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Community Digest

August 2022

Albemarle County Seal

Your monthly digest of all things Albemarle! 

Upcoming Office Closure - Closed

Upcoming: Labor Day Office Closure

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day.


Public safety will operate as usual.



Summer Swim Update 

For the upcoming Labor Day weekend, Mint Springs Lake Park will be open for summer swim! We’ll be open Saturday through Monday from 11 am -7 pm.


Fees are $3 for adults, $2 for children (ages 4-12), and free for swimmers under 4 and over 62, cash or check only.


The lake at Chris Greene Lake Park is now open to dogs, as the algae bloom advisory is no longer in effect. All dogs must be on a leash at all times while in the park, unless visiting the off-leash dog park area.



Register Now for Fall Middle School Sports

Register now for Basketball, Tennis, and Cross Country middle school sports!


Our middle school sports program is held at all five Albemarle County middle schools and homeschoolers are welcome as well. This popular after-school program is a partnership between Albemarle County Public Schools and Parks & Recreation. Learn about registration costs, school locations and more for the fall.

AC44: The Comprehensive Plan Update

Participate in a Community Roundtable

Join us for a community roundtable discussion focused on how we can build a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We'll share four draft Big Ideas and ask you for your perspective. Do they meet your vision for our community? Do they guide us toward a more equitable and resilient community? We will use your input to refine the draft Big Ideas and develop them into a Framework for an Equitable and Resilient Community. This Framework will be used to guide the upcoming phases of our Comprehensive Plan Update.



Visit the Introduction to AC44 webpage to learn about the background of the project, why we have a Comprehensive Plan, and what the Plan is used for in day-to-day life.


Sign up here to receive email updates and participation opportunities. Select the "Albemarle 2044 - Comprehensive Plan Update" box and any other topics you are interested in.

Report Internet Speed

Help Expand Broadband Access in the County by Testing Your Internet Speed

Help Albemarle County to be successful as we apply for state and federal broadband expansion grant funding! The Albemarle County Broadband Authority and Albemarle County Public Schools ask for the help of the community in reporting current internet speeds to demonstrate need. We still need your participation. Reporting your internet speed will take five minutes or less.


The Albemarle County Broadband Authority uses the internet speed data to identify areas of little-to-no broadband and to encourage internet service providers to partner on grant applications. Please answer each question in as much detail as possible so that we can report as much accurate data as possible. Your effort can make a difference!

Report Your Internet Speed

Dedication and Unveiling of Historic Roadside Marker Honoring Union Run Baptist Church

Union Run Baptist Church Marker Info-2
Union Run Baptist Church Historical Marker

This month, Board Vice-Chair Bea LaPisto-Kirtley shared congratulatory remarks at the unveiling of the historic roadside marker and dedication ceremony that took place honoring Union Run Baptist Church and the memory of church founders and others who founded the Church shortly after the Civil War ended. 


The Albemarle County Community Remembrance Project is a Board of Supervisors’ initiative to support the sharing of Albemarle County history. It is specifically intended to broaden the scope of our publicly told histories and to be more inclusive of our complete community.


As part of the Community Remembrance project, the County’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, invited members of the Historic Preservation Committee to assist in efforts to increase the number of roadside markers in the county recognizing women and people of color whose stories and contributions have historically been excluded from County markers. Union Run Baptist Church was one of the historic locations chosen. The marker unveiling also marked the church's Founder's Day. Visit the historical marker and learn more about the Community Remembrance Project. 

Summer Construction Recap

Summer is a busy season for our Facilities & Environmental Services Department, which manage the County’s capital construction projects. See how we’ve been working to improve our community.


The Rio Road / Avon Street / US 250 Rockfish Gap Pike Sidewalks Project (pictured below) is a VDOT Revenue Sharing project that supports pedestrian safety by providing sidewalk and storm water system improvements along Rio Road, Avon Street, and US 250 West (Rockfish Gap Turnpike).


The Rio Road portion of the project connects the Stonehenge residential neighborhood to the John Warner Parkway and Rio Road sidewalk system.


The Avon Street segment provides sidewalks on the east side from Swan Lake Drive to Mill Creek Drive and then to Mountain View Elementary School, and on the west side from Stoney Creek Drive to Arden Drive.


The US 250 West-Crozet segment consists of the construction of sidewalks from Cory Farms to the Shoppes of Clover Lawn, and sidewalks and an at-grade crosswalk to the Blue Ridge Shopping Center. This segment also includes “traffic-calming” changes that should result in an overall speed reduction to improve public safety along this busy corridor. This project is scheduled to be complete in early October.

Albemarle High School / Journey Middle / Greer Elementary School Safe Routes to School Sidewalks (Pictured below.)


Following an extensive community-driven process, this project was selected for funding and construction. This project received partial funding through VDOT’s Safe Routes to School grant program. It includes over 2,000 feet of sidewalks and pathways that stretch from Albemarle High School to Greer Elementary School, along with storm water improvements.


This project began construction in early June and a significant amount of clearing and excavating has been completed, as well as over 200’ of sidewalk. Completion of this project is planned for late October of 2022.

Albemarle County Fire Rescue (ACFR): Final Call for Next Recruit School

The application period closes on September 1. Visit WorkForACFR.com for more details and to apply. 


We are looking for passionate team players from all backgrounds and experiences to join the ACFR family. Selected recruits will participate in a paid recruit school to learn the essential skills and knowledge to ensure success with our department – no previous training or certifications needed.

Fire Lane Parking Reminder

Parking in designated fire lanes, emergency access ways, or in front of fire hydrants is dangerous for our community and strictly prohibited. 


Fire lanes and hydrants are considered part of the fire protection system. Whenever a fire lane is blocked, the safety of that building – and most importantly, those inside – is in jeopardy.


Albemarle County Code and the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code prohibit parking in a fire lane. If you park in a fire lane or in front of a fire hydrant, your vehicle can be ticketed, towed, or both.

Recap of National Night Out 2022

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.


Albemarle County Police Department is proud to participate in the annual National Night Out initiative. Community events like this strengthen the ties between our officers and the community we serve.


On August 2, ACPD hosted its annual National Night Out. The community came out to The Shops at Stonefield and were able to see the fleet vehicles and talk to different personnel about working in public safety. Thanks to everyone for supporting this event and looking forward to next year!

Discover Black Cville

Check out this award-winning program, Discover Black Cville, which features the historic sites, exciting events, local wineries, and arts programing that highlight the Black community's contributions to our region.

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Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) is Offering a Monkeypox Vaccination Interest Survey

Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) is working to ensure that community members who have been exposed or are at high risk of being exposed to monkeypox receive a vaccination. If you are interested in receiving a monkeypox vaccination, please complete this VDH monkeypox vaccine interest form.


Filling out this form does not guarantee a vaccine, as you will still need to register for an appointment when the opportunity to sign up is made available to you. If you need assistance filling out the form, or have monkeypox questions, please contact the state hotline at 877-829-4682.

Invasive Alert: We need your help!

An invasive insect called the Spotted Lanternfly has been discovered in Albemarle County along the Rivanna River. The Spotted Lanternfly is an agricultural pest that attacks over 70 species of trees and is a significant threat to vineyards and orchards.


Visit www.albemarle.org/lanternfly to learn more.

Learn about more upcoming events and keep up with the latest happenings in the county by visiting www.albemarle.org

Have You Visited Our Online Engagement Center?


We are looking forward to providing you with a variety of robust tools designed to enable you to share your expertise, ideas, and feedback with us on a regular basis.


Please visit the site and register to access current and future projects.

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We have a new podcast! The Let’s Talk Albemarle podcast seeks to foster community participation through the exploration of important topics in Albemarle County. Listen free on Apple Podcast, iHeart, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, or our website.

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