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Brown’s Island set for $30 million facelift this fall
September 15, 2025
Brown’s Island, a beloved landmark in downtown Richmond, is set to undergo a transformative $30 million improvement project this fall.
Beginning in mid-November, the island will temporarily close to allow for major infrastructure upgrades and ecological restoration efforts.
The project, also known as the Brown’s Island Improvement Plan, is a public-private partnership with the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond. The City committed $15 million of investment to the improvement plan, as well as Venture Richmond raising $15 million from private donors and philanthropic organizations. The project expects to increase tourism with over a million visitors annually, provide upgraded infrastructure for events and recreation and supporting the local ecosystem.
Brown’s Island, an artificial island located in downtown Richmond and in between the Haxall Canal and the James River, is a popular venue and recreational destination for outdoor activities such as concerts, kayaking, jogging and biking. The island is also a part of the Riverfront Canal Walk, a 1.25-mile-long trail along the James River.
The island also hosts the popular Friday Cheers concert series, which includes up-and-coming artists every Friday during May and June. Other famous acts include singer Chappell Roan, who performed on Brown’s Island in May 2024 and drew over 6,530 attendees, as well as indie-pop star Remi Wolf, who performed this past May.
Brown’s Island is also host to many festivities such as Dominion Energy Riverrock, a two-day sporting event filled with trail running, mountain biking and kayaking; Eerie Canal Halloween Cruises, which takes guests on a boat ride around the Riverfront Canal during Halloween season; and the annual Richmond Folk Festival, one of Virginia’s largest events celebrating the richness of American culture.
In addition to prioritizing infrastructure upgrades on the island, restoring and rewilding its natural ecology is also a central focus.
The project aims to remove invasive species and add over 200 native species of trees and 60,000 plants, native groundcovers and pollinator-supportive plantings to reduce pollution into the James River.
The island is also anticipated to have more amenities such as public art pieces, terraces overlooking the James River and Haxall Canal, playgrounds for kids, a splash pad, multiple permanent bathroom buildings and water fountains, ADA-accessible entrances and bathrooms, canal accessibility for water sports such as paddleboarding and kayaking and seating, including hammocks.
The improvement project is expected to be completed next year and will open once more in mid-October 2026.
- Topics:
- Quality of Life
