Members of the Kenbridge Town Council, after a public hearing during the Nov. 21 council meeting, voted to approve applying for Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) funding to build a walking trail through the Town of Kenbridge.

No one from the public spoke during the hearing.

During the council’s October meeting, members discussed the potential of developing a trail that would travel through Barnes Street and Broad Street in town, eventually connecting with the existing walking trail in the Town of Victoria at the Victoria airport.

Town Manager Robyn Fowler said during the October meeting that the town could apply for grant funding both with the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and Virginia Department of Transportation. “The Town of Victoria and the Town of Kenbridge have been talking back and forth about possibly having the trail built to connect the two towns together,” Fowler said.

Fowler said the Town of Victoria has approximately 3.5 miles of existing trail ground, and that the Town of Kenbridge would start developing the trail at Barnes Street to meet the Town of Victoria’s trail at the Victoria airport.

“It would be 7 miles of trail,” Fowler said.

Fowler said after consulting with the Tobacco Commission that a representative encouraged Kenbridge to use the commission as a way to match grant funding with VDOT.

“I think it would be a good opportunity for the two towns to work together via economic development,” Fowler said about the opportunity to develop the trail, noting the trail could bring visitors to the area. “People will come for long park trails.”

Victoria Town Manager Rodney Newton said while the Town of Kenbridge is applying for the grant, the Town of Victoria has written a letter of support for the trail.

Newton said Monday the trail would offer a safer alternative to walking or biking along the highway.

“A longer trail would bring tourists and visitors,” Newton said.