NEWS RELEASES
Widewater Opens As Virginia's Newest State Park
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Augusta Free Press' website.
Virginia's 38th State Park Widewater State Park had its Grand Opening November 8th to celbrate Governor Ralph Northam officially opening the Virginia State Park in Stafford County. Widewater State Park covers 1,100 acres, including two miles of water frontage along the Potomac River and Aquia Creek. The property was originally purchased by Dominion Energy as a site for a proposed power plant.
The property was later approved for development of 700 residential units, a resort conference center and extensive infrastructure. Dominion sold the property for $1 million less than the assessed value in 2013. The Trust for Public Land and Stafford County assisted in the transaction. According to the Secretary of Natural Resources Matthew Strickler in a press release, “The development of a low-impact state park on waterfront property significantly reduces the possibility of increased water quality degradation.” Funding for the $6.1 million property was from Virginia Public Building Authority bonds and a federal appropriation of $225,000 secured by Virginia’s congressional delegation through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. “Widewater State Park allows us to provide water access in one of the most heavily populated areas of Virginia while maintaining the serenity people expect when they visit one of our 38 state parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver.
For more about all of Virginia State Parks, visit the Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation website.