Henrico partners with land conservancy to expand Roslyn Hills Park and protect Ziontown history

Henrico County has completed a joint effort with the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC) and a longtime property owner to acquire and protect 6.4 acres of wooded land next to Roslyn Hills Park, securing public access and preserving part of the historic Ziontown community.

The Board of Supervisors approved the move on October 28th. Using an $850,000 county grant, CRLC purchased the land from Dan and Linda Wilson of University Park LLC through a partial sale and partial donation. CRLC then transferred the property to Henrico, and the county placed a conservation easement on the site to ensure permanent protection. The transaction closed on November 24th.

Ziontown was founded after emancipation by Henry Pryor, who had been enslaved at the nearby Ravenswood plantation. Pryor purchased five acres and helped establish a community that grew to roughly 50 homes and up to 275 residents by the mid-twentieth century. A historical marker recognizing the community was installed along Ridge Road in 2020.

County officials said the protected acreage will be added to Roslyn Hills Park near Ziontown and Ridge roads. The existing park, established in the early 1980s, spans 2.5 acres and includes two playgrounds and picnic space. The newly preserved land contains an unmarked cemetery and will remain largely undeveloped under the easement. Potential improvements may include a trail network, invasive plant removal, and interpretive signage, though no plans have been finalized.

CRLC Executive Director Parker Agelasto said the addition triples the park’s size and lies within a 10-minute walk of more than 8,500 residents. Property owner Dan Wilson said the family chose to donate a significant portion of the land’s value rather than see the area developed.

The acquisition is the second recent expansion of parkland in Tuckahoe. In July, county supervisors approved purchasing a six-acre wooded parcel along Patterson Avenue near Maybeury Elementary School and the Tuckahoe Family YMCA. Recreation & Parks began community planning for that site in October.

Henrico and CRLC have worked together on previous conservation projects, including the 2018 preservation of Malvern Hill Farm in Varina. Of the 871 acres protected there, 428 acres were transferred to Henrico for a future public park and are now under conservation easement, with the remainder incorporated into Richmond National Battlefield Park.

For more information about land conservation efforts, visit the Capital Region Land Conservancy website here.