County to buy 28 acres adjoining Echo Lake Park for $2.15 million after landowner seeks conservation sale

Henrico County authorized an appropriation of $2,150,000 on Oct. 14 to acquire roughly 28 acres at 5301 Francistown Road to expand Echo Lake Park.

County Recreation and Parks staff said the property owner, Martha Trivette Jenkins, expressed a desire to have the land conserved rather than sold to commercial developers; the parcel abuts Echo Lake Elementary and would expand park acreage by roughly 70 percent.

Why it matters: The purchase preserves open space, adds parkland and connects park facilities to a neighborhood with historical ties to the park, including long‑standing community use of the lake by locally significant African American communities.

Details provided at the meeting: - County staff described the acquisition purpose as preserving open space for trails, playgrounds and potential public utilities or altered public roads if necessary; funding would come from the general fund by interfund transfer to the capital projects fund. - Supervisors and staff noted the property's role in local history and that the purchase was consistent with county park and preservation goals.

Next steps: Real Property and Recreation & Parks will complete negotiations, record the deed and integrate the land into park planning. No capital project schedule was described at the meeting; staff said future boards could consider park improvements as part of the capital pipeline.

Quotation from staff: Recreation official Steve Yarbrough told the board the owner sought conservation and the county struck a deal to preserve the property; Yarbrough described the property—s historical and recreational value to neighborhood families.