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Amherst County wins VACO Achievement Award for Seminole Park project
Summary
The Virginia Association of Counties presented Amherst County with a 2025 VACO Achievement Award for the Seminole Park project, which county staff say began before the COVID-19 pandemic and was completed with multiple county departments and private partners.
The Virginia Association of Counties presented Amherst County with a 2025 VACO Achievement Award on Oct. 7 for the Seminole Park project.
The award recognizes innovative county programs. "It's my privilege to be here with you today to celebrate your success and present you with a 2025 VACO Achievement Award," Katie Boyle, deputy director at the Virginia Association of Counties, told the Board of Supervisors.
County staff who managed the project said the park began as a plan before the COVID-19 pandemic and moved forward with federal grant funding and internal coordination. "This Seminole Park project was definitely a team effort," said Jamie Bryant, who described applying repeatedly for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and working across departments to purchase playground equipment, construct ADA-compliant sidewalks, address stormwater, and install a dog park. Bryant said the grant was approved in April 2023 and construction work accelerated in 2024.
Bryant and other county staff named multiple contributors from public works, purchasing, human resources, the recreation advisory board and external firms that helped with site plans, engineering and environmental reviews. Bryant said the park is in daily use and that staff are completing closeout work for the grant.
The board thanked staff and described the project as a public-private partnership that benefits the broader community. VACO presented a plaque during the meeting.
The award is the county's third consecutive VACO recognition for similar efforts, according to VACO's presentation. The board did not take formal action related to the award; the presentation was on the meeting's special-presentation calendar.
