11-08-2025
Henrico plans first trail honoring Black Civil War soldiers
Henrico is planning a 3.2-mile trail that will double as a recreational path and a tribute to the Black soldiers who fought in one of the Civil War's most pivotal battles.
Why it matters: It'll be the first in the county to commemorate Black Union troops and their role in American history.
The big picture: The trail, estimated to cost $16 million, will run from the Four Mile Creek Trailhead off the Virginia Capital Trail to Deep Bottom Park.
It'll also follow the United States Colored Troops' march during the Battle of New Market Heights in 1864, which led to 14 Black soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor.
That acknowledgment was rare at a time when Black Americans were still denied full citizenship.
The battle — which the trail is named after — was USCT's "most significant victory in the entire Civil War," Mark Perreault, president of the Richmond Battlefield Association, said in a public information meeting last month.
Zoom in: Features for the New Market Heights trail could include a potential monument to those troops.
And Ryan Levering, the county's capital projects manager, said in last month's meeting that the project addresses some of the top-requested amenities from residents: more trails and access to green space.
What's next: Officials say the design plans won't be finalized until next year, and construction is slated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, pending federal funding.
