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Lake Anna State Park to grow with acquisition of neighboring acreage Date published: 2/6/2006
By RUSTY DENNEN Lake Anna State Park has gained nearly two miles of waterfront property, thanks to neighbors who didn't want to see the land developed. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation on Thursday purchased the 367 acres from the Marvin Ware family for $5.1 million. "This is a magnificent piece of property with beautiful lake views," DCR Director Joseph H. Maroon said in a press release. "We are extremely fortunate that the Ware family was interested in seeing their property become a vital part of Lake Anna State Park's future." The acquisition has been in the works for more than nine months after park workers heard that the property was on the market. A subdivision had been proposed on the tract, which sits on Ware Creek, opposite Picnic Area B, northwest of the park's boat ramp. Gary Waugh, spokesman for the DCR, said Friday that the money to purchase the land came out of a bond issue approved by voters in 2002. He said the acreage is the first addition of land to the park. He added that two citizen groups, the Friends of Lake Anna State Park and the Virginia Association for Parks, helped to bring the deal to fruition. Johnny Finch, president of the Association for Parks, a park advocacy group in Bumpass, said state officials had to move quickly. "We heard through the grape-vine that Mr. Ware was considering selling that piece of property, and at the same time that developers were knocking on the door." Finch praised the family for protecting the land. "We had trepidations about what the state and a developer could offer. I think everybody owes a real debt of gratitude to the Ware family. They could have gone for the big bucks, but they chose to take the conservation route instead," Finch said. His wife, Jo, is president of the Friends of Lake Anna State Park. For years, Ware had used the land as a hayfield. The property overlooks the lake on the east side of Stubbs Bridge. "If you stand on that knoll, the vista is just stunning," Finch said. "The other thing this does is protect the viewshed for the picnic area. If this property had gone to developers, the shoreline of Ware Creek would have been wall to wall with boat docks." The park, on Spotsylvania County's southern border, opened in 1983, encompassing 2,328 acres with about eight miles of shoreline. It has more than 13 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnicking, a guarded swimming beach, a children's play area, a boat ramp, a food concession stand, a bathhouse and a children's and handicapped fishing pond. Until recently, it was for day use only. Overnight cabins became available for rent last year, and a campground is under construction. Virginia has 34 state parks. Some of those have also grown by purchases of adjacent land. To reach RUSTY DENNEN:
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