The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation has awarded nearly $15 million in grants across the Commonwealth to help preserve land from development. That includes $175,000 for Charlottesville to purchase 8.6 acres of land in Albemarle County along Moores Creek. That falls under the “Open Spaces and Parks” category of the program.
The money can be used to purchase property, acquire conservation easements, or some other method of preserving land. In this case, Charlottesville will use the funding to buy land currently used by the International Rescue Committee for an urban farming project. That use would continue.
“This property is a priority for developing the Moores Creek Greenway as it allows a shared use path and the [Rivanna Trail] to stay on the same side of Moores Creek as the trail upstream and means we don’t absolutely have to build a bridge, which could cost as much or more than the land itself,” said parks planner Chris Gensic in response to a question.
Gensic said Albemarle County is aware of the potential purchase and have made comments related to is compliant with the county Comprehensive Plan.
Other project in the area also received funding:
- The Nature Conservancy will get $71,937 for 179 acres at Gent Branch in the Elk Conservation Area.
- The Piedmont Environmental Council will get $500,000 for farmland protection along Brook Run covering about 698 acres in Culpeper County.
- The Piedmont Environmental Council will also get $237,500 for farmland protection on about 340 acres in Orange County.
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