Land conservancy buys last privately owned part of Mayo Island
The Capital Region Land Conservancy has acquired the last privately owned parcel of land on Mayo Island, setting the stage for Richmond to own the island in its entirety.
Mayor Danny Avula called the acquisition “critical to the ongoing effort to transform Mayo’s Island into a vibrant public park and riverfront destination.”
“By bringing the entire island under unified ownership, we can advance plans that expand public access, celebrate the river’s natural beauty, and create a welcoming space for residents and visitors for generations to come,” he said in an announcement of the purchase.
Graham Moomaw
Capital Region Land Conservancy Executive Director Parker Agelasto said that the purchase had required more than five years of work and negotiations. The conservancy expects to ultimately transfer the parcel to the city.
Richmond has been working to transform the once-industrial Mayo’s Island into a large public park dominated by meadows and wildflowers since the city acquired roughly 15 acres of the island in 2024.
While the $15 million sale granted the city control over nearly all of Mayo’s Island, it didn’t include a quarter-acre that remained under the ownership of an LLC controlled by Louis A. Heindl, the founder of Hanover Concrete.
Heindl bought that parcel in 1973 from the Virginia Boat Club. According to Richmond BizSense, he operated a concrete plant there for several years before leasing it to Reynolds Metals and Wise Recycling.
The land includes a 1,290 square foot building constructed in 1933 as a service station. While it no longer operates in that capacity, the city said the building is “expected to remain and play an important role in the future operation and activation of Mayo Island Park.” Possible uses could include a space for recreational activities or environmental education, an outpost for maintenance work, or a concessions stand, among other options.
Heindl said his family was “delighted” by the conservancy’s purchase and is “confident that the CRLC will be a thoughtful steward of this property, preserving its rich history and heritage for generations to come.”
The city also said the acquisition would remove one requirement it has faced in redesigning the Mayo Bridge, which crosses over the island to connect Shockoe Bottom with Manchester.
“Under private ownership, the city was required to provide adequate access to a public right-of-way,” the city said in its release. “Removing this condition allows for alternative considerations on how [the bridge] will intersect with Mayo Island Park.”
While the Heindl parcel is small, it “is important to realizing the full potential of Mayo Island Park by closing a significant hole in the center of the park and creating future opportunities for the development of the space,” said Agelasto.
Contact Reporter Sarah Vogelsong at svogelsong@richmonder.org
