The Town of South Boston is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of an $876,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Recreational Trails Program, to build Greene's Crossing Boat landing at the Watkins Bridge Crossing on the Dan River at the southern entrance into Downtown South Boston.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal matching reimbursement program for building and rehabilitating trails and trail related facilities. Federal Highway Administration funds make the program possible and mandate allocations. Grant funds are funded by the Federal Highway Administration thru the VDCR.

Preliminary engineering for the Greene's Cross Boat Landing should be complete by July 2020 with a proposed completion date in mid-2021.

The Town is pleased to bring access to the Dan River for motorized boats, kayaks and canoes on the Dan River Water Trail. The Dan River is a designated scenic river and it will be promoted as part of the Southern Virginia Wild Blue.

Part of the project will include recognizing the 1781 Crossing of the Dan by General Nathanael Greene as well as the rich history, fishing and boating opportunities offered on the Dan River.

Town Manager Tom Raab thanked the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for this tremendous assistance in developing more recreational and economic opportunities for Southside Virginia. He also thanked the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region's RiverBank Fund Grant Program for a $50,000 grant to purchase one-half of the land where the landing is located. Special thanks go to the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation who generously donated the other half of the land for this landing.