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Home My WebLink AboutSDP200700071 Other 2006-06-01SENATE OF VIRGINIA E MMET- RAJ HANGER JR 11 SEA - 1Fl A-11 ir. USI' .-'_LN___All H —_A1_ 1A•NF-,H 'vHL AND PARL CV IES Mr. John R. Davy, Division Director Dept of Conservation & Recreation 203 Governor Street, Suite 326 Richmond, VA 23219 -2010 Dear Director Davy, June 1, 2006 COMMITTEE Ay SrG':MF__NTS RENABILITATIOI: rr<v:cES craF;,r c,"G7;'ULTVRE 1 t•vSERVATv Ohl v.NL% N A7Uk4__ kESOI. R:. E! INAINCE CF:AL GU1_ RU — t C...,QD P 4-- Please add my name to the list of supporters of Albemarle County's application for the Virginia Outdoors Fund grant assistance program. The Mint Springs Fishing Accessibility Project located in Mint Springs Park in the western part of the County will offer citizens with disabilities an opportunity to take part and enjoy the state's catchable trout program. Albemarle County is committing $196,000 for this project that will provide barrier free access for disabled anglers while improving the site for all citizens to better enjoy the scenic setting of the park. The loraiity is actually putting forth far more than the 50% local match of $100,000 as a show of the community's strong support of this worthwhile project. I believe Director Pat Mullaney of the Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department has put together a comprehensive grant application and hope you will include my letter of support in the evaluation process, it is my sincere hope that you approve the County's request and help them finance this project that potentially could serve as a statewide model to improving access for those with disabilities to our beautiful outdoor recreational opportunities. Thank you again for your time and careful consideration of this er}uest nd please feel free to enact my Legislative Aide, Holly Herman, or me if you require additional info tion. You can reach, me at Hanger & Associates by phoning (540) 885 - 6898, the above lette Zdres or at is ri4.s'rv__s.va.us Sincerely, Emmett W Ranger, Jr. EWH/hwh mf u I_ .M COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES RICHMOND R. STEVEN (STEVE) LANDES MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIRMAN POST OFFICE BOX 4F WEYERS CAVE, VIRGINIA 24486 May 30, 2006 TWENTY -FIFTH DISTRICT Mr. John R. Davy, Division Director Department of Conservation and Recreation 203 Governor Street, Suite 326 Richmond, Virginia 23219 -2010 Dear Mr. Davy: COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS: EDUCATION (VICE CHAIRMAN) APPROPRIATIONS RULES It is my understanding that the Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department has applied to your department for a grant from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation for the Mint Springs Park Fishing Accessibility Project. I would like to request that your department look favorably on this grant request, and further I would like to lend my full support for this project. The importance of this project cannot be measured in terms of what it will mean for the disability community in Albemarle County, Eastern Augusta County, and the City of Waynesboro. It is important for all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia to be able to access the great outdoors and in particular the joys of a premier trout fishing facility in our region. This project has the full support and a commitment of a $196,000 investment by Albemarle County. The Mint Springs Park and the lower lake where the project is to be constructed will enhance the lives of the disability community, and the public at large. As you know it is Virginia's goal to expand and develop accessible facilities, and by issuing this matching grant we will be one step closer to achieving that goal. Again, it is my hope you shall approve this important grant application for the Mint Springs Park Fishing Accessibility Project. If I can be of service to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. RSL /jww cc: Mr. Patrick K. Mullaney, Director Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department DISTRICT (540) 245 -5540 • FAX: (540) 248 -8434 • RICHMOND (804) 698-1025 • E - MAIL: STEVE O STEVELANDES COM GEORGE ALLEN VIRGINIA 204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20510 -4604 202) 224 -4024 202) 224 -5432 (FAX) hill)J/allen.senate.gov/HiTiail.htmI COMMITTEES. COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION ENERGY FOREIGN RELATIONS SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP May 23, 2006 Mr. Patrick Mullaney Director County Of Albemarle Parks and Recreation Department 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 Dear Patrick: Thank you for your recent communication requesting a letter of support for your grant application. I welcome the opportunity to be of assistance. I have enclosed a copy of the letter that I sent to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation on your behalf. 1 wish you the best with your application. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate, and I look forward to working with you to make Virginia and America a better place to live, learn, work and raise a family. Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of further assistance to you on any other matter. Alith warm. regards, I renmin Sincerely, j CENTRAL VIRGINIA 507 EAST FRANKLIN STREET RICHMOND, VA 23219 18041771 -2221 13041 771 -8313 (FAX) HAMPTON ROADS 222 CENTRAL PARK AVENUE, #120 V4RGINIA BEACH, VA 23462 757) 518 -1674 757) 518 -1679 (FAX) George Allen j WESTERN AND VALLEY 3140 CHAPARRAL DRIVE AC -101 ROANOKE, VA 24015 5401772 -4236 540) 772 -6870 (FAX) SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA 332 CUMMINGS STREET, SUITE C ABINGDON, VA 24210 j276) 676 - 2646 276) 676 -2588 (FAX) NORTHERN VIRGINIA 2214 ROCK HILL ROAD, SUITE 100 HERNDON, VA 20170 1703) 435 -0039 17031 435 -3446 (FAX) GEORGE ALLEN VIRGINIA 204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20510 -4604 202) 224 -4024 202) 224 -5432 (FAX) http://alien.senate.gov/email.html J _ ^ B I Lt May 23, 2006 Mr. John R. Davy Division Director Department of Conservation and Recreation Planning and Recreation Resources 203 Governor Street, Suite 326 Richmond, Virginia 23219 -2094 Dear Mr. Davy: COMMITTEES: COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION ENERGY FOREIGN RELATIONS SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP It has come to my attention that the County of Albemarle has recently submitted an application under the Virginia Outdoors Fund Program and I would like to take this opportunity to offer my strong support for their application and applaud their efforts to provide barrier free access for disabled anglers to fish for trout which are stocked by the Virginia Division of Game and Inland Fisheries. If funded, Mint Springs Park in the County of Albemarle would be the premier trout fishing facility in the state program. It would also serve as a model to all levels of government being committed to providing outdoor recreational opportunities to a segment of our population which is often underserved. This facility would serve the citizens of Albemarle as well as the surrounding localities. It is always in the best interest of the Commonwealth to support programs that assist our disabled constituents. In this spirit, I respectfully request that you give every fair and favorable consideration to this worthy project. Please keep my Richmond office informed as to the progress and ultimate result of this application. With warn regards, I remain Sincerely, C Azt- George Allen CENTRALVIRGINIA HAMPTON ROADS yj WESTERN AND VALLEY 1 SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA NORTHERN VIRGINIA 507 EAST FRANKLIN STREET 222 CENTRAL PARK AVENUE, #120 3140 CHAPARRAL DRIVE, #C -101 332 CUMMINGS STREET, SUITE C 2214 ROCK HILL ROAD, SUITE 100RICHMOND, VA 23219 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462 ROANOKE, VA 24018 ABINGDON, VA 24210 HERNDON, VA 20170 804)771 -2221 757) 518 -1674 540) 772 -4236 1276) 676 -2646 7031435 -0039 804) 771 -8313 (FAX)757) 518 -1679 (FAX)540) 772 -6670 IFAX)276) 676 -2588 (FAX)703) 435 -3446 (FAX) I,-,il 11. C„wde. Jr. F'Jih Di.uricr of ! y of RopJ' a • rt May 23, 2006 Mr. John R. Davy Division Director, Planning & Recreation Resources Department of Conservation and Recreation 203 Governor Street, Suite 326 Riclunond, VA 23219 -2010 Dear Mr. Davy: I am very pleased to write to you in support of Albemarle County's application for assistance from the Virginia Outdoors Fund for the Mint Springs Fishing Accessibility Project. Thanks in a large part to the work of your office, the citizens of our Commonwealth are blessed with a tremendous variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. I think it is very appropriate that our federal funding be used in part to make sure that all of our citizens can take advantage of those opportunities. The County of Albemarle is to be commended for their commitment to this project. I hope that you will show every consideration to this project that will serve as a model to demonstrate that all levels of government share in the desire to make our parklands accessible when we have unique opportunities like this to do so. Please advise my Charlottesville office as to the ultimate result of this application. Sincerely yours, Virgil H. Goode, Jr. VHGjr jmg 1 { ,n.n'f ,ii', ,..1;N!r _ !Z,ir;,; S(,unrt ! ir• ni,r '.I: ; c: Mr. Patrick K. Mullaney, Director County of Albemarle Parks & Recreation Department 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 900 Natural Resource Dr, Suite 100 Charlottesville, Va 22903 May 22, 2006 Mr. Robert Munson Division Director, Planning and Recreation Resources Department of Conservation and Recreation 203 Governor Street Richmond Virginia 23219 -2010 Dear Bob: We support and encourage VOF funding for the Mint Springs Fishing Accessibility Project. Mint Springs has been stocked by our Department as part of our catchable trout stocking program for more than 10 years. Initially it was classified as a B water by us and stock approximately 5 times a year. Due to the good water quality it was moved to an A water and is now stocked 8 times from October through May. It is one of the few lakes that we stock on the Eastern side of the Blue Ridge and has the best potential of any lake or stream this side of the Blue Ridge to develop into an ADA accessible site. What makes this lake unique is the availability of both a warmwater bass fishery as well as a trout fishery. Because of its park setting in the foothills it is extremely popular and heavily utilized in all seasons. Mint Springs is also the site of a cooperative Kids Fishing Day cosponsored by Albemarle Parks Dept, Trout Unlimited, Kingfishers and DGIF. Construction of a ADA accessible pier would increase the potential for other users such as the UVA Kluge's Children Rehabilitation Center. If you have any questions please call me at 434 - 296 -4731. Sincerely, John Kauffman Regional Fisheries Manager T CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE 1 1.11 L A World Class City Parks and Recreation GIIVIA' P.O. Boa 911 • Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 Telephone: (434) 970 -3260 www.charlottesville.org To Whom It May Concern May 7, 2006 I am writing to support the VOF Recreation Department. For the past 26 years I have worked for Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department as a Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor. I work very closely with Albemarle County Parks and Recreation to provide therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities ages 8 to senior citizens in our area. We serve an average of 350 different participants monthly. Through the years I have clearly seen the need for accessible fishing piers, with accessible trails, parking lots and restrooms close by. We sponsor nature opportunities for therapeutic participants during spring, summer and fall by taking small group of teens and adults walking, hiking and fishing on a weekly bases. It is always quite an experience because of the mobility issues involved with the population we serve. Many interested participants are never even given the opportunity to try such outdoor events because of their mobility issues. This proposal is the perfect opportunity and location to help develop a much needed accessible fishing facility that the state of Virginia as well as Charlottesville Albemarle area can be truly proud of. If this grant is approved it will be one more way to help provide recreation opportunities to all of our citizens. Mildred Witter Spicer Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor 434- 970 -3264 Pars acid Recreation... The Benefits Are Endless! Independence Resource Center 804) 971 -9629 voice /try FAX: (804) 971 -8242 815 Cherry Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 -3448 May 4, 2006 Mr. Pat Mullaney Albemarle Parks and Recreation Department 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 Dear Pat: On behalf of the Independence Resource Center I wish to offer our strongest encouragement and endorsement of the Mint Springs Fishing Accessibility Project. As you know, accessible fishing venues are very limited, and in particular, trout waters are extremely difficult to make accessible for our citizens with disabilities. However, the Mint Springs project offers a perfect opportunity to create a premier model for the entire Commonwealth, and to provide an enormously valuable asset for not only Virginians with disabilities, but for all Virginians. Please let me know how we can best be of assistance to you as you move forward on this exciting endeavor. Our very best wishes to you. Sincerely, Thomas J. Vandever Executive Director Required Project Approval Information Applicant: County of Albemarle Address: Department of Parks and Recreation 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 Contact Person: Patrick K. Mullaney, Director Telephone Number: 434- 296 -6844 E -mail Address: pmullan a_.albemarle.org Name of Project: Mint Springs Fishing Accessibility Project Name of Park: Mint Springs Valley Park Type of Project: Construction Amount of Grant Requested: $100,000 Project Elements on which grant assistance will be used: Handicapped accessible fishing piers, asphalt pathways, parking lot improvements, site work. Locate the project site accordingly: a. House of Delegate District - # 25th b. State Senate District - # 24th c. U. S. Congressional District -# 5th d. GPS Coordinates: Latitude 38* 5'1.15" North Longitude 78* 43'34.95" West e. Park Zip Code: 22932 The following project information must be included on all applications: 1. Is the park an existing facility? Yes 2. Is the proposed project covered by an approved comprehensive plan? While this project by name is not listed in the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan, Mint Springs Park is recognized as a park on page 148 in the Community Facilities section of the Land Use Plan which is part of the larger Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan. It should be noted that the Plan emphasizes on page 151 that maintenance and enhancement of existing facilities is a high priority. 3. Will the proposed project be on state or federal land or installation? No 4. Will the proposed project cause the displacement of individuals, families, businesses? or farms? No Is there other federal or state assistance on this project, either previous, pending, or anticipated? No 6. Is the project in a designated flood hazard area? No 7. Applicant intends to acquire the site through: N/A 8. Property is owned by the County of Albemarle. 9. Applicant has Fee Simple Title. 10. Plat attached. 11. Description of Facility: Facility includes the construction of 2 new accessible fishing piers, accessible pathways to piers and existing shelters, accessible parking area and restrooms. Drawings — Attached. 12. Total Number of Acres at Park: 520 acres. a) 455 acres of the park have previously been protected by Section 6(f) (3) from project number 51 -00061 approved in April of 1971. While not in the immediate location of the actual project area, this proposal will add 64.5 acres of protected area. This is adjacent property that was added to the park in 1992 and is described on the attached plat entitled "Composite Plat of Tax Map 39, Parcel 20" by Steven L. Key. 13. Describe what provisions exist for the project's continued existence? Include how the facility will be maintained and who will be responsible. The Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department will be responsible for maintenance of the facility. Mint Springs Park has a dedicated full time year round maintenance staff. 14. Has a public hearing been held in the locality regarding proposed project? While a public hearing on this specific project was not held. This project was included in the FY 06/07 Capital Improvements Program which went to public hearing on April 5, 2006. 15. List of current or previous grant awards from DCR. 51 -00061 Chris Greene /Mint Springs 51 -00155 Ivy Creek Natural Area 51 -10063 Rivanna Park (now Darden Towe Memorial Park) NRT — 03 — FY (00 1) — VRT — 151 Rivanna Mills Heritage Trail