Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia’s working farms and forests, battlefields and other historic sites, natural areas, parks and rivers are critical to its economy, culture and quality of life. In 1999, the assembly and governor established the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) to fund protection of these resources. The interactive map below depicts VLCF-grant projects funded since 2000.
| Name: | Deer Creek |
|---|---|
| Category: | Open Spaces and Parks |
| Grant Round: | FY24 |
| Acres: | 96 |
| Locality: | City of Franklin |
| Management Agency: | Virginia Outdoor Foundation |
| Owner: | Local |
| ConserveVirginia: | Natural Habitat & Ecosystem Diversity, Floodplains & Flooding Resilience, Scenic Preservation, Water Quality Improvement |
| Amount Awarded: | $180,000.00 |
| Applicant: | Franklin Parks Foundation |
| Latitude: | 38.317008 |
| Longitude: | -77.160589 |
| Description: | The Franklin Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and the City of Franklin, proposes to acquire 96 acres with river frontage on the state scenic Blackwater River for the creation of additional parkland to Blackwater Park as well as a primitive camp site and boat launch. This property contains old growth hardwood bottomlands and sits at the intersection of two important Natural Heritage sites, the Blackwater River Main Stem Conservation Site and the Antioch Swamp Stream Conservation unit, as well as within the TNC Chowan Sandridge/Blackwater River Terrestrial Portfolio. This site supports several rare species and significant natural communities including anadromous fish and colonial water birds. The wetland forests rank high on over 60 acres of river frontage. The wetlands are ranked Class III for Watershed priority conservation. The upland portion of the property is ranked Class IV, the second most vulnerable to development. The park will be open for daily public access. |
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