OUT & ABO BEYOND THE GATES
Suffolk Trail offers local views and adventure STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
A new trail in Suffolk promises free exercise and entertainment for Hampton Roads residents in search of fresh air. Opened in 2015, the incomplete Seaboard Coastline Trail begins in Driver at the intersection of Nansemond Parkway, and 26 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JULY 2018
OUT
extends 3.4 miles across Shoulders Hill Road to Bromay Street at the Chesapeake border. The next phase of trail construction will extend the trail 1.3 miles in the opposite direction, from Driver to Nansemond River High School. Another existing section of the trail in historic downtown Suffolk begins at the intersection of Main Street and Prentis Street and wraps around the historic Cedar Hill Cemetery behind Riddick’s Folly House Museum. When completed, these segments will be linked and the trail will span more than 11 miles, connecting Suffolk and Chesapeake.
The paved trail built for pedestrians and cyclists follows what used to be the Seaboard Coastal Railroad, and while it’s located in the heart of suburban Suffolk and surrounded by sprawling neighborhoods, the path feels quiet and remote, with picturesque marshland, forest and farm views. For now, the trail provides a charming option for afternoon walks or quick family bike rides in the warm weather. It’s 10-feetwide and well maintained, but because of its semi-rural location, visitors should be on the lookout for wandering wildlife and remember to keep a respectful distance during any creature encounters.
The parking lot at the Driver access point is small with just a handful of parking spaces, but it features bicycle service tools, trail maps, a pet waste disposal station for those exploring with a four-legged friend, and a restroom for humans. The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is part of a larger, 41-mile trail network called the South Hampton Roads Trail, which will eventually connect the cities of Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The City of Suffolk has a variety of trail resources available on its website, www. suffolkva.us. JULY 2018 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 27