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2003 SESSION

032220674
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 520
Offered January 8, 2003
Prefiled September 25, 2002
Requesting the Department of Conservation and Recreation to study the feasibility of establishing a Battle of Great Bridge State Park.
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Patrons-- Cosgrove, Jones, S.C. and Suit
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
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WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is charged with the mission to conserve, protect, enhance, and advocate the wise use of the Commonwealth’s unique natural, recreational, scenic and cultural resources; and

WHEREAS, the Battle of Great Bridge, as the first land battle of the Revolutionary War fought in Virginia, is an event of great cultural significance to the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the defeat of the British by American patriots in the Virginia Colony at Great Bridge, located in the present-day city of Chesapeake, on December 9, 1775, effectively ended the rule of the British Crown in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the conservation and protection of such a significant cultural resource would benefit all citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, other battles of cultural significance fought within the Commonwealth have been preserved and commemorated through the establishment of state parks; and

WHEREAS, there is presently no state park commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Conservation and Recreation be requested to study the feasibility of establishing a Battle of Great Bridge State Park. In conducting the study, the Department should determine the historical and cultural significance of the battlefield area, identify and evaluate available funding sources for its preservation, evaluate the costs of establishing a state park at the location, and examine similar landmarks and parks to determine the most appropriate means for preserving the Battle of Great Bridge area.

All agencies shall provide assistance to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, upon request.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall complete its work by November 30, 2003, and shall submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2004 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.