New Market Heights Trail

Project Status: Underway - Design

Estimated Cost: $21 million
Start Date: 2026
Estimated End Date: 2029

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.

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 trail is being designed in phases and they are separated as follows:

• New Market Heights Trail Phase 1 & 2– Four Mile Creek Trailhead to New Market Park
  • Estimated Cost: $13.1 million
  • PM Name: Ryan Levering
  • PM Phone#: 804-501-4244
  • PM E-Mail: [email protected]
• New Market Heights Trail Phase 3 – New Market Park to Kingsland Road
  • Estimated Cost: $4.1 million
  • PM Name: Ryan Levering
  • PM Phone#: 804-501-4244
  • PM E-Mail: [email protected]
• New Market Heights Trail Phase 4 – Kingsland Road to Deep Bottom Park
  • Estimated Cost: $4.2 million
  • PM Name: Ryan Levering
  • PM Phone#: 804-501-4244
  • PM E-Mail: [email protected]
• New Market Heights Trail Phase 5– Deep Bottom Park to the James River *Administered by Henrico County Recreation & Parks
  • Estimated Cost: TBD
  • PM Name: Willie Jones
  • PM Phone#: 804-501-5375
  • PM E-Mail: [email protected]

Progress to Date

• Project stakeholders have worked together to publish a vision plan for the New Market Heights Trail. The trail concept plan incorporates feedback on the project received from landowners and the public and provides a framework for creating a trail experience that appropriately highlights the historical and environmental significance of the project area. A copy of the trail concept plan is available below.
• A public information meeting was held on 7/29/2025.
• The meeting was recorded and may be viewed here: https://youtube.com/live/P2bPmK4kvIo.
• Meeting materials are available below.

 

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 defense 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 fought, 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.

Estimated Schedule:

• Aerial survey is complete.
• Preliminary design is complete.
• Trail concept plan completed.
• Federal Transportation Alternatives Funding awarded for Phase 3.

 

Activity	Phase 1 & 2	Phase 3	Phase 4	Phase 5
Design	Underway	Underway	Underway	Underway
Right-of-way Acquisition	Not Anticipated	Not Anticipated	Not Anticipated	Not Anticipated
Utility relocation	Not Anticipated	Not Anticipated	To Be Determined	Not Anticipated
Advertisement for Construction	2027	2029	To Be Determined	2029
Construction	2027	2029	To Be Determined	2029