Bill Text: VA HJR95 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Culpeper County; DCR to study establishing two state parks within County.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-11 - Left in Appropriations [HJR95 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HJR95-Prefiled.html
WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is charged with the mission to conserve, protect, enhance, and advocate the wise use of the Commonwealth's unique natural, recreational, scenic, and cultural resources; and
WHEREAS, tourism is vital to the economy of Virginia, and it has been the Commonwealth's policy to encourage tourism and travel in Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, more than 10 million people visited state parks located within the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, visitors to Virginia's state parks spent an estimated $249 million within the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Brandy Station Battlefield and Cedar Mountain Battlefield are notable sites in the history of the Civil War in Virginia that are not currently designated as state parks; and
WHEREAS, establishing state parks at Brandy Station Battlefield and Cedar Mountain Battlefield in Culpeper County would create two attractive destinations for heritage and recreational tourism; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Conservation and Recreation be requested to study the feasibility of establishing two state parks in Culpeper County at Brandy Station Battlefield and Cedar Mountain Battlefield.
In conducting its study, the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall seek and consider the views of local citizens, local governments, and regional organizations before making its final recommendations.
All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for this study, upon request.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2020, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2021 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.