Albemarle’s Byrom Park to expand with donated land | Local Government

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The 600-acre Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Protect Park in Albemarle County will grow by 65 acres thanks to a donation of land from the quickly-to-be house owner.

Terry Grant is beneath a obtain agreement for a 65.3 acre parcel adjacent to the entrance of the park and wants to donate it to the county, Tim Padalino, Albemarle’s main of parks scheduling, advised the Board of Supervisors.

The board authorised the acceptance of the land donation at its assembly Wednesday.

Padalino mentioned the residence is effortlessly and directly obtainable from the current park trailhead.

“All of the demanded park infrastructure and enhancements are currently in spot, that means the county could benefit from this present of land without the need of any considerable expense or delay,” he stated.

The residence could accommodate around two miles of new trails, Padalino said. Because the topography is less steep than the existing park, those trails could include sections that are much more average and be much more available.

At Grant’s ask for, mountain biking, which is authorized in the relaxation of the park, would not be authorized on this part, he said.

“It is specifically properly-suited to hikers, picnickers, birdwatchers and other mother nature lovers,” Grant reported in a letter to the county’s Parks and Recreation Division director in the fall. “I know there’s a large amount of stress to open up up our public parks to mountain bikers, and their volunteer corps is very valuable in cutting trails. On the other hand, my desire is to limit the recreational use of this parcel to individuals on foot who are intrigued in the ‘slow’ appreciation of the put.”

Grant was not in attendance at the assembly.

Padalino said costs for ongoing routine maintenance would drop into the department’s typical operational price range for servicing.

Supervisor Ned Gallaway requested if there were any enhancements desired in the upcoming.

“Potentially a smaller number of small pavilions or shelters, not automatically for reservation, but just trailside amenities, like benches or small pavilions,” Padalino explained, which could come from operational funding.

Immediately after his presentation to the board, Padalino reported that the moment the property is conveyed to the county, Parks and Recreation Office staff members will create a schedule to transfer forward.

County staff members will carry on learning the home via investigation and web page visits, which will enable ascertain the most appropriate use and administration of the 65 acres, including the alignments and types of trails throughout the landscape and spots for foreseeable future amenities, these as the probable benches and pavilions, he explained.

Albemarle even now holds additional than 800 acres of undeveloped conservation/path parkland — about 330 acres of land at Hedgerow off of U.S. 29, approximately 410 acres at William S. D. Woods Natural Heritage Spot off of U.S. 29 and approximately 122 acres at Buck Island Park.

A parks and recreation requirements assessment offered to the board in 2018 noted that the progress of individuals a few parks will “fully fulfill the county’s 2032 conservation/path park acreage requirements.”

The top rated 3 areas in which the county is missing, even with future planned parks, are community parks, community parks, and sporting activities complexes.