Elizabeth River Trail

The Elizabeth River Trail’s history starts with a shared vision that brought together the West Ghent Civic League, Norfolk Historical Society, Norfolk Southern Corporation, and the City of Norfolk. The West Ghent Civic League was interested in establishing Plum Point Park on a former dump site and devising a walking route linking it to the West Ghent neighborhood. The Norfolk Historical Society wanted to improve the accessibility and visibility of historic Fort Norfolk. Overlooking the Elizabeth River, Fort Norfolk dates back to 1807 and served a key role in the War of 1812 when it assisted in successfully defending the city from the British.