[NFBV-Winchester] Join us this Sunday, September 26

Tue Sep 21 11:53:35 UTC 2021

Winchester chapter of the national Federation of the blind of Virginia

We are sharing this article regarding the opening of the new trail in the gym Barnett Park. Working together as a community. Lions and the national Federation of the blind

Please read the article below for information and join us this Sunday, September 26, 2021 at 2 PM. Details listed in the article.

For more information contact Winchester Host Lions Club
Sabra Veach, President
540-303-3000.  sveach at su.edu
Caz Zuckerman, Board Member
540-539-4391.  Mamacaz04 at gmail.com
Tom Crosby, Board Member
704-649-9377.  Crosby.tomr at gmail.com
MEDIA RELEASE
September 21, 2021
WINCHESTER HOST LIONS CLUB TO COMMEMORATE SENSORY TRAILIN JIM BARNETT PARK
Virginia’s first sensory trail for the blind and visually impaired within a city will be commemorated in a ceremony behind JonesFuneral Home, 228 S. Pleasant Valley Road,Sunday, September 26 at 2 p.m. to showcase 14 trees planted and described on Brailleplaques.
It is the third Sensory trail in Virginiaand the only one within a city with shopping, restaurants and hotels, with the other two located in the George WashingtonNational Forest and Sky Meadows State Park. There is a sensory garden in the Norfork Botanical Garden.
In the latest (2016) national survey, there were an estimated 178,400 people with visual impairment in Virginia, according to a Census Bureau analysis by Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute.
The Winchester Host Lions club began planning for the trail in 2016 as a Lions Club International Legacy Project honoring the 100th anniversary of Lions, founded in 1917, and challenged eight years later by Helen Keller to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”
With public and private support helping overcome various obstacles, like the pandemic, the 422-feet long Sensory trailwas built over the past six years. Members of the Winchester Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind experience walkingtrail for the first time Sunday.
“The trail will provide an opportunity for sight-challenged individuals to touch the trees, learn about them, enjoy beingoutdoors in Jim Barnett Park and help us in our ongoing mission to honor Helen Keller’s challenge,” said Sabra Veach, president of the Winchester Host Lions Club.
The trail is encircled with a steel guidance cable with a description in Braille and English text on a bronze plaque in front of each tree noting characteristic such as potential height, bark, flowering, smell, etc.Inside the circle are three roofed picnic tables and a herb garden with a bench built by Eagle Scout Philip Reese.
“Thank you so much to the Lions for making this sensory trail possible so that the visually impaired and blind can enjoy the trail along with the entire community,” said Chris Walker, president of the WinchesterChapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
“It is always a pleasure when we can work with an organization to enhance Jim Barnett Park, especially when we can serve a special population and give them access to nature,” said Chris Konyar, director of the Winchester Parks and Recreation Department.
Trees include Elm, Redbud, Swamp White Oak, Gingko, Plum, Red Mulberry, Flowering Dogwood, Serviceberry, White Pine, Magnolia, Red Oak, Virginia Pine andEastern Redcedar.
 “The trail will open up an opportunity for a lot of people to become aware of the trees and our natural resources,” said Jim Smith, project manager of the Audubon Arboretum Project in Jim Barnett Park for the Northern Shenandoah Valley Audubon Society, which donated the trees.
“We want to thank the private companies, citizens and Winchester Parks and Recreation for contributing to this effort and those who sponsored trees honoring former Lions Club members, relatives andcommunity leaders,” said Caz Zuckerman,Lions Club secretary who spearheaded the trail building effort on behalf of the club for six years.
“We hope the trail will be an incentive for the sight-impaired to visit Winchesterand enjoy our city’s many amenities, such as our pedestrian mall with its historical buildings and contemporary restaurants,”added Veach.
Including donated materials, labor and sponsorships, the estimated cost of the trail is $20,000+. Winchester Parks and Recreation Department will maintain it.

Chris Walker, President  Winchester Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Virginia 
chrisvinson1 at gmail.com
540.303.0080 
www.nfb.org 
www.nfbv.org

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