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Park project gets $7.5 million boost

By Roslyn Ryan
Editor


Apr 30, 2008

The General Assembly has appropriated a reported 7.5 million dollars towards Powhatan’s planned State Park.

“This is tremendous news,” said Delegate R. Lee Ware last Monday. “It’s recognition of the priority of the Powhatan State Park in the funding for State Parks.”

Ware, who represents the sixth District including Powhatan and parts of Chesterfield, was instrumental in bringing the Powhatan County State Park on the Historic James to the county.

The appropriation was announced last Wednesday, after a special session of the General Assembly. Governor Timothy M. Kaine has not signed off on the package, which does not state a specific dollar amount, though Ware said Monday that supporters of the park had every reason to believe he will approve the appropriation.

According to Ware, the appropriation received no opposition in either the House or the Senate.

Three million dollars had previously been proposed for the project in Gov. Kaine’s biennial budget.

Ware says that becoming home to a State Park is a winning proposition for the county.

“It is a boon for recreation, as well as for economic development and tourism,” said Ware last week.

One more benefit, said Ware, is that the park “will maintain a large chunk of land along the James River.”

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The park will be located on property along the County’s northern border, and planners say they hope it will eventually have accommodations for boating, overnight camping and wildlife education.

The Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution in support of the park.

Robert Wilcox, a long-time supporter of the park who offered much of the credit for the project’s success to Ware, Sen. John Watkins, and Economic Director Sherry Swinson, said last week that he couldn’t be happier about the General Assembly’s decision.

“It’s an exciting time for this county,” he said.



(3) CommentsEmail This Article

Reader Comments
by Sal Girgente of Powhatan May. 9, 2008, 02:25 PM

C:

I agree with you. We should evaluate all expenditures. The Powhatan State Park, however, now has 7.5 million dollars for phase I. This money is appropriated by the state and is intended for park development, such as road construction and activity installation. All I am suggesting is that along with the money being used for camping, boating, etc., let’s include disc golf.

A disc golf course can be installed for as little as $15,000.00, provide an inexpensive activity for visitors, utilize areas of the park not useful for other activities and bring income to the area if the course is used for tournament play (http://www.pdga.com).


by c. dickson of powhatan May. 8, 2008, 08:01 PM

PDGC: The following is from your website.
“The Powhatan Disc Golf Club is currently negotiating with state and county officials to obtain permission to build an eighteen hole disc golf course in one of the county parks. A proposal was submitted to Senator John Watkins and Representative Lee Ware requesting that the state approve funding for all expenses associated with this project.”

Nowhere on your website can I find your name or anyone else’s associated with the Powhatan Disc Golf Club. That is probably just an oversight on your part but it would give your cause more credibility if you put a real person’s name out there.

Frisbee’s and the things you can do with them are a lot of fun, no doubt. Is it worth taking more money from taxpayers? At this point, I am not convinced.


by Powhatan Disc Golf Club of Powhatan, Virginia May. 3, 2008, 12:10 PM

Now that the park has been approved and funds appropriated, phase I of the design will be discussed. In addition to camping, boating and horseback riding a disc golf course should be included. A disc golf course would offer a fun and challenging sport for all ages and the cost of equipment minimal for the park and down-right cheap for the player. Visit the Bryan Park disc golf course in Richmond for an example of what our course could be. Visit http://www.pdgs.com to learn what disc golf is all about.


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