Windsor Castle Park Foundation:
Current Projects
Park Expansion
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The Foundation’s priority project for 2021 is to raise funds for a new initiative aimed at showcasing an iconic tree species, longleaf pine, that played such an important role in the economic development and history of the Jamestown settlement and of the Smithfield area.
This initiative is focused on using the 3.5 acre vacant field at the southern end of the park. Toward this end, over 600 longleaf pine trees have been planted in Windsor Castle Park by community volunteers, coordinated by the Virginia Master Naturalists, Historic Southside Chapter, in three separate and distinct groupings. Groupings
(Hover over the pictures below to learn about each grouping.) |
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Planned Expansion
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The plan includes expanding the park’s trail system, adding additional parking and other needed amenities. The plan was completed by Virginia Tech Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) and adopted by the Smithfield town council. The full CDAC report can be accessed here.
This new development of the park’s southern section is planned to be a center for educating the public and property owners about longleaf pines, and a demonstration to landowners of how to incorporate into their property plantings these, almost lost, native trees. This area will be ecologically friendly with the added parking lot being permeable, and the 2.2-acre planted portion contoured and scarfed to mitigate erosion. This portion of the park will be a field trip destination for our region’s schools to showcase ecofriendly plantings and storm water management methods. All of these watershed conservation methods aim to reduce pollution in our local waterways and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. |