'Missing link' filled: Land purchase ensures intersection between Appomattox, Fall Line trails

CHESTERFIELD — An area land-conservation group has purchased 42 acres of property along the Appomattox River, and part of that land will be used to extend the development of the long-planned Appomattox River Trail linking Hopewell with Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties.

Capital Region Land Conservancy [CRLC] announced last week it bought the privately owned property for $2.4 million. The property is located near the falls of the river, and CRLC has joined forces with the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River [FOLAR] and Chesterfield County government to extend the trail an extra half-mile, from the Virginia State University campus in the east to VSU's Randolph Farm in the west.

FOLAR said in a statement that the agreement "fills an important missing link" in the 25 miles of trails along the Appomattox because it will create an intersection with the 42-mile planned Fall Line Trail that will run north-south between Petersburg and Ashland in Hanover County.

“We appreciate the work of the CRLC and are thrilled to be part of this incredible project which also reflects FOLAR’s continuing efforts to work with our communities and partners to protect the Appomattox River for all to enjoy in recreation and conservation,” FOLAR executive director Wendy Austin said in the statement.

CRLC executive director Parker Agelasto referred to the purchase as "the final piece in the puzzle" of a seven-year plan to improve southern Chesterfield's riverfront. CRLC agreed last year to buy the property from Josh and Ingrid Greenwood, and financed the deal through $1.725 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from Chesterfield County, a $375,00 grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and $150,000 grant from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

CRLC said it still needs to raise $300,000 to cover the rest of the purchase price.

FOLAR said the purchase will "greatly enhance public park access, connect locals to a vibrant trail system, and safeguard a wildlife corridor."

The site anchors the eastern end of the Appomattox River Park System, a six-mile long riverfront park that eventually will be managed by Chesterfield's parks and recreation department. The network will stretch westward to the 110-acre Radcliffe Conservation area at the Lake Chesdin dam.

It includes roughly 16 islands and the ruins of several 18th-century canals, dams and mills.