Yowell Meadow Park

Yowell Meadow Park. . , The History of Yowell Meadow Park , In 1971, the Town of Culpeper purchased the property known as Yowell's Meadow from the Estate of Frieda Q. Yowell for $10.00, and thus, the foundation for Culpeper's first community park was born. After reviewing citizens surveys for the 1982 Comprehensive Plan, the community and town leaders recognized that additional open space and recreational opportunities were needed within the Town. The Comprehensive Plan called "to develop a system of parks and playgrounds in convenient locations." In 1984, the Parks and Recreation Committee, under the direction of the Town Council, was authorized to develop a plan for a community park at Yowell's Meadow. Because of its location in a flood plain, there was much heated debate over the location for the proposed park. However, with the volunteer efforts of the local engineering firm T.A. Houston and Associates, a geological study was performed which concluded that landscaping measures could be taken to convert the land to a usable recreation space. Additionally, local engineers Brian Thressell and Marvin Hinchey services to develop the landscaping plans. Significant grading on the east side of the land was required, along with digging an overflow channel to provide positive drainage during heavy rainfall. Waverly Lee, Eric Johnson, and Gay Wallace spearheaded a citizens' group called Citizens for Yowell Meadow Park in order to raise funds for the proposed park. In 1986, the Town Council agreed with the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Committee to assume operational cost to maintain the park in perpetuity. Yowell Meadow Park officially opened on June 4, 1989. The multi-use path and interpretive signage was added to the park in the late 1990s.