Kiggans Announces $5 Million Grant for Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA: This week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) announced that the City of Suffolk has been awarded a $5,319,360 grant from the Department of Transportation (DoT). The grant will go towards enhancements and continued construction of the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail. Congresswoman Kiggans sent a letter of support for this project to the DoT on February 22, 2024.

The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail serves as part of a larger trail system to include the Beaches to Bluegrass Trail, South Hampton Roads Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail, and the Birthplace of America Trail. 

“I am proud to have helped secure this grant funding for the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “As a primary care provider, I know the outdoors can offer people a wealth of health benefits, especially when it comes to mental health. It’s only right for our hard-earned taxpayer dollars to get returned to our community, and I look forward to seeing this funding expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities for Suffolk residents.”

“We are beyond excited,” said Mark Furlo, Director of Suffolk Parks and Recreation. “This grant is the last piece of the puzzle to the fund the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail as is was envisioned in the 2006 master plan. This 15 mile multi-use trail will also become part of other regional and national trails like the South Hampton Roads Trial and the East Coast Greenway. We are not done though our staff is already at work planning for future trail connections like the Beaches to Bluegrass Trail and the 757 Trail (previously the Birthplace of America Trail).”

Specifically, this funding will be put towards the engineering design, right-of-way, and construction for the approximate 2.2-mile Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail Segment 3C (pictured below). This trail will go from the northern terminus of Segment 3B to Nansemond River High School, completing the gap between Segments 3A and 3B, consisting of an asphalt path with gravel shoulders and approximately 1,800-feet of the alignment will consist of a raised boardwalk to over wooded wetlands. 

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