A Gift to America Tied Up With a Bow: 400 Bows Line Jamestown Road in Virginia to Mark Land Protection and Anniversary
To: OUTDOORS EDITORS
Contact: Susan Clark of The Trust for Public Land, +1-212-677- 7171, or susan.clark@tpl.org ; or Jody Puckett of James City County, +1-757-253-6605, or jpuckett@james-city.va.us
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — James City Countyand The Trust for Public Land announced today the purchase of 202 acres alongthe James River for permanent protection and public recreation. The $12.45million purchase involves funds from county, state, federal and privatesources. The land will be transformed into “Anniversary Park” — center stagefor “America’s 400th Anniversary” in May, a commemoration of the 400thanniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent Englishsettlement in the Americas. Queen Elizabeth II has announced a state visit inMay to commemorate Jamestown’s anniversary. Following the events, which areexpected to draw nearly 90,000 visitors from across the globe, countyofficials will continue their plans for the property’s long-term public use.
The land is adjacent to the Jamestown Settlement along the James River.The property includes a portion of the Revolutionary War Green Springbattlefield, and more recently has been home to the Jamestown Campsites andYacht Basin.
Over the last two years, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a nationalnonprofit land conservation organization, has worked to orchestrate thedetails of the acquisition, including negotiating with the landowners, membersof the Vermillion family and securing public and private funds for thepurchase.
“There is no greater legacy that we can leave for future generations thanthe land we protect today,” said Will Rogers, president of The Trust forPublic Land. “America’s past, present, and future all come together on thisland and we are proud to protect this iconic property.”
“Our partnership with TPL has truly been a benefit to the community and wehope it will lead to other collaborative land preservation opportunities,”said Bruce Goodson, chairman of the James City County Board of Supervisors.
James City County contributed $2.9 million of the $12.45 million purchaseand advanced the remainder of the funding for closing on the purchase. Thecounty will be reimbursed a significant portion of the cost of the property,including a $750,000 grant award from the Virginia Land ConservationFoundation and approximately $1.8 million in federal funding from the Coastaland Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) through the National Oceanicand Atmosphere Administration. An additional $1.2 million CELCP appropriationis pending in Congress. James City County will also recoup some of the cost ofthe property when they transfer a portion of the road frontage to the VirginiaDepartment of Transportation.
“This property has been in our family for a long time and we are happythat it will remain open and accessible to the public under the management ofJames City County,” said landowner Hunter Vermillion.
The federal funding was secured thanks to the leadership of the VirginiaCongressional delegation, especially U.S. Senator John Warner and U.S.Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf.
“I am pleased to see the conservation of 198 acres of land at Jamestown.Protecting historic and cultural resources at Jamestown will connectVirginians to our heritage that began nearly 400 years ago,” said Warner.
“Conservation of this historically significant land marks anotherimportant step towards a successful commemoration of our nation’s 400thanniversary,” said Davis. “I look forward to continuing my work on the federallevel to secure funding to complement state, local and private efforts.”
“It is appropriate that the Commonwealth of Virginia is a partner in theacquisition of this historic parcel of land,” said Joseph H. Maroon, VirginiaDepartment of Conservation and Recreation Director and executive secretary ofthe Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. “Not only does it preserve a pieceof our history, it also brings us closer to meeting Governor Kaine’scommitment to preserving 400,000 acres by the end of his administration.”
A $250,000 grant to The Trust for Public Land was made by Dominion, one ofthe nation’s largest energy companies, headquartered in Richmond, Va.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Dominion is pleased to be apart of protecting American history with the purchase of this property,” saidWilliam C. Hall Jr., Vice President of External Affairs & CorporateCommunications and President of the Dominion Foundation.
Thousands of area residents and visiting history buffs also helped supportthe protection effort by attending last summer’s re- enactment of theRevolutionary War Battle of Green Spring. Proceeds from the event, hosted bythe 2d Virginia Regiment, were donated to TPL because the land includes aportion of the Green Spring battlefield. Virginia-based LionHeart FilmWorksdocumented the re- enactment in a new DVD and also contributed to theprotection effort.
The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks,gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations tocome. Since 1972, TPL has helped protect more than 2.2 million acresnationwide, including more than 16,000 acres in Virginia. For more informationvisit http://www.tpl.org/jamestownor http://www.jccEgov.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos and release available electronically.
SOURCE Trust for Public Land
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