Virginia Association for Parks 2009 Spring Meeting
I attended the Spring Virginia Association for Parks meeting this past weekend at Westmoreland State Park.
The Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) is a core volunteer support organization for Virginia State Parks. They assist volunteers at individual parks become recognized Friends groups, help with fund raising, and perform valuable advocacy work through year round efforts with the Executive and Legislative branches in Virginia government. They also support National and regional parks in Virginia as part of their mission.
Two times per year key members of the group get together to discuss current issues, share ideas, and as President Johnny Finch likes to say "get out and kick the tires." In other words, the group gets out and visits one or more Virginia State Parks or national parks.
This meeting was held at Westmoreland State Park in Montross, Virginia, one of the six original state parks. Westmoreland overlooks the Potomac River and offers visitors cabins, camping, picnicking, meeting space, trails, boat launch and seasonally available pool, snack bar and boat rentals. Westmoreland is widely known for fossil hunting opportunities on the beach, particularly ancient sharks' teeth. Park Manager, Bill Jacobs, and District Manager, Scott Flickinger, welcomed the group and attended some of the sessions.
We also visited the George Washington Birthplace Monument National Park which is west of Westmoreland State Park on Route 3.
After the Birthplace, the group drove to Lancaster County to visit Belle Isle State Park. Belle Isle was purchased with funds from the 1992 State Parks General Obligation Bond and has just recently opened two new facilities thanks to the 2002 bond - a campground and Visitor Center. The group toured the Visitor Center which was designed with many green building features. Unfortunately, there is no funding available for the exhibits that are planned to describe the history of native Americans on the northern neck. The VAFP has been working to improve staffing and funding for Virginia State Parks with a special interest in environmental and historical programming. A key component of their legislative agenda is to have one or more full time staff in every park dedicated to this programming. They also want to assist with fund raising for the exhibits at our park visitor centers.
The VAFP was treated to a fantastic lunch of grilled fresh rock fish and chicken compliments of the Friends of Belle Isle State Park and Virginia Delegate Albert Pollard was the luncheon speaker. Members received a tour of the rest of the park which includes a mansion and guest house, campground, picnic areas, boat launch, fishing pier, and multi-use trails (including equestrian use).
A dinner at Westmoreland State Park featuring comments by Clyde Cristman, Senate Finance Committee Staff, followed by an evening of socializing completed Friday.
Saturday morning, the group held its business meeting featuring Joe Elton, Virginia State Park System Director as the keynote speaker.
