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Congresswoman Jen Kiggans recently announced  Suffolk has received a $5.3 million grant from the Department of Transportation for the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail.

The grant will help provide enhancements and continued construction of the facility, which serves as part of a larger trail system that includes the beaches to Bluegrass Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail, South Hampton Roads Trail, and Birthplace of America Trail. Funding will be put towards constructing the approximate 2.2-mile segment 3C of the facility, as well as engineering design and right-of-way. Likewise, the trail will go from the northern terminus of Segment 3B to Nansemond River High School to complete the gap between Segments 3A and 3B. This will consist of an asphalt path with gravel shoulders as well as approximately 1,800 feet of alignment consisting of a raised boardwalk to over wooded wetlands.

In a statement, Congresswoman Kiggans says she is proud to have helped secure grant funding for the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail.

“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.”

Suffolk Director of Parks and Recreation Mark Furlo says they are beyond excited for the grant.

“This grant is the last piece of the puzzle to fund the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail as was envisioned in the 2006 master plan,” Furlo said. “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).”