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V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, W
inter
2016
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2016 marks an important year for
the Virginia Department of Conservation
and Recreation (DCR). Three of six
areas that make up DCR will celebrate
anniversaries—Natural Heritage, Planning
and Recreation Resources, and Virginia
State Parks—along with The National Park
Service’s centennial celebration.
Virginia State Parks
celebrate 80 years
The Virginia State Park system, recognized nationally as a
National Gold MedalWinner for “Excellence in Parks and Recreation
Management,” was built in 1936 during America’s Great Depression
by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service in
partnership with the Commonwealth. Since then, Virginia State Parks
have grown to include 36 operating state parks with six new sites in
the planning and development stage.
State parks are an important component of Virginia’s outdoor
recreation and tourism, contributing an economic impact of $208
million created by state park visitor spending and hosting nearly 9
million visitors in 2014. The parks provide visitors opportunities to
enjoy camping, cabins, swimming pools and beaches, boating and
paddling, hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding and many other
activities, as well as educational programs, events and festivals.
Engaging with young people in environmental conservation
and labor assistance is a top priority and is achieved through
annual programs including Youth Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps
Interpretive Trail Program, and theVirginia Service and Conservation
Corps, which promote a strong sense of stewardship for the
Commonwealth’s natural and cultural resources.
In addition to these programs, there are many opportunities for
people of all ages to volunteer with state parks and give back to their
community. Volunteers contribute 160,000 hours of service annually,
which is the equivalent of 77 fulltime employees valued at nearly
$4 million. According to Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver,
“Virginia State Parks could not manage without volunteers.”
In celebration of the 80th anniversary, Virginia State Parks will
be introducing a new customer loyalty program, hosting tree planting
events, releasing a cookbook including 80 recipes fromVirginia State
Park employees, burying time capsules in several parks and creating
additional awareness of this award-winning park system through
special events and contests.
Planning and Recreation
Resources celebrates 50 years
The Commonwealth’s first comprehensive outdoor recreation
plan,
Virginia’s Common Wealth
, was published in 1965 and
highlighted the importance of outdoor recreation and open space to
the quality of life for Virginians. It established recommendations to
protect and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for the public.
In 1966, the Commission of Outdoor Recreation was established
to “guide and coordinate continuing statewide implementation of the
Virginia Outdoors Plan” and to “advise the Governor on resources
and needs, coordinate the outdoor recreation activities of local, state
and federal agencies, provide technical assistance to localities, and
receive and allocate federal Land and Water Conservation funds.”
Planning and Recreation Resources (PRR) has carried forth that
mission for decades.
Over the past 50 years, this division has provided financial
assistance for state and local parks through administration of the
federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for Virginia. To date,
Virginia has received more than $80 million in state and local
assistance, which has in turn been granted to 108 localities and every
congressional district in Virginia, funding more than 400 projects,
providing opportunities for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.
In addition, since 1993, $18 million in federal funds has been
applied to Virginia trail projects through the Virginia Recreational
Trails Program, which has resulted in 295 completed trail projects.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Planning and
Recreation Resources Division develops Virginia State Parks’ Master
Plans, manages design and construction of many types of facilities
Celebration
A
Year
of
for
DCR
By Shannon Johnson