerts on Main Street Ruffner Plaza and at the Inn Lawn Park to Concerts on Main Street Ruffner Plaza and at the Inn Lawn Park to

promote outdoor activitiespromote outdoor activities

Tree City USATree City USA 8 years running8 years running

Prestigious Prestigious Growth AwardGrowth Award 5 years running5 years running

Recreation Cont.Recreation Cont.

Stream monitoring program with Stream monitoring program with Luray High School Science ClassLuray High School Science Class

Stream bank stabilization projects Stream bank stabilization projects throughout Town Corporate Limitsthroughout Town Corporate Limits

Extension of the Greenway Phase 4 Extension of the Greenway Phase 4 to include stream bank protection, a to include stream bank protection, a pedestrian footbridge across the pedestrian footbridge across the Hawksbill Creek, and coordination Hawksbill Creek, and coordination with VA DOF for plantingswith VA DOF for plantings

A rain garden is also planned A rain garden is also planned adjacent to the parking area to filter adjacent to the parking area to filter runoff prior to reaching to creekrunoff prior to reaching to creek

Several areas have been adopted Several areas have been adopted by local groups as part of the Adopt by local groups as part of the Adopt A Stream ProgramA Stream Program

Recreation cont.Recreation cont.

Eagle Scout project along the Eagle Scout project along the stream for handicapped stream for handicapped accessible fishing and accessible fishing and observation deckobservation deck

Plans to create an outdoor Plans to create an outdoor classroom along the classroom along the GreenwayGreenway

VA DOF Grant to develop fish VA DOF Grant to develop fish habitat structureshabitat structures

DCR Grant to construct full-DCR Grant to construct full-service restrooms and shelters service restrooms and shelters along the Greenwayalong the Greenway

More than 350 acres of award-More than 350 acres of award-winning parklands – a huge winning parklands – a huge number per capita!number per capita!

Continued Expansion of the Continued Expansion of the Recreational ParkRecreational Park

Lake Arrowhead recreational Lake Arrowhead recreational facilities with fishingfacilities with fishing

WaterWater

Building a new microfiltration/pressure membrane Building a new microfiltration/pressure membrane water filtration plant to provide drinking water for the water filtration plant to provide drinking water for the Town’s citizensTown’s citizens

Moving toward an automated chemical feed system to Moving toward an automated chemical feed system to reduce the total chemical usage by the plantreduce the total chemical usage by the plant

The automated plant system and the associated 2 The automated plant system and the associated 2 million gallon clear well tank will allow the plant to million gallon clear well tank will allow the plant to operate only when water is needed rather than 24 operate only when water is needed rather than 24 hours a dayhours a day

Purchase of adjacent property around our springs and Purchase of adjacent property around our springs and water sources for source-water protection under the water sources for source-water protection under the VDH guidelinesVDH guidelines

WastewaterWastewater

Upgrading the wastewater treatment plant to comply with enhanced Upgrading the wastewater treatment plant to comply with enhanced nitrogen and phosphorous removal per the Chesapeake Bay Actnitrogen and phosphorous removal per the Chesapeake Bay Act

Completing Infiltration and Inflow to reduce the amount of effluent Completing Infiltration and Inflow to reduce the amount of effluent treatment by the town, and to reduce seepage of wastewater into the treatment by the town, and to reduce seepage of wastewater into the surrounding groundsurrounding ground

We recycle biosolids through land application of solids at an agronomic We recycle biosolids through land application of solids at an agronomic rate. This program improves soil tilth while reducing the need for rate. This program improves soil tilth while reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. It is more cost effective for the taxpayer than chemical fertilizers. It is more cost effective for the taxpayer than landfilling, and does not use up valuable landfill spacelandfilling, and does not use up valuable landfill space

Christmas Trees, leaves and other yard wastes are composted at the Christmas Trees, leaves and other yard wastes are composted at the plant. The composted material is a good soil amendment, and decreases plant. The composted material is a good soil amendment, and decreases the waste stream to the landfill. Composting also decreases the amount the waste stream to the landfill. Composting also decreases the amount of open burning, which pollutes the airof open burning, which pollutes the air

The wastewater treatment plant uses ultraviolet light for effluent The wastewater treatment plant uses ultraviolet light for effluent disinfection, instead of toxic chemicals which reduces risk to the disinfection, instead of toxic chemicals which reduces risk to the environment and personnelenvironment and personnel

Luray Downtown Luray Downtown InitiativeInitiative

Hanging flower baskets in the downtown corridorHanging flower baskets in the downtown corridor Have switched many Christmas lights to low wattageHave switched many Christmas lights to low wattage Installed several kiosks throughout the downtown area Installed several kiosks throughout the downtown area

that feature informational brochuresthat feature informational brochures Benches and planters at various downtown locationsBenches and planters at various downtown locations