City of Richmond Breaks Ground on Bryan Park Segment of the Fall Line Trail
Richmond will see a 13-mile trail segment by the project’s completion
RICHMOND, VA –The City of Richmond held a ceremonial groundbreaking today in Bryan Park to celebrate the start of construction along a 13-mile portion of the 43-mile Fall Line trail. The Fall Line is designed to enhance development and improve access across Richmond. The trail will traverse seven localities, connecting communities and providing a new, scenic pathway for residents and visitors alike. Bryan Park will serve as a trailhead and an entry point to Richmond, reinforcing the City’s commitment to green spaces and providing accessible recreational opportunities.
“I’m excited to be breaking ground on this game-changing asset for the Richmond region,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “With this intentional investment, the region is solidifying itself as the premier destination for outdoor recreational activity in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Fall Line trail provides the City with another tool in the toolbox to build upon our national profile as the best place to live, do business and raise a family.”
Photo Credit: Andy Clark
As a designated trailhead, Bryan Park will offer a range of amenities to support and enrich the experience of trail users and thousands of park visitors. These facilities include parking, restrooms, picnic areas, water fountains, recreational spaces, and picnic shelters. These enhancements ensure that visitors can rest, refuel, and fully enjoy their time in the park and along the trail. The section in Bryan Park will connect Lakeside Avenue to Bellevue, as well as to the recently completed Spring Park section in Henrico County, providing a glimmer of the contiguous nature of the trail.
“The City of Richmond is taking a significant step toward realizing our region’s vision of a more connected and accessible Richmond,” said Jon Lugbill, Executive Director of Sports Backers. “This is the beginning of Richmond’s 13-mile segment of trail that is more than just a paved trail for people to walk and bike—it is a catalyst for development and a gateway to our city. We’re proud to be part of this milestone that enhances Bryan Park for all users and enriches our community.”
With today’s groundbreaking, Fall Line construction is officially underway in over half of the planned localities. Twelve months from now, all seven localities will have sections of the trail under development.
“As the primary funder for the Fall Line and many other regionally significant transportation projects, the Central Virginia Transportation Authority is thrilled to see the City of Richmond moving forward with implementing their segments of this once-in-a-lifetime regional transportation corridor,” said Chet Parsons, Executive Director at Central Virginia Transportation Authority. “There are so many exciting parts of the Fall Line that will be developed through the City and this celebration is a great way to kick-start that process. We look forward to the Fall Line providing health, economic, and transportation benefits to the region for years to come.”
Sports Backers, the creator of the original trail concept, has continued to be the leading advocacy organization behind the Fall Line. The organization is particularly excited about the Fall Line project in this area since they announced their plans to move their headquarters along the completed Spring Park section of the trail across Lakeside Avenue from Bryan Park. The building will be an ‘Active Living Hub’ and after renovations will include a 750 square foot multi-purpose fitness and training room, a community meeting room, programmable outdoor space, office space for staff, and direct access to the Fall Line trail. Sports Backers is currently in the midst of a $1.3 million fundraising campaign to bring the facility online and further their mission of making active living accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
The entire Fall Line trail is expected to be completed by 2034. For more information visit falllinetrail.org, view the Fasll Line Vision Plan or reach out to Brantley Tyndall, Director of Bike Walk RVA at [email protected].