Tennis Anyone? St. Paul Summit

When you look up rivers in Southwest Virginia and see who has developed a market for recreation, most signs point to the New River, where various outfitters show you where to launch a canoe at Independence or take a wild-water rafting trip across McCoy Falls, just outside of Blacksburg.

Now, though, folks a little further southwest are hoping the same kinds of dreams might be found in the mountains and water surrounding St. Paul — a place Buzz Witt calls “the largest town and most progressive town on the river.”

Witt is the city of Norton’s representative for Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA), and he’s been following St. Paul’s progress for years, in promoting events like the catch-all Clinch River Days.

Part down-home fest and part environmental celebration, the Clinch River Days event in early June features everything from canoe rides and wine tastings to wild-and-woolly wrestling matches and jam bands blasting “Free Bird” long after dark. It also features art and photography exhibits showcasing the scenic Clinch River.

Here, in talking to town activists like Bob and Suzy Harrison, you’ll find all kinds of ideas to turn St. Paul into a recreational hotspot.

And that’s why Witt’s group, the SRRA, is supporting proposals for a Clinch River State Park: “The project is designed to promote, protect and create economic opportunities along the Clinch,” Said Witt, a member of the entrepreneur/marketing and state park committees of the SRRA.

“Our mission,” Witt said, “is to promote economic/job opportunities via adventure tourism – hiking, biking, equestrian, ATV, historical and blue ways.”

To gauge interest in a proposed state park, and other plans, a summit is being held on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 1-4 p.m., at the Oxbox Center in St. Paul.

“We hope, from the meeting, governmental entities and other concerned citizens will be brought up to date and asked for their thoughts, refinements and financial support,” Witt said. “This is an ideal area of support for SRRA's mission for blue ways.”

That’s what you call a canoe trail — “a blue way.”

One now exists — connecting various boat landings, along the Clinch — from Honaker, Va., southwest to Tennessee.

Still, Witt said, “Our thoughts are to pick certain areas for park development and leave the rest for private business. It is illegal for a canoe/kayak rental company to meet at a state launch site and collect payment. There are many other restrictions which preclude any profitability for a private citizen.”

Yet Witt dreams of entrepreneurs promoting the Clinch — a river known for its dam-free waters and wide variety of fish species, from its headwaters in Tazewell County, flowing southwest through Russell, Wise and Scott counties.

All are invited to attend the Clinch Rifer Regional Summit, featuring presentations on examples of best practices, business opportunities and outdoor recreational potentials of the Clinch River Region, said Kitty Barker, a state tourism representative.

The summit is being coordinator by the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia with numerous local, regional and state partners. For more, visit http://clincriverva.wordpress.com

 » Want to go? RSVP by Feb. 27 at www.surveymonkey.com/s/clinchriversummit or email kbarker@virginia.org.