Mayo Island park plans approved by Planning Commission

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Plans to turn Mayo Island into a natural park are even closer, as the City of Richmond's Planning Commission approved the project in May.

After the Urban Design committee unanimously approved the plan for the island to become a park on Thursday, May 15, the city's Planning Commission similarly approved the Mayo Island plans five days later on Tuesday.

However, the committee recommends minimizing light pollution and following dark-sky compliance, and if possible, incorporate fine art.

Mayo Island (Photo: City of Richmond

Mayo Island, a 16-acre site in the middle of the James River, which is used for industrial and parking purposes, will transform what they call an "underutilized and largely inaccessible 16-acre site" into a regional public park destination.

According to the city, the project will be in three phases:

Mayo Island (Photo: City of Richmond

• Demolition: Removal of buildings, asphalt and electrical infrastructure.
• Site Grading & Conservation Planting: Grading of the island, removal of artificial fill
  and seeding of native meadows and phytoremediating plant species.
• Public Park Development: Construction of nature trails, gathering spaces, signage
  and access points.

The proposal emphasizes walking, biking and paddling access, with trails for natural materials to "support stormwater management and environmental performance." It would also be integrated with the Capital Trail and Richmond Slave Trail. This would also include picnic areas, native plantings and interpretive signage.