Acquisition: Culpeper Battlefields State Park (18655)

A. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall accept the donation of at least 1,700 acres of real property currently owned by land preservation organizations in Culpeper County hereafter to be known as Culpeper Battlefields State Park. It is the intent of this item that user activities at the park will include heritage tourism, camping, fishing, boating, equestrian activities, biking and historical and military education. Local organizations shall continue to provide for public access to the park through June 30, 2024. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall open the park for public visitation on July 1, 2024 and provide for only those improvements minimally necessary for activities listed herein and consistent with the preservation and protection of existing historic, cultural, archaeological, and natural resources.

B. As soon as practicable, the Department shall accept the donation from battlefield preservation organizations of up to 800 additional acres to improve river access and the visitor experience at the park. Pursuant to these transfers, the Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation shall assign any easements which they hold on the acreage described herein to the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

C. It is the intent of this item that the Department will execute agreements with local land preservation organizations to maintain park land and trails at current levels until December 31, 2027 at no additional cost to the Department.