A Historic Walking Trail in Danville, Virginia
Danville is a vibrant, diverse, and thriving city located in South Central Virginia along the North Carolina border. Almagro, a historic Black neighborhood in Danville, is known for its rich cultural heritage, dating back to 1883. In the early 20th century, Almagro became the largest incorporated African American community in Virginia and one of few black incorporated towns in the United States. As is the case in many Black communities throughout the country, the neighborhood experienced decades of historic disinvestment. With the support of the Virginia Walkability Action Institute, this neighborhood will now be home to a new project aimed at preserving and promoting the history of the neighborhood through a walking trail.
Team
Kitt Mayo from the Virginia Rural Health Association was the team leader for the Danville team. She was working with many people behind the scenes including the City of Danville’s Planning and Zoning offices, Shiloh Baptist Church, the Danville Historic Society, and Danville’s Board of Tourism.
Goals and Vision
- Encourage physical activity in an area with poor health outcomes
- Strengthen relationships between the Almagro neighborhood and the City of Danville
- Promote local history through highlighting key landmarks and sharing community stories
- Support community connectedness among Almagro residents while attracting tourism and potential business to the area
- Create a deeper connection between residents and the broader community
- Make the history and neighborhood of Almagro more accessible
Background
The Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA) won a 2023 grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address racial health disparities in Danville among African American and Hispanic populations. Almagro was identified as a priority area due to its poor health outcomes and the prevalence of chronic diseases. The project focuses on reducing rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease by encouraging physical activity. Around the time that the VRHA was bringing together city officials, community members, and other key partners around this project, a representative of the Danville branch decided to join the VWAI to improve the walkability of neighborhoods within Danville. The VWAI provided additional funding and capacity building to help implement Danville’s health equity goals through the Almagro historic trail.
The Danville team was awarded $10,000 to create a walking trail in Almagro that serves as a community health initiative and historical preservation effort. The trail will highlight nine important historic sites, including seven buildings and two parks. At each site the trail will include signs with QR codes to allow visitors to hear stories, learn historical facts, and read personal memories shared by Almagro residents. This digital engagement preserves and promotes the neighborhood’s history while encouraging movement and community connection.
Outcomes and Impact
- Long term social and economic benefits, improving community health and pride
- Equipping the Danville team with the tools and perspectives to continue to implement health equity goals
- Meaningful engagement with a historically marginalized community
- Increased awareness of Almagro’s history
- City officials of Danville recognized past harms inflicted on Almagro community
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