Ashland-to-Petersburg trail through Henrico to be known as ‘Fall Line trail’

Virginia Gov. Ralph S. Northam Oct. 21 officially broke ground on the new Fall Line trail in a ceremony featuring elected officials and trail advocates in Carter Park in Ashland, the northern terminus of the trail. Once completed, the paved, multi-use trail will span approximately 43 miles between Ashland and Petersburg, including through a portion of northern Henrico in the Lakeside area.

In total, the Fall Line trail will course through seven localities, cross the Chickahominy, James and Appomattox Rivers, and connect with parks, businesses, and schools along the way. Running north to south, the Fall Line will be the spine of a regional trail network connecting with the Virginia Capital Trail in Richmond and the Appomattox River Trail in Petersburg.

“The Fall Line name reflects the corridor's unique geography, and it's the perfect name for the new biking and walking highway to connect people in Central Virginia," said Northam. "I want to thank all of the local officials, regional planning staff, VDOT, and Sports Backers for bringing together cities and counties to advance healthy living in Virginia's outdoors."

Bike Walk RVA, a program of Sports Backers, has worked for the last two years with the region’s officials, staff, advocates, and volunteers to move the trail concept into a reality. The organization intends to continue organizing community volunteers and working with the staff on the planning and building of the a connected network for biking and walking in the greater Richmond region, officials said.

“Multi-use bicycling and walking trails not only provide safe, separated spaces for people to get around or enjoy being active outside, but they can also offer profound economic boosts to an area,” said Louise Lockett Gordon, director of Bike Walk RVA. “The Fall Line trail presents an opportunity for recreation and active living, as well as the ability to connect people to jobs, educational opportunities, transit, dining, and shopping throughout the corridor.”

In conjunction with the groundbreaking, Bike Walk RVA announced the ‘Fall Line Trailblazer’ virtual event and fundraising initiative to support the continued progress of trail construction.

Fall Line Trailblazer participants will walk, run, bike, stroll, or roll anywhere along the corridor of the trail from Oct. 21-31. Participants and donors will receive information on sections of the trail alignment that are currently complete and accessible for activity, and they also will have access to the first Fall Line trail t-shirt design.

Several sections of the Fall Line trail already exist or are planned in localities’ comprehensive and special area plans, including the existing Ashland Trolley Line Trail, Chester Linear Park, and Brook Road Protected Bike Lanes in Richmond, as well as the planned Trolley Line Connector in Henrico, and the Northern Jefferson Davis Special Area Plan in Chesterfield. The Fall Line trail aims to connect these sections and establish another long-distance trail that provides opportunities for active transportation, recreation, and economic development.

For details about the Fall Line trail and Trailblazer virtual event, visit https://www.sportsbackers.org/events/fall-line-trailblazer/ .