Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 22, 2018
Contact:
Virginians benefit from tax-time contributions to Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund
RICHMOND — There’s still time for Virginians to contribute all or a portion of their state tax refunds to the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund.
The fund is used to acquire natural lands for recreation or conservation and to develop and maintain public park facilities. It’s also used to provide matching grants for local outdoor-recreation projects.
The fund has supported Virginia’s Natural Area Preserve System, which protects some of the state’s best examples of natural communities, and rare plants and animals. Twenty-one preserves have parking areas and trails that allow people to hike, study nature and learn about the environment.
Preserves that have benefited from the fund include: Crow’s Nest in Stafford County; Buffalo Mountain in Floyd County; North Landing River in Virginia Beach; Poor Mountain in Roanoke County; and The Pinnacle in Russell County.
Donations have also been used for local projects, including a trailhead at Eppington Plantation in Chesterfield County and an expansion of the Gene Dixon Memorial Park in Buckingham County.
Contributions may be made on Part II of Schedule VAC, which accompanies the individual tax return Form 760. To choose the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund, taxpayers must write code number 68 in the section for voluntary contributions.