Waynesboro city representatives and residents gathered on August 21st to celebrate the transformation of the South River Preserve. The public dedication marked the culmination of years of collaborative environmental restoration work.

The project reclaimed portions of Constitution Park, the South River, and former DuPont properties that sat largely unused for more than a decade. What was once a seven-acre asphalt parking lot and degrading picnic area is now a flourishing meadow that welcomes both wildlife and community members.

The South River Preserve exemplifies the remarkable community benefits possible when federal, state, and local partners unite around a shared vision. City Councilman Terry Short praised the collaborative efforts that brought the project to fruition, with key speakers at the dedication including Anne Condon from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Parks and Recreation leaders C. Dwayne Jones and Stephanie Seltzer, Dr. Joe Keiper of the Virginia Natural History Museum, and Lisa Carter from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

The project also brought together a team coalition of design and engineering partners, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Anhold Associates, Timmons Group, and Summit Environmental Services, LLC.

The restoration was funded primarily through a settlement with DuPont that addressed historic mercury releases into the South River, known as the DuPont-Waynesboro Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Fund. Additional monetary support came from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, and Virginia Department of Forestry.

Construction began in late 2023, and the preserve now features:

• Expansive meadow and forest habitat that supports local ecosystems
• Fish habitat structures to enhance aquatic life in the South River
• ADA-compliant river access
• a Theater for outdoor programming and events
• Restored streambanks along Rockfish Run
• Educational interpretive signs developed in partnership with the Virginia Natural History Museum and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting, the dedication ceremony concluded with a community seed scatter—a fitting symbol for a project designed to help both native plants and community connections take root and flourish.