The Elizabeth River Trail is glowing: Solar-powered stones bring light to West Ghent trail
The green glowing trail through Jeff Robertson Park in West Ghent is not a leftover effect from Halloween. The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation recently completed installing solar-powered glow stones that light one of the darkest parts of the trail.
The 800-foot portion, the Glowline, will illuminate in plant patterns at night that are inspired by the fiddlehead fern, a popular plant in the surrounding Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary. The trail wraps around the northwest playing fields through the park. The project is part of a $4 million capital campaign that helped launch several foundation projects, including adding benches, playgrounds and expanding the trail.
The 10.5-mile trail runs through several parks and neighborhoods, from Terminal and Hampton boulevards in Lochhaven to Park and East Brambleton avenues near Norfolk State University. City parks close at dusk, but the trail is open all day. The foundation had to find a creative way to light the trail in Jeff Robertson Park without adding lights.
“It is a beautiful, magical thing to come across this glowing path in a shaded part of the park,” said Kindra Greene, executive director of the foundation. “We have tons of commuters who use the trail.”
The glow stones are a composite made by the Canadian company Ambient Glow Technology.
The project was supposed to be installed before the pandemic. Once the nonprofit opened the crates in the summer, the stones were still glowing, even after being tucked away for about two years.
The stones have a 20-year life span and are an eco-friendly solution. This is one of four installations across the U.S. and the only one on the East Coast, Greene said.
Greene said the foundation does not have plans to add stones to other sections of the trail.
Everett Eaton, 262-902-7896, everett.eaton@virginiamedia.com
