Pipeline

Downtown there is a stretch of railroad that runs parallel to the north bank of the river. It is elevated for a long stretch and there is a pipeline which runs below it. A metal catwalk is attached on top of the pipeline and is accessible via a ladder located in a slightly obscure location. Until recently accessing this pipeline (and the sandy beaches you can reach from the catwalk) was technically trespassing (but tolerated by the railroad). Over the summer the railroad finally ceded the property to the James River Park System. Now there are official signs and even a new staircase to make the ladder more accessible.

Hopefully this increased accessibility and visibility will chase off some of the less desirable visitors (read: homeless camps).

These beaches provide some of the best places in the city to view the resident blue heron populations.