When one of the last parcels of working farmland in the City of Fredericksburg went on the market in 2020, a group of concerned citizens approached Downtown Greens, Inc. as a potential buyer. The organization was looking to expand after 25 years of connecting people to nature on its 2.7-acre campus downtown, where it holds educational programs and feeds the community with locally grown produce from its free fridge and food pantry.
At first, the prospect of managing such a large space was daunting, says Sarah Perry, who was the executive director of Downtown Greens, Inc., when the citizens’ group proposed the land purchase. “Initially, we said no,” she remembers. “The parcel was so much bigger than anything we thought we would pursue as our next growth piece. But they kept talking to us. They walked the land with us again and again. We consulted our partners, and we realized we could do it.”
That’s when the fundraising began, she adds, with a capital campaign that needed to raise $750,000 for the downpayment plus the first few years of mortgage payments. “We ended up raising a million by the end of the year. It was so much better than we thought it would be, but we still owed another $1.2 million towards the purchase price.” Grants from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund (VLCF) and the Virginia’ Outdoors Foundation’s Preservation Trust Fund both got them closer to their goal. Finally, selling the tax credits they received from protecting the property with an open-space easement with VOF will leave them debt free on the land.
Now Downtown Greens has more space to keep doing what it does best, says Jim Schepmoes, who is taking on the role of executive director as Perry steps down. The services they provide on the original 2.7-acre campus will be complimented by an Agricultural Education Center, two farm fields, greenhouses, an orchard, and plenty of wooded space and wetlands for trails on the new parcel, just five minutes down the road.
Before any of this can be implemented, says Schepmoes, Downtown Greens needs to conduct a detailed planning study for the site. “Whatever we do on the new property, we want it to be workable and sustainable. We want to do things right the first time.”
The planning study means a new round of fundraising, Perry adds, but their successful campaign for the land purchase proved they can meet the challenge. “The support from folks like VOF and VCLF was huge. And a great way to make public the fact that we’re serious, that we have supporters who believe in us.”
Downtown Greens has already begun hosting nature walks on the property. These are free and open to the public. Visit their Facebook page for dates and times.
