Biscuit Run Park

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August 1, 2011 Biscuit Run State Park Concept Plan
20110801-BiscuitRun-zoom.jpg

Biscuit Run Park is a planned 1,200-acre park in Albemarle County on land that had been part of the designated growth area. When Commonwealth of Virginia purchased the property in 2009, the intent was to create a state park to be operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation but Albemarle County will now program the park. [1] The county is currently working on Phase1A of the park's opening. [2]

The land for the park was once intended for the large Biscuit Run development as well as a 400-acre county park, but was purchased from the developer, Forest Lodge LLC, by the Commonwealth for $21.48 million in cash and tax credits in January 2010. A lack of state funds could mean the park does not open until 2020. [3]

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning back to the rural areas district on December 4, 2019. [4]

Implementation

After many years of planning, the implementation stage is expected to move forward in 2021 when Phase1A is complete. This has a budget of $2.17 million and is expected to be completed by December 2021. [2]

Phase 1A

As of January 2021, design work continues for an entrance into the park from Route 20 into a 75-space parking lot. Design work is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021. Staff are seeking a recreational access grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation. [5]

History

Master Planning for a State Park

The Biscuit Run State Park Master Plan Advisory Committee held several meetings to develop the park’s master plan, including an inventory of natural and cultural resources. [6] This process concluded with a final public hearing on September 19, 2011. [7] The goal is to have a master plan in place by the end of 2011. [6]

Funding

It appeared for a brief time in February 2016 that the General Assembly would approve funding for the park. [8] Governor Terry McAuliffe had requested that a bond package include $42 million for the park, but this was removed by finances committees in the General Assembly. [9]

Part of the original intended funding comes from mitigation paid by Dominion to the state for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Board of Supervisors discussed this at their meeting on December 5, 2018. [10]

Access

Because the primary vehicular access will be from Route 20, Habitat for Humanity wants to create an extensive network of bike and pedestrian trails into the park from access points in a redeveloped Southwood Mobile Home Park. [11] In March 2017, Habitat and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation agreed to a land swap where Habitat got land for athletic fields close to Southwood whereas DCR got land more suitable for a state park. [12]


Map

Coordinates:Erioll world.svg.png 37°59′54″N 78°31′03″W / 37.998327°N 78.517399°W / 37.998327; -78.517399


Photo gallery

References

  1. Web. Biscuit Run rezoned as park land, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 6, 2019, retrieved December 7, 2019. Print. December 6, 2019 page A6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web. Capital Projects Report - Facilities and Environmental Services, Albemarle County Facilities and Environmental Services Department, Fall 2020, retrieved December 14, 2020.
  3. Web. The flip that flopped: Biscuit Run men want $20 million more from taxpayers, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, November 9, 2011, retrieved November 10, 2011. Print. November 10, 2011 , 1045, .
  4. Web. Biscuit Run rezoned as park land, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 6, 2019, retrieved December 7, 2019. Print. December 6, 2019 page A6.
  5. Web. FES Quarterly Report - January 2021, Quarterly Report, Albemarle County Department of Facilities and Environmental Services, January 2021, retrieved January 20, 2021.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Web. Biscuit Run State Park goals and objectives refined in advance of public hearing, Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow, May 3, 2011, retrieved May 3, 2011.
  7. Web. Albemarle increasing lobbying effort for new athletic fields, Kurt Walters, Charlottesville Tomorrow, September 25, 2011, retrieved September 26, 2011.
  8. Web. Senate committee to consider Biscuit Run State Park funding, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 10, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
  9. Web. Funding for Biscuit Run State Park eliminated from legislation, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 18, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
  10. Web. December 5, 2018 Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Minutes, Albemarle County, December 5, 2018, retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. Web. Habitat for Humanity seeks connection to future state park, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 9, 2015, retrieved February 12, 2015.
  12. Web. Habitat swaps land with state for future Biscuit Run Park, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 23, 2017, retrieved December 28, 2017.

External links

Biscuit Run Park on wikipedia