THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 15, 1996 TAG: 9607150037
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT HARPER
STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 118 lines
It took four years, but state approval - and money - have arrived from Richmond to start work on a $1.3 million environmental center and amphitheater at First Landing State Park.
The long-awaited complex, planned to open in 1998 in a windswept forest on Chesapeake Bay, will be designed to attract eco-tourists to Virginia Beach and offer community groups a scenic new forum for meetings and events.
``I'm excited - I think everyone's excited - that the money's finally coming in,'' said Mary Heinricht, a Virginia Beach environmental consultant. ``But you have to wonder: What took so long?''
Indeed, the project also represents how state officials, after tedious and often unexplained delays, are slowly unleashing $95 million that voters approved in 1992 for sprucing up Virginia's state parks and nature preserves.
By a 2-to-1 margin, Virginians voted in a 1992 bond referendum to finance $472 million for higher education improvements, $45 million for mental health facilities and $95 million for better parks and natural areas.
As of this spring, though, only one-third of the park money has been spent on the 225 proposed projects statewide, according to financial reports. In contrast, two-thirds of the college and mental health funds have been put to use, the reports say.
Such statistics have grabbed the attention of lawmakers and environmentalists, who are upset by what they view as foot-dragging by Gov. George F. Allen's administration.
``At the very least, this whole matter has been handled terribly,'' said Patti Jackson, executive director of the James River Association. ``Things were getting put off that had no business getting put off.''
Amid mounting public and political frustration over the process, parks officials now are pledging to markedly increase spending. They predict that all bond money will be committed by 1998.
``You're going to see a flurry of activity in the next year,'' said Ron Hedlund, director of planning and resources for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages state parks and preserves.
In one of its biggest moves to date, the department last month acquired Buffalo Mountain, one of Virginia's highest peaks, for $2 million of park bond money.
Home to 18 rare plants, the mountain encompasses 1,000 acres in Floyd County in southwest Virginia. It is part of a larger tract granted to Gen. Harry ``Lighthorse Harry'' Lee for his service in the Revolutionary War.
The land will be protected from development under a partnership with The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation group. The two hope to soon announce other agreements to safeguard other sensitive areas, officials said.
``Government acquisitions are notoriously slow; that's always been the case,'' said Michael Lipford, director of The Nature Conservancy's Virginia office. ``But we're finally seeing some results. We're not going to make judgments about what's happened in the past.''
The best explanation for the long delay, according to state officials, park managers and conservationists, seems to be two-fold - government red tape and a change of political winds in the state capital.
Since a reform-minded Allen took office in 1994, he has devoted attention to downsizing government, including the department overseeing Virginia's 28 state parks.
As a result, many experienced staffers and park planners who had helped organize the 1992 bond vote have left the department, leaving proposed projects and land acquisitions in limbo.
Another political factor is Allen's secretary of natural resources, Becky Norton Dunlop. A conservative activist, Dunlop has made no secret of her distaste for buying more public land for parks and natural areas - even though the bond referendum included millions of dollars to do so.
Dunlop is a member of a private property rights group, and has written articles about the dangers of excessive government land policies.
Department employees were so alarmed by their new bosses' philosophies that they started publishing an unsigned, internal newsletter. It warned of various changes inside the department and of potential impacts on programs, including money for park improvements.
Gary Waugh, a department spokesman, said that most employee angst stemmed from a reluctance to change longstanding department practices.
Administration officials acknowledge that they carefully reviewed each project, trying to save money, which may have slowed projects.
Fred Hazelwood, manager of First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, said the delay can mostly be attributed to the bureaucratic rigors of spending public money.
``This is one of the hardest concepts to get people to understand,'' Hazelwood said. ``Just because we got the bonds approved doesn't mean you just go out and immediately spend them.''
Plans must be designed and approved. Contractors must be hired through competitive bidding and public notice. Budgets must be checked and adjusted.
The new education center at First Landing is a good example. An amphitheater and center were at first considered separate projects. But on second thought, Hazelwood said, it seemed smarter to combine them.
To accomplish this one change, however, meant new plans and approvals from Richmond. Of course, the plans had to get in line behind changes at other parks. Which all meant more delays.
``For better or worse, there's just a lot of people who have to take a look at this,'' Hazelwood said.
The new center is being designed by Virginia Beach architect Burrell Saunders. His firm, CMSS Architects, also planned the city's new outdoor-concert venue, the Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
Saunders was selected for the job almost two years ago, but didn't hear more until this summer, when he was told to start drawing.
``It's been kind of curious, I'll say that,'' he said. ``But I'm just looking forward to designing what I hope will be a really nice place.'' MEMO: Staff Writer David M. Poole contributed to this report.
Virginia touts eco-tourism
BUSINESS WEEKLY ILLUSTRATION: VP
Map
LOCALS ON THE LIST
Park projects OK'd in 1992.
First Landing, Virginia Beach: $3.8 million, improved cabins,
campgrounds, water/sewer lines, footbridges. Education center,
amphitheater.
False Cape, Virginia Beach: $518,000, comfort station, water
improvements, handicapped access, conference center upgrade. by CNB