As reported by The Richmonder last week, the city is moving forward with plans to transform Mayo Island into a public park, with construction expected to begin later this year and the park scheduled to open in fall 2026.
The 15-acre island, located in the James River between downtown and Manchester, was purchased by the city in 2024 for $15 million. Half of that funding came from Virginia’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund. This week, the city’s Urban Design Committee gave unanimous approval to the park’s conceptual plan.
The new park will emphasize open space and natural features over built infrastructure. Most of the island’s existing structures and pavement will be removed to make way for meadows, native plantings, and gravel walking paths. Designers say the approach is intentional, both to support the local ecosystem and to account for the island’s regular flooding.
The city has also allocated $16 million in its upcoming budget to support the work.
The project leaves a small portion of the island — including one building and a parking lot near South 14th Street — in private hands, but the rest will become part of the James River Park System. The design aims to create stronger pedestrian connections to the nearby Capital Trail and the Richmond Slave Trail, while also taking into account future plans to replace the aging Mayo Bridge.
Once complete, Mayo Island Park is expected to serve as an accessible green space for downtown workers, Manchester residents, and anyone looking to spend time by the river. After decades of industrial use and limited access, the island is finally set to become something that better reflects its place in the city — and its role in the river.
See the plan for yourself HERE.
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