Biscuit Run Park
| Biscuit Run Park | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Biscuit Run Park | |
| Location | Albemarle County, Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°58′56″N 78°30′26″W / 37.9823°N 78.5072869°W |
| Area | 1,190-acre (1.86 sq mi) |
| Created | 2024 |
| Operator | Albemarle County Parks and Recreation |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Official Website |
Biscuit Run Park is a 1,190-acre (1.86 sq mi) county park located in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States, just south of the city of Charlottesville. The park officially opened on December 14, 2024. It is the largest park in the county.[1]
History
The park property was originally planned for a large residential housing development. In January 2010, as real estate values reeled from the burst housing bubble and ensuing recession, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation negotiated the purchase of the property from developer Forest Lodge, LLC for $21.48 million in cash and tax credits.[2][3][4][5]
The land was purchased with the intention of creating a state park, but the Virginia General Assembly never provided the necessary funding and the idea was abandoned. In January 2018, Albemarle County reached an agreement on a 99-year lease of the property from the Commonwealth with the intention to create a county park.[6]
Construction on the 550-acre (0.86 sq mi) first phase of the park began in March 2024 and was completed in November of that year.
Amenities
The park currently contains over eight miles of trails for both hiking and biking, along with bathrooms and a parking lot. When complete, the park is expected to have additional trails, basketball courts, a mountain biking course, grass playing fields, playgrounds, dog parks, and other improvements. The majority of the park is protected forestland.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Years in the making, Biscuit Run Park opens this weekend". The Daily Progress. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ↑ Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow (December 31, 2009). "State buys Biscuit Run. Once OK'd for homes, property will become park". The Daily Progress. Media General.
- ↑ McKenzie, Bryan (December 9, 2015). "Bond proposal would fully fund Biscuit Run State Park". The Daily Progress. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ↑ Bryan McKenzie (January 9, 2010). "Kaine celebrates sale of Biscuit Run to state". Daily Progress. Media General.
- ↑ Hawes Spencer (January 6, 2011). "Bad men? New numbers show spiraling cost of Biscuit Run". The Hook.
- ↑ Wrabel, Allison (4 January 2018). "Albemarle County to lease land for Biscuit Run from state". The Daily Progress.