Planning is in the early stages for a new boat launch and recreation area on the east side of the Maury River in Buena Vista just south of Chalk Mine Run.
Tom Roberts, Buena Vista’s director of community development, presented preliminary plans for this project to City Council this past Thursday, Oct. 16. Back in 2022, the city was awarded a $50,000 open space lands preservation trust fund grant by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation for this river front project.
It is proposed that 6.04 acres of land owned by Buena Vista along the river be deeded to VOF for an open space easement that would be utilized for a recreation area. Under this proposal, a point of access to the river would be created at each end of the strip of land. A public hearing on the proposal to grant the easement to VOF is scheduled for Council’s next meeting on Nov. 6.
“The purpose of this project is to improve recreational access to the Maury River, a goal identified in multiple regional and city land use and economic development plans,” said Roberts in his report to Council. He noted that the only access points to the river in Buena Vista currently are ramps at Stuartsburg Road, just north of the Russell Robey U.S. 60 bridge, and at Glen Maury Park just north of the Veterans Memorial 10th Street bridge, on the west side of the river.
Roberts said city staff, Civil Consulting Group PC and RK&K have been working with local outdoor recreation stakeholders to develop a preliminary design. After having assessed multiple possible locations, two sites for access points were identified that are at each end of the strip of land being eyed for the easement.
The primary access point would be behind Stop-In/ Exxon/Burger King near Chalk Mine Run. A parking area close to the water access would be created adjacent to where the city has a police impoundment area and a public works laydown yard. The proposed parking area would be accessed from 28th Street.
The second access point would be behind the Virginia Innovation Accelerator and would consist of steps that go up and over the levee/flood wall. This access point could potentially facilitate an outdoor/outfitter business within VIA from which tubes and kayaks could be launched into the river.
Roberts said a preliminary design has been made for both sites but the initial focus is on the northern access point for full engineering design “because it would have a greater public use and a greater immediate impact.”
The purpose of the VOF funding, he said, “is to preserve open space and recreational use in perpetuity.” For this reason the city must “dedicate an open space easement on at least 6 acres of land.” The focus for Council initially, he explained, is the easement and not the details of construction for the access.
The city doesn’t have the cash in hand from the VOF grant; VOF will reimburse the city for the expenditures incurred. The city is to also pursue other grant funding opportunities for what is to be a multi-year project.
Buena Vista has a VOF easement elsewhere in the city on the Magnolia Square property in downtown.
