More on the Conservation Easement

The office of Kathy Graziano passed the following statement on the conversation easement to Hills and Heights.

Richmond City Council has passed and sent to Mayor Dwight Jones and Governor Tim Kaine a proposed conservation easement for James River Park.

The easement is believed to be the first of its kind for an urban park in the United States. It was proposed and shepherded through an almost four year process by Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano. The easement will provide permanent protection for the park in its natural state and will prevent any future city government from selling the park or developing any part of it for commercial, industrial or residential purposes.

It leaves ownership of the park in city hands, and allows the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue to manage the park in its present state.

“I believe the James River Park and the river are our most precious treasures,” Council Member Graziano said “and I am so pleased Richmond City Council and Mayor Jones’ administration have worked together to make sure that future generations can enjoy this park. ”

“Men can make a playground or a ball field, but no-one can craft something as vital and important as our park,” she continued.

The easement will be held by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Capital Region Land Conservancy and the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation.

The idea for the easement came after a previous city administration attempted to sell a portion of Great Shiplock Park to a developer for a waterfront development in 2004.