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Richmond’s new Low Line to transform section of the James River

Posted at 2:00 PM, Jul 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-22 15:50:23-04

RICHMOND, Va. — The Statue of Liberty replica in Richmond’s Chimborazo Park will soon get another New York neighbor. Capital Trees, along with the City of Richmond and CSX, are working to complete a Low Line trail along Dock Street near the James River and Kanawha Canal. The Low Line “takes creative inspiration from the High Line, an elevated unused CSX railway viaduct running through Manhattan that was transformed into a beautiful urban garden,” the City of Richmond announced.

The 5.5 acre Low Line will beautify the area between the Capital Trail and CSX’s rail trestle. In addition to weed removal, crews are now planting native trees, shrubs and perennials. The Low Line will also host educational signage and include space for public art.

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“Rarely does an opportunity to do something so transformative present itself,” Jeanette McKittrick, chairman of Capital Trees’ board of trustees, said. “The Low Line is the uncommon event where the necessary elements of timing, circumstance, will, and ability come together to recast a place of great historic, environmental, cultural and economic interest. It is Capital Trees’ vision to help Richmond live up to its stunningly beautiful natural gifts, to work harder to protect the James River, and to work harder, think harder, about landscapes and streetscapes. We’re very grateful that CSX and the City of Richmond have the vision to see the importance of this project and have joined in as true collaborators.”

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A section of the Low Line should be open for visitors before the UCI World Championships in September. The entire project will take about five years to complete, McKittrick said.

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