Old Mills Trail Lego Farm Extension

 

​Project scope: Extend existing trail approx 1 mile beyond current ending at Pantops to the downstream end of Lego Farm. Construct approximately 5,000 linear feet of 6'-8' wide crushed stone greenway trail, 1 bike/pedestrian bridge (approx 30' length), 1 railroad underpass shelter (approx 70' long), and signage.

 

Benefits: 

This project will extend the existing Old Mills Trail, giving  users the ability to enjoy expanded greenway trail downstream from Pantops, continuing along the Scenic Rivanna River and across Monticello’s historic Lego Farm.

 

This trail extension across Lego Farm – which is part of UNESCO’s “Monticello and UVA World Heritage Site” – is one segment of the planned 4-mile greenway trail extension that will eventually provide a bike/pedestrian connection between Darden Towe Park and Milton Landing.

 

The Old Mills Trail is one element of the larger planned Rivanna River Greenway and Blueway, which is envisioned as a 17-mile corridor of interconnected parks, greenway trails, and water trails with enhanced river access facilities between Brook Hill River Park at the upstream end and (future) Buck Island Creek Park at the downstream end.

 

Important to Note: This is an unfunded priority project within an existing greenway easement. The easement, acquired from Monticello in 2007, has a sunset clause that defines a deadline for beginning construction by August 2027 and completing construction by August 2029. If the deadlines are not met, the easement could be vacated and released. Those timeslines require the Design Phase to begin in FY26 and the Construction Phase to begin in FY27.

 

Costs: This 1-mile project section is estimated at approx $608,000.