Richmond's Low Line

An empty space in an urban setting like Richmond presents a great opportunity to create something beautiful and sustainable that brings benefits not only to the community but also to the environment.

It was out of this desire that Richmond’s Low Line was born.

The space where the Low Line Gardens is now was once empty, overrun with weeds and not being utilized. A collaboration between the City of Richmond, CSX Corporation, and Capital Trees led to the rehabilitation of the 5.5-acre space.

The name Low Line was inspired by New York City’s High Line Park, a beautifully planted space built on decommissioned railroad trestles. Richmond’s Low Line runs beneath active railroad trestles.

The overall design of the park uses native plants and trees, creating a place where people can enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area while also providing needed nutrients to pollinators.

Chris Frelke, the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities in the City of Richmond recognizes the importance of having a park to get out in as a community.

“Parks are essential. We have to have these spaces to sort of be human.” 

Nathan Burrell who is the Deputy Director of Government & Community Relations in the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation sees parks in the urban landscape as places for educating people on the need for sustainably managed spaces. 

“How do we engage the public in these spaces in understanding the management…to ensure that their public space and their community is also cared for in the same manner?”

Through the past few years of managing the Low Line, Capital Trees has seen the amazing impact these green spaces can have on the community, especially since many communities in the city don’t have access to green spaces or even trees. 

By providing a respite from being stuck inside, the Low Line is an important asset to the City of Richmond and Meg Turner, Chairman of the Board of Capital Trees, hopes that it will inspire other cities to implement similar spaces of their own. 

“We see the Low Line as a laboratory…we’re looking at our successes and our failures and hoping that it’s a model for public landscapes moving forward that want to do sustainable management.”

For more information about the Low Line, visit the Capital Trees website.

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The Director of Photography for this episode is Terra Turner. 

Produced and edited by Laura Christian.