Crooked Branch Trail will connect Crutchfield to 42nd Street

More than 50 people turned out for an informational meeting Wednesday about the proposed Crooked Branch Trail and Bridge at the Stone House at Forest Hill Park.

The Crooked Branch Trail will connect Crutchfield Street to 42nd Street, with a bridge over Reedy Creek. The trail will connect Forest Hill Park to the James River Branch Trail that will run from Crutchfield south to Richmond Highway.

The bridge over the creek will be 103 feet long and 12 feet wide, and designed to clear a 100 year flood. The design of the bridge was described as akin to the bridge at Pumphouse Park.

The Crooked Branch Trail and the James River Branch Trail are both being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, and as such the funds must be allocated by the end of 2024.

A few folks expressed concerns with how the trail construction and access would impact 42nd Street, as the the dead end there is quite narrow. There were also voices in support of keeping the area as natural as possible. There seemed to be some apprehension about more cyclists and pedestrian traffic through the neighborhood.

Other attendees spoke in favor of making the park more accessible, of having more woods paths, and of having a safe place for children to ride bicycles.

The plan for the Crooked Branch Trail is slated to go before the Urban Design Committee in June. This meeting will be open to public comment.

There is a FAQ about the project at this link under ARPA FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS. The same page has contact information for Parks & Recreation.