If everything goes according to plan, there will be two new public parks open by this time next year, thanks to a County Board of Supervisors vote to create the Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Preserve Park and the Preddy Creek Park. The Board established the parks unanimously at their meeting on July 2, 2008, as part of their consent agenda.
The land to be used for Byrom Park (right) was donated in 2004 by Robert Byrom, in honor of his wife. The county purchased the Preddy Creek
land (below) in 1969, intending to use it as an additional water source for the region. However, further study in the 1970's indicated that the water output would not be significant enough to warrant its development, and the site has been vacant ever since. Both parks will be used for biking and hiking trails, and other recreational purposes. According to Pat Mullaney, County Parks and Recreation Director, the department hopes to open the new parks to the public by July of 2009.
Approximately $500,000 has been set aside in the Parks and Recreation budget to close existing unsafe trails, establish park accesses, and otherwise prepare the parks for public use. Mullaney expects the parks, once open, to be able to run on a “shoestring” budget, because jobs such as trash collection and gate monitoring will be done primarily by volunteers as well as local prison inmates who qualify.
Ben Doernberg
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I hope all the folks in Greene County enjoy these two nearby amenities. How many Albemarle residents live close by? And with gas prices, how many will venture out to the hinterlands?
Comp Plan says rural residents in Albemarle County should not expect a lot of amenities. So why do they get two parks? Why wasn't $500,000 spent on something for the Growth Areas?
Posted by: Lynda Harrill | July 21, 2008 at 05:11 PM
The Blue Ridge Disc Golf Club is working with the county to propose an 18-Hole Disc Golf Course at Preddy Creek Park. The installation would be done with the volunteer efforts of the club and public. I believe that Parks & Recreation Dept. will be having a period of public input in the near future.
Posted by: John Clem | July 22, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Editor's Note: Two comments on this post have been temporarily unpublished. Charlottesville Tomorrow is going to enforce our policy to not accept anonymous comments on the blog. We have not previously had to moderate comments and I can't think of any that have ever been deleted as inappropriate.
We want to encourage a civil discussion of growth and development issues, and my belief is that is best done by requiring people to put their name on their comments.
One of the two comments had a valid e-mail address and I have asked the author permission to publish their comment. The other person may send me a message with their first and last name if they would like their comment published again. Thanks for your understanding. Brian Wheeler, Executive Director, Charlottesville Tomorrow
Posted by: Brian Wheeler | July 22, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I would really like to see at least one wheelchair-accessible trail put in at Preddy Creek Park. There is currently little available in terms of outdoor recreation for people with mobility disabilities in the northern part of the County. (Yes, I know there is a short wheelchair trail at Ivy Creek - but it takes longer to unload and load my daughter from the van than it does to walk the trail...)
Rochelle Garwood
Posted by: Rochelle Garwood | July 22, 2008 at 04:12 PM
My children and I have land for sale adjacent to Patsy's park. Road frontage with VDOT approval for an entrance into the park. Approx 20 acres with building site approval. An absolutely beautiful family farm, now county park could be your backyard. Enjoy!
Posted by: laura lee neva | August 17, 2008 at 07:56 PM