Proclamation honors service and legacy of the late Ken Beyer; Greenway Foundation receives $25,000 donation from Graves for Phase V
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Dec. 8 — At the onset of Monday night’s Luray Council meeting, members recognized the “Father of the Greenway,” Ken Beyer.
“In 1999, the Virginia Department of Forestry hosted a conference on trails and greenways. Ken, who was a member of the Page County Tree Board, attended the conference. He immediately recognized how beneficial a trail along the Hawksbill Creek could be to local residents and visitors. As we know, many memorable stories begin with ‘Once Upon a Time,’ and so it is….,” reads a proclamation the council unanimously approved on Monday night following its reading by Mayor Stephanie Lillard.
“Once upon a time, 26 years ago in 1999, an impossible dream coupled with irrational optimism, created the Luray Hawksbill Greenway. Ken Beyer’s vision and dedication to the work was to create a place for health and wellness, environmental preservation and education, and community events. A peaceful, beautiful, linear slice of hometown hospitality that would be extended to all community citizens and every visitor to Luray,” the proclamation continues.
“Immediately, Ken began to build coalitions among community groups, and to form solid relationships with the Luray town government and state agencies. He worked tirelessly to gain support and funding for the project, and in 2001 his dedication paid off. Phase One, the first half-mile section from the Park-n-Ride to the West Main Street bridge, broke ground on April 7, 2001. Ken’s leadership and enthusiasm spearheaded the completion of the next three phases. Phase Four from the Cliffside Pocket Park to Linden Avenue was completed in 2010.”
Ken was born in Chicago and spent the first part of his career in the U.S. Air Force. He also had a long career as a computer analyst learning his skills while serving during the Korean Conflict, and at various universities. He worked at Parker Hannifin in Des Plaines, lL, Lutheran Church in America in Philadelphia, and Germantown Lutheran Home in Philadelphia, from which he retired.
On April 1, 1952, he married Jean W. Boergerhoff Beyer, who he had met on his 20th birthday. The couple, who were avid hikers, would eventually move from Ambler, Pa. to Luray in retirement after falling in love with the area. Ken’s involvement with local parks, and especially his drive to help establish the Hawksbill Greenway, seemed to come natural. Perhaps it was the same perseverance and dedication he used to become an Eagle Scout.
“The original Red Tail Hawk ink drawing by Ken Beyer became the copyrighted Luray Hawksbill Greenway Logo on August 22, 2001,” the Council proclamation states. “On June 3, 2009, Ken founded the Hawksbill Greenway Foundation and served as its President for 12 years. Without Ken’s dedication and hard work, Luray’s award-winning Greenway as we know it today, would not exist. Many communities have visited Luray to marvel at what was accomplished. Such trails then became watershed projects for so many towns.”
Ken passed away on Sept. 21, 2025. A Celebration of Life was held on Oct. 11 at St. Luke Lutheran Church, where he and Jean were members. Family and friends met the following day to walk the greenway in Ken’s honor. However, a few years before his passing in 2021 he helped launch plans for the proposed Phase V trail extension — from the Phase III Northern Loop to the Redwell/Isabella Furnace-Yager Spring site.
This past spring, the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway Foundation recognized Ken Beyer (along with Eleanor Ames) as Board Members emeritus.
“To me, working with the Town of Luray, it’s been a success story…and we want to continue it,” John Graves told Council members.
“It’s a great honor for John and I to do this,” said Rod Graves. “We believe in the greenway, and we believe in this project…and the $25,000…we ant to do that in honor of Ken Beyer.”
The Greenway Foundation is working to raise a $100,000 match to the Town of Luray’s $100,000 contribution to get through the planning stage, before preparing to take bids on actual construction. Architects at Racey Engineering have agreed to do work in phases as funding is available.
The costly parts of the greenway expansion include a foot bridge crossing the Hawksbill Creek, rebuilding a small dam at Yager Springs, and repairs to buildings and interpretive markers at Redwell Furnace.
“WHEREAS, Ken Beyer was the essential element triggering the creation of this wonderful community amenity – the Luray Hawksbill Greenway Trail, and…WHEREAS, the citizens and visitors of Luray shall forever benefit from his vision and dedication in the use and enjoyment of this peaceful walkway through Luray,” the Council proclamation reads. “NOW, THEREFORE, the Town Council of Luray, do gladly and reverently make this public proclamation that the life and works of Kenneth D. Beyer shall forever be remembered among those who are able to enjoy and treasure his efforts, and especially among those that were fortunate enough to know and work with him, and to share in his vision.
“We invite all residents to join us in acknowledging his accomplishments, and to utilize this priceless community asset for his true intention – a serene and scenic pathway to reflect and enjoy nature amidst the community in which we live and work,” the proclamation concludes.
While Ken Beyer could not be more deserving of the Council’s recognition and proclamation, it brings to mind something that “Mr. Green” said often: “I never wanted accolades. I only wanted a Greenway.”
For more information on the Town of Luray,
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