Department of Conservation and Recreation

Media inquiries: Please contact Gary Waugh, gary.waugh@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5045.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 03, 2006
Contact: Gary Waugh, DCR Public Relations Manager, (804) 786-5045, gary.waugh@dcr.virginia.gov

Draft outdoor recreation, conservation and open space plan to be presented at local meetings
Presentation to include local recommendations

(RICHMOND, Va.) – A new draft of the state’s outdoor recreation, conservation and open space plan, including local recommendations, will be the focus of public meetings in Richmond, Petersburg and Saluda.

Planners from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will present the draft Virginia Outdoors Plan at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. meetings Monday, Nov. 13, at the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission Office in Saluda; Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Crater Planning District Commission in Petersburg and Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission office in Richmond. These are among more than 40 meetings to be held statewide Oct. through Dec.

The Virginia Outdoors Plan is the state’s official conservation, outdoor recreation and open space guide. All levels of government and the private sector use it in determining and meeting land conservation, outdoor recreation and open space needs. Recommendations in the plan are also used as one of the tools in ranking projects for Virginia Land Conservation Foundation funds.

“The VOP has long been an important tool in meeting Virginians’ outdoor recreational needs,” said DCR Director Joseph H. Maroon. “With Gov. Kaine’s commitment to land conservation, this plan takes on added significance.”

The plan is revised every five years. As part of its revision, DCR staff have updated the outdoor recreation resource inventory, conducted a statewide Virginia Outdoor Survey with assistance from Virginia Commonwealth University and last fall held a series of 40 public input meetings statewide. Among the topics brought up in those meetings were trails and greenway linkages, water trails and scenic waterways, urban greenspace, eco-tourism and nature deficit disorder. Local outdoor recreation and conservation recommendations also surfaced. Recommendations found in the draft plan include:

For the counties of Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex:

State agencies and the PDC should work with the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority to address additional public water access points and significant parklands.

Complete acquisition and develop a master plan for the Middle Peninsula state park.

Support water access and trail projects including the John Smith Trail on the York River, Algonquin Trace Water Trail on the York River, the Tappahannock Waterfront Park, Gloucester water trails, King and Queen County Heritage Gateways and trails, Friends of the Dragon trails, Browne Tract and the Browne State Forest.

- Support inclusion of bicycle routes into local comprehensive plans.

- Incorporate the National Park Service’s proposed Captain John Smith National Historic Trail in local comprehensive plans as a way to further heritage and ecotourism in the region.

- Continue to pursue conservation of lands along Dragon Run.

- Build partnerships between non-governmental organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Middle Peninsula Land Trust to identify, promote and implement regionally based conservation initiatives.

For the cities of Petersburg, Hopewell and Emporia; Dinwiddie, Greenville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex counties:

- Implement recommendations for the Lower Appomattox River Trail and Greenway and research cooperative regional management and operations alternatives for this resource that traverses over 400 acres in five jurisdictions

- Support a regional bike/trail plan to include alternative transportation initiatives linking heritage tourism. Work to have a bike/trail plan adopted as part of each localities comprehensive plan.

- Establish local and regional programs that connect conservation lands for wildlife and water quality. Connect Lee Park in Petersburg to the regional greenway along the Appomattox River

- Establish a state forest in Sussex County and a natural area preserve in Prince George County to restore pine flatwoods and coastal plain depression pond communities

- Increase water access for the public on the James, Appomattox, Blackwater, Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers.

- Evaluate options for the East Coast Greenway location including shared corridors with the rapid rail planned through Dinwiddie County and Petersburg.

For the city of Richmond; Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan counties:

- Develop a corridor plan for the James River that protects vegetative buffers and scenic viewsheds along America's Founding river.

- Develop a proposed north-south route for the East Coast Greenway through Richmond to Petersburg that will link to the Virginia Capital Trail, James River Park, the Appomattox River Trail and other trails within the region.

- Complete development of a slave trail linking Ancarrow's Landing on the south side of the James River to the archeological site of Lumpkin's Jail on the north side of the river, part of the African-American Heritage Trail.

- Incorporate the National Park Service’s proposed Captain John Smith National Historic Trail in local comprehensive plans as a way to further heritage and ecotourism in the region.

The Middle Peninsula PDC office is located at 125 Bowden Street in Saluda. The Crater PDC office is at 1964 Wakefield Street in Petersburg and the Richmond Regional PDC office is in Richmond at 2104 W. Laburnum Ave., Suite 101.

The draft VOP is also available for review on the DCR website. Go to www.dcr.virginia.gov; click on “Recreation Planning” then on “Draft 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan.” Comments will be accepted through Dec. 15, 2006 and can be sent to Vop@dcr.virginia.gov.

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