New Market Heights Trail
Project Status: Preliminary
Estimated Cost: $16 million
Start Date: 2026/2027
Estimated End Date: 2028
Magisterial District: Varina
The County of Henrico will be constructing:
- An approximately 3.2-mile-long paved, shared-use trail from New Market Road to Deep Bottom Park.
- The trail will highlight areas of natural and historical significance, including the US Civil War Battle of New Market Heights.
- Road crossing improvements at Route 5 from Four Mile Creek Park/Virginia Capital Trail.
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Representatives from the American Battlefield Trust, the Capital Region Land Conservancy, the Battle of New Market Heights Memorial and Education Association, the Richmond Battlefields Association, and the National Park Service, are actively engaged with the County of Henrico in selecting a proposed alignment for the trail that aligns with their goals and minimizes impacts to sensitive historical and environmental areas. The County is also working with landowner partners to establish necessary easements for constructing the trail. |
Progress to Date
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A public information meeting was held on 7/29/2025, at the Varina Area Library (1875 New Market Rd, Richmond, VA 23231) from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
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The meeting was recorded and may be viewed here: https://youtube.com/live/P2bPmK4kvIo.
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The design charrette displays and other meeting materials are available below.
An online public survey to provide feedback on the project is available here: |
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Please review project materials and provide comments no later than 5:00 PM on August 12, 2025. |
The Battle of New Market Heights and Area Significance
In September 1864, the United States Army’s Tenth Corps crossed the James River and moved inland at what is now Deep Bottom Park. Their objective was to break through the outer defence line on along the New Market Road and move on to capture
Richmond. The ensuing battle took place along the Confederate lines that had settled along New Market Road. The Union army
forces included three brigades of U.S. Colored Troops (roughly 3,800 men), fourteen of whom earned fourteen Medals of Honor
for their actions during the battle. The New Market Heights Trail will provide visitors with the chance to immerse themselves in
the space where these troops faught, increasing awareness and visibility of this historic area.
The New Market Heights Trail will also provide visitors access to intact forests and open greenspace. Though some properties
along this route were farmed and quarried, efforts are underway to restore many of these areas. The trail will cross through a
portion of the 350 acre Varina LandLab managed by the CRLC, which offers over 4 miles of hiking trails and wildlife viewing. Deep Bottom and New Market Parks also offer opportunities to appreciate the riparian and wetland habitats of the James River and Four Mile Creek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdJgtsxb2I&ab_channel=HenricoCountyGovernment
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Estimated Schedule: (Month Year) |
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