The Town of Dayton, with a population of just over 1,500 in 2013, is one of the oldest settled communities in Rockingham County and the county's second oldest incorporated town. Formed in 1778 from Augusta County, Rockingham County is bounded on the west by the Allegheny Mountains and on the east by the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Between the natural boundaries, approximately a third of Rockingham County is protected by the Federal Government as National Forest and National Park land. The county is situated at the headwaters of the Shenandoah River and is bisected by Interstate 81.

Dayton possesses a certain small-town charm. A large portion of the land surrounding the town limits is agricultural and maintained by a combination of Mennonite groups, known as the Plain People, as well as conventional farmers. The largest employer in the county is James Madison University, located a short distance down VA State Route 42 in Harrisonburg, the county seat of Rockingham County. The fourth largest employer in the county, Cargill Meat Solutions, a poultry processing facility, is located within Dayton's town limits.

Included within the town limits are resources of significant cultural, social, and historic value. The town boasts 154 buildings and 1 significant site that contribute to the Dayton Historic District. Three community parks (College Street Pavilion, Sunset Park, and Cooks Creek Park) provide active and passive outdoor recreation opportunities.

Silver Lake, located in the county just outside of the town boundary, is a 10-acre body of water hosting a variety of plant and wildlife rests along the North River Loop of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and Virginia Civil War Trails. The Silver Lake Mill, renovated in 2000-2001 and also in the county, functioned historically as a community facility. This mill is connected by a millrace, a stream of water used to power the mill's wheel, to Cooks Creek Park.

The Town of Dayton would like to develop a conceptual master plan for a multi-use greenway that traverses through a variety of areas in Dayton and connects various community assets throughout town, the downtown district, and Silver Lake.

It is envisioned that different segments of the greenway would each possess a distinct character. The character identified in each of the greenway's segments would take into consideration the history, context, and peculiarities within Dayton and would be reflected in the design for each segment. The following were identified as nodes and districts making up the future proposed greenway: Silver Lake, Silver Lake Mill, The Heritage Museum, Fort Harrison, the Shops at Dayton Market, Dayton Historic District, residential back alleys, downtown alleys, community parks, and residential areas.

Where feasible, the town would like the greenway to have the following: small pockets of playground equipment along the trail; landscaping where appropriate; benches; labelled trees where appropriate for educational purposes; outdoor sculptures and murals; character fencing in some areas, and way-finding signage.

One specific segment for the greenway was identified at the start of the project, which is along the Silver Lake Mill Raceway. This particular segment rests upon a piece of property owned by an Old Order Mennonite farmer who will be providing an easement to the town for the greenway use. The town contracted a local engineering firm to consider locations for this trail segment and two bridge crossings; one to a parking lot near Silver Lake Mill and the other to Cooks Creek.