Building a better future: Oct 24 Newsletter

Community Report, Oct 24 2022; read online here. You make our work possible! Donate today Remembering the Past and Building the Future Saturday, October 29th, 4-6 p.m. Brawner Farm Parking Lot | Register here Join us on October 29 from 3-5 pm at Brawner Farm to hear how our journey towards a more perfect union starts in Pageland. Speakers include Jim Bailey, Chief of Interpretation at Manassas National Battlefield Park, Nathan Grayson, a descendant of the Settlement community, and Frank Washington, spokesperson for Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare. Together we begin our journey with the Civil War, then on to The Settlement, Thoroughfare, and Pageland, weaving together the complicated tapestry that is the fabric of America and highlighting current threats that aim to unravel it. >>Read more here N. Va. Coalition Files Suit Against Prince William County and Developer Over Desecration of Historic Virginia African-American and Native American Cemetery (THOROUGHFARE, VA, 10/10/22) – The Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare has filed a lawsuit against International Investments, LLC (IIL), Virginia’s Prince William County, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Elijah Johnson “for their deliberate and egregious actions in the failure to protect and eventual desecration of a private, historically recognized, protected, and culturally significant cemetery belonging to the families of freed slaves and indigenous Native Americans – the Scott Cemetery.” NOTE: International Investments, LLC is also known as “The Farm Brewery at Broad Run.”  >>Read full press release Watch our program on Thoroughfare Dove's Landing - conservation easement update On October 11th, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved Dove's Landing Master Plan. They also unanimously supported a resolution directing staff to move forward with a conservation easement to permanently protect this great natural area that covers one mile of Occoquan River shoreline. >>view the resolution here While this is an important step in the right direction, we are disappointed the conservation easement was not part of the Resolution approving the Master Plan, and required separate action. Supervisor Yesli Vega asked Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (DPRT) Director Seth Hendler-Voss why this was the case, to which he replied that it was a policy decision he made citing that the Master Plan was as a framework, and a conservation easement could be added after plan approval.  Once the conservation deed is drafted, it will return to the Board for a final vote. Protecting Dove's Landing has been one of our priorities for over 10 years. Now we have an opportunity to ensure it remains a high-quality natural resource for future generations.  >>Read more here Virginia Outdoor Podcast with host Jessica Bowser This local podcast is back with season 3! Virginia is a mecca for outdoor travel and adventure. Virginia Outdoor Adventures Podcast brings listeners stories and recommendations from leaders and influencers across the Virginia outdoor community. Get the information and the inspiration to plan your own adventure, right here in Virginia.  Check out www.virginiaoutdooradventures.com to learn more and listen to episodes. In the news: County moves to expand, improve Doves Landing Park to be placed in a conservation easement Cher Muzyk, Prince William Times, Oct 20, 2022 The supervisors also agreed to pursue a conservation easement to protect the park, a move urged by the Prince William Conservation Alliance as well as several residents. Prince William County supervisors approve conceptual master plan for Doves Landing Nolan Stout, InSide NoVA, Oct 17, 2022 Many speakers also urged the board to place a conservation easement on the land, which would prohibit any future development. The board supported the easement. Final PW Digital Gateway Hearing Set for Nov. 1 Nolan Stout, InsideNoVA, Oct 20, 2022 [The PW Digital Gateway] ...has quickly become the most controversial and contentious local land-use proposal in decades. Prince William County Historical Commission urges denial of ‘digital gateway’ plan Jill Palermo, Prince William Times, Oct 12, 2022 These areas include land within the Manassas Battlefield Historic District as well as the birthplace and gravesite of Jennie Dean, a local icon who was born into slavery and later founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth, Northern Virginia’s first high school for African American students. 12 Conservation Groups Request Prince William Supervisors Send Digital Gateway Plan Back to Planning Commission Stacy Shaw, Bristow Beat, Oct 19, 2022 Conservation groups believe the new proposal is more detrimental to the Manassas Battlefield and environment as it offers less open land, parkland, tree buffers, and historical preservation areas.