Claytor Lake Rakes in Seed Grant!

Claytor Lake was formed in 1939 when Appalachian Power built a dam on the New River.  The generator there is the largest of the company’s 12 hydroelectric plants.  Nice, sustainable energy.  Private businesses and local neighbors raised the necessary funds to purchase land around the lake in 1946, seeding what became Claytor Lake State Park.  It has been a part of the Virginia State Park system since 1951.  And now they’re going to spread their beauty out.

Claytor Lake State Park and the County of Pulaski have been awarded a $750 grant in the Beautification Category as part of our 30 in 30 program. The KVB grant program focuses greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.  KVB is providing these grants through the valuable partnerships of Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

For several years the Friends of Claytor Lake (FOCL) organization has been exploring ways to improve the county’s entrance to Claytor Lake State Park, off of Interstate 81.  Currently the land along the exit is a barren area with scrub brush and weeds. The County of Pulaski plans to partner with the Pulaski County Clean Community Council, FOCL, the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Claytor Lake State Park staff, Arthur Cox of Indian Creek Hardscaping and River Bend Stone. Claytor Lake State Park is the biggest tourist attraction in Pulaski County (visited by 265,875 people in 2010). It is vital to insure the aesthetic value this exit provides to those tourists as this is the only entrance into the State Park, therefore the goal of this project is to not only beautify this exit, but to transform it.  Additionally, they hope that this project acts as a catalyst to improve the entire corridor.