The 6.4 acres of wooded property was part of Ziontown, a Black community established following emancipation by Henry Pryor, who had been enslaved at nearby Ravenswood plantation. Ziontown, which means “heavenly place,” began with Pryor’s purchase of 5 acres and prospered into the 1960s, with about 50 homes and as many as 275 residents, according to research for a historical marker installed by the county in 2020 along Ridge.
The Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 28 to acquire the land in collaboration with CRLC. With a $850,000 grant from the county, CRLC acquired the property from Dan and Linda Wilson, of University Park LLC, through a part-gift and part-sale transaction. Then, CRLC donated it to Henrico, and the county conveyed a conservation easement to CRLC, designating the site for the perpetual preservation of open space and restricting future development. The closing was finalized Nov. 24.
At its Oct. 28 meeting, the board initiated its process to consider establishing a local animal cruelty registry. A public hearing for the proposed ordinance will be advertised for Dec. 2. A state law that took effect in July 2024 allows localities to create a registry that includes the names and relevant information of people convicted of certain felony offenses of animal cruelty. Continue reading Board of Supervisors recap: Public hearing on animal cruelty registry set for Dec. 2