Machicomico State Park
Machicomoco State Park | |
.jpg) A lake in the Park | |
  Location of Machicomoco State Park  Machicomico State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | 3601 Timberneck Farm Rd, Hayes, VA 23072 |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Hayes, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°18′44″N 76°32′24″W / 37.31222°N 76.54000°W |
| Area | 643 acres (260 ha) |
Machicomoco State Park is a state park in Gloucester County, Virginia along the York River. The park shares the stories of indigenous peoples like those of the Powhatan Confederacy. It encompasses the nearby Catlett Islands and is adminstrated under the same banner as Middle Peninsula State Park.[1] The name "Machicomoco" comes from an Algonquin language word meaning "special meaning place." It lies near Werewocomoco, a village was the headquarters of Chief Powhatan.
History
[edit]The area was likely used by indigenous people dating back to at least 2000 BC, according to archaeological evidence found at shell middens.
The park's land was owned by the Catlett family whose house, Timberneck, still stands on the property. The property was sold in 2007 to a land developer, who constructed roads, a bike trail, and a gate house before the Great Recession halted initial plans.[2]
When the land reached market again in 2017, the non-profit Conservation Fund bought the land, allowing the state time to construct plans. Dominion Energy was responsible for part of the funding.[3] The architecture firm Nelson Byrd Woltz designed the facilities for the park. Though it was supposed to open in 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the dedication was moved back to April 2021.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Jenkins, Taylor; McMillan, Lauren; Bryan, David. "Machicomoco State Park 10-Year Master Plan Public Information Meeting" (PDF). Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ Cox, Jeremy. "Machicomoco State Park puts Virginia Indians at center of story". Bay Journal. Bay Journal Media. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ Richards, Heather. "Virginia's Machicomoco State Park—A "Special Meeting Place"". The Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
External links
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