This Funding Will Help Bring the Park’s Facilities, Sidewalks, Playgrounds, & More Up to ADA Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden yesterday signed into law U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that will provide $750,000 for Powhatan County to bring Fighting Creek Park and its surrounding areas up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

Fighting Creek Park offers many recreational opportunities, but access is noticeably restricted for members of the public with disabilities or impairments. The funding for Powhatan County — which Spanberger successfully secured as part of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate-passed fiscal year (FY) 2023 end-of-year government funding package — will help upgrade existing parks, playgrounds, fields, bleachers, sidewalks, parking lots, restrooms, and concession facilities to current ADA standards.

“Powhatan County is excited and appreciative for this funding opportunity. We are fortunate in Powhatan County to have exceptional Athletics and Parks facilities to serve our citizens and visitors. It is important to the Powhatan Board of Supervisors that our public facilities be accessible to community members and visitors of all abilities. This funding will advance the ADA access projects at Fighting Creek Park and other Parks and Recreation spaces in Powhatan County,” said Mike Byerly, Chairman, Powhatan County Board of Supervisors. “We are so appreciative for the advocacy and representation that Representative Abigail Spanberger and her team have provided on the County’s behalf to have these important projects included in the House Appropriations Committee’s funding for Community Projects.”

“Powhatan County is one of the most active places in our Commonwealth. All Virginians should be able to enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces the county has to offer,” said Spanberger. “I was proud to work directly with county officials to secure this funding to make sure that Fighting Creek Park and other recreational spaces in Powhatan County are accessible to Virginians of all abilities. I am grateful for the assistance of local leaders in successfully securing this funding.”

BACKGROUND

For FY2023, the U.S. House of Representatives allowed Members of Congress to submit Community Project Funding requests — as it did in FY2022. This allowed for specific, community-driven requests — like upgrades to Fighting Creek Park. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in all 10 counties of the Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for the full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress, in concert with the communities they represent, may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process.

To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications needed to demonstrate significant local support for the projects.

Earlier this year, President Biden signed into law funding for 10 Virginia projects that Spanberger successfully secured as part of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate-passed FY2022 appropriations bill.

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