Marion’s plans for a recreation park near the old hospital got a $1.7 million boost thanks to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the National Park Service.
The town’s Callan Drive Recreation Park Development plan was one of six to receive a share of $5 million through the Land and Water Conservation Fund program. Marion is in line to receive $2,713,739.
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program, or LWCF, is a matching reimbursement program established to acquire and develop park areas. The parks are protected in perpetuity for the purpose of public outdoor recreation.
The projects for 2022, representing a variety of proposals throughout the state, were selected from 18 applications received during an open application process.
Counties, cities, towns, park and recreation authorities, tribal governments and state agencies are eligible to compete for funding. Significant planning and environmental review must be completed in order for the National Park Service to authorize a project as part of the selection process.
The town of Gordonsville received $1.6 million for a park development project, and Prince William County got $750,000 for a regional park boardwalk development. Henry County received $641,750 for a phase of a passage trail, and Colonial Heights netted $251,675 for a park development. The city of Charlottesville pulled in $175,000 for acquisition of Moores Creek.
