What began as a simple conversation among neighbors has grown into one of Gordonsville’s most ambitious and community-driven projects; reshaping how residents gather, play, and connect with the outdoors.

Town to Trail, a local nonprofit founded on the belief that access to green space and recreation strengthens both communities and local economies, traces its roots back to 2017. That year, a graduate planning project from the University of Virginia School of Architecture sparked renewed discussion about Gordonsville’s future and highlighted a central need: outdoor recreation space that was accessible to everyone.

Town to Trail is led by a volunteer board rooted in both community vision and civic experience. Sunnie Cappelle, president of the organization, has helped guide Town to Trail from its earliest grassroots conversations into a fully established nonprofit with a long-term focus on parks, trails, and outdoor access. Liz Samara, the organization’s secretary, brings deep institutional knowledge to the work, having served on Gordonsville Town Council during key phases of the park and pool development. Together, their leadership reflects the close collaboration between residents, town government, and community partners that has driven Town to Trail’s progress.

“In 2017, a group of friends and neighbors came together because we kept hearing the same thing, despite being a rural community, opportunities for outdoor recreation were limited,” Samra said.

Early conversations focused on the town’s aging park facilities and the long-standing desire to replace the public pool, originally built in the 1950s. But the first tangible milestone came with a modest yet symbolic project: acquiring a small parcel of land adjacent to the existing park.

“Our first real ‘we can do this’ moment was raising $35,000 to acquire a small parcel at the edge of the park,” said Samra. “The town matched it, the house was removed, and suddenly the park opened up visually and physically. That’s when people really started to believe.”

That early success demonstrated what would become a defining characteristic of Town to Trail: deep, grassroots community support.

“We’ve had people give $10, and that $10 is a precious $10,” said Samra. “We sincerely appreciate it just as much as the larger gifts.”

Initially operating as a working group under a regional conservation organization, Town to Trail formalized its mission over time, becoming an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2023. Even before official nonprofit status, the group helped facilitate land acquisitions totaling between $600,000 and $700,000 in value, all of which were ultimately gifted to the Town of Gordonsville to expand the park footprint.
Throughout that growth, collaboration with town leadership remained central.

“The synergy between the town government, town citizens, and our nonprofit is really the strength behind what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Sunnie Capelle, President of Town to Trail.

That partnership reached a major milestone in July 2025 with the opening of Gordonsville’s newly completed public pool; the only public pool in a three-county area. The $3.9 million project marked the first phase of the broader park redevelopment.

“This community has always believed that public swimming matters,” said Capelle. “Learning to swim is a life skill, and it shouldn’t be something people miss out on because of economics.”

For many residents, the pool’s reopening represented more than a recreational upgrade.

“The pool opening in July was huge,” said Samra. “That was very exciting. Everyone had been waiting a really long time for the pool to open.

With the pool complete, attention is now turning to Phase Two of the park project, with construction expected to begin in early 2026. Plans include a new event pavilion, a large event lawn, walking paths, a new playground, and space reserved for future amenities such as sports courts and small shelters.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that people want a safe place to walk, exercise, and gather,” said Capelle. “This phase really starts to deliver that.”

Rising construction costs during and after the COVID-19 pandemic required the original all-at-once design to be phased.

A key factor in sustaining momentum has been strategic fundraising through matching grants, including support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

“Under the right circumstances, a $10 donation can have a $40 impact,” said Samra.

As of 2025, Town to Trail has approximately $68,000 left to raise for its current focused campaign supporting the event pavilion, event lawn, and walking paths, while an estimated $1.7 million remains to fully fund the current phase of the park project.

Beyond the park itself, Town to Trail’s long-term legacy goal is to establish a trailhead within town limits, directly connecting Gordonsville to surrounding natural areas.

“Our legacy project is creating a trailhead right in town,” said Capelle. “A place where people can grab a coffee or a sandwich and step straight into nature.”

Organizers point to proven examples in nearby communities where trails have boosted both quality of life and local economies.

“Trails bring people. People bring economic impact,” she said.

Environmental stewardship is another core focus of Town to Trail’s work. In 2025 alone, the organization distributed approximately 450 native Virginia trees through community giveaways.

“It’s about investing in the long-term health of the town,” said Capelle.

Leaders emphasize that Town to Trail’s work is far from finished, with additional projects already in development.

“We’re not done,” said Capelle. “There are more ideas coming, we’re just not ready to unveil them yet.”
From a single conversation to a town-shaping initiative, Town to Trail continues to demonstrate what’s possible when a community commits to building something lasting, together.

Jen Bailey

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