The Commonwealth of Virginia has finalized the permanent protection of 14.5 acres on Mayo’s Island, paving the way for the City of Richmond to develop the site into a public park. The announcement was made by Governor Glenn Youngkin, who attended a groundbreaking event with state and local officials.
A conservation and open-space easement now protects Mayo’s Island from future development. The easement is co-held by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC), a nonprofit land trust based in Richmond. This step fulfills requirements under state grant programs that provided financial support for the project.
In 2022, DCR awarded a $7.5 million Community Flood Preparedness Fund grant to Richmond, while the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation granted $1.5 million to CRLC for protection and restoration efforts on Mayo’s Island. The city acquired ownership of the property in January 2024 using these funds and will manage it as part of its James River Park System.
“Virginia is rich with an abundance of best-in-class outdoor recreational opportunities, and Richmond has the unique distinction of being the only urban city in the country that sits on Class IV rapids,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.“By establishing this new park and greenspace, visitors in the greater Richmond region, the Commonwealth and the world can come and enjoy the wonders of the James River.”
Historically, Mayo’s Island hosted facilities such as a baseball stadium, boat club, and music venue but has experienced repeated flooding over three centuries. Plans for redevelopment include removing existing asphalt parking lots and industrial buildings in favor of planting meadow grasses, wildflowers, and other vegetation.
“This project could not have occurred without the partnership between the Commonwealth, the City of Richmond, and the Capital Region Land Conservancy,” said Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Stefanie Taillon.“Through collaborative funding sources, like the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, we are able to deliver on projects, such as Mayo’s Island, that transform properties into new opportunities for recreation and protection.”
The Community Flood Preparedness Fund was created in 2020 to help localities across Virginia reduce flood risks through planning and mitigation projects. By purchasing Mayo’s Island with this support, Richmond aims to restore wetlands and floodplains while installing forested buffers to protect against future development.
“The transformation of Mayo’s Island into open space will provide significant environmental and flood resilience benefits, while at the same time creating a much-needed recreational outlet for the area,” said DCR Director Matthew Wells.“DCR is proud to partner with the City of Richmond and Capital Region Land Conservancy to help protect and restore Mayo’s Island in the heart of the James River.”
Demolition work is scheduled to begin later this year on part of Mayo’s Island with plans for opening as a public park by October 2026.
“As the City of Richmond welcomes Mayo Island into the James River Park System, we celebrate more than a land purchase and the establishment of the conservation easement,” said Richmond Mayor Danny Avula.“We celebrate the power of vision, the strength of partnership, and our shared commitment to a thriving Richmond — one where our environment is sustainable, our neighborhoods are strong, and our river continues to flow at the heart of our city’s life.”
Since 2021, CRLC has worked toward making Mayo’s Island a public park by raising an additional $1 million toward its purchase as well as securing grants necessary for acquisition from previous owners.
“Following the success of other DCR co-held riverfront conservation easement projects like Dock Street and Brander Street, CRLC recognized the unique timing for state grant funding that could fulfill the City’s comprehensive plan by working to acquire Mayo’s Island,” said CRLC President L. Preston Bryant Jr.“We understood the singular opportunity this presented and also its challenges but were undeterred as our dedicated staff partnered with an incredible team to protect these additional 14.5 acres. It is therefore with great privilege that CRLC has assembled 25 acres of additional parkland on the James River in downtown Richmond since 2021.”
