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To accept a quitclaim deed from the School Board conveying a portion of 200 West Clay Street and a portion of 119 West Leigh Street and commonly known as Abner Clay Park to the City and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to act on behalf of the City in executing such deed. (2nd District)
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
WHEREAS, section 22.1-129 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, provides for a school board to convey title to real property owned by the school board for which the school board has determined that it has no use to the city comprising the school division by adopting a resolution that such real property is surplus and recording such resolution along with the deed to the property with the clerk of the circuit court for the city where such property is located; and
WHEREAS, section 15.2-1803 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, provides that no deed purporting to convey real estate to a locality shall be valid unless accepted by the locality and executed by a person authorized to act on behalf of the locality; and
WHEREAS, by adopting a resolution dated June 3, 2025, the School Board of the City of Richmond declared that a portion of the real property located at 200 West Clay Street and a portion of the real property located at 119 West Leigh Street commonly known as Abner Clay Park in the city and more particularly shown as “City of Richmond School Board, Parcel ID. N0000122016, 200 W. Clay Street, New Acreage 174,967 S.F./4.017 AC.,” on a plat entitled “Boundary Line Adjustment of Parcels Occupied by the City of Richmond School Board,” prepared by Timmons Group, and dated August 30, 2024, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this Ordinance, was surplus; and
WHEREAS, the School Board is expected to deliver a quitclaim deed creating a boundary line adjustment and memorializing the conveyance of every interest it may have in a portion of the real property located at 200 West Clay Street and a portion of the real property located at 119 West Leigh Street commonly known as Abner Clay Park and more particularly shown as “City of Richmond School Board, Parcel ID. N0000122016, 200 W. Clay Street, New Acreage 174,967 S.F./4.017 AC.,” on a plat entitled “Boundary Line Adjustment of Parcels Occupied by the City of Richmond School Board,” prepared by Timmons Group, and dated August 30, 2024, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the School Board’s resolution provides that the following condition shall be incorporated into the quitclaim deed: that the transferred real property reverts back to the School Board if such real property is not being used and owned by a public body, as more particularly provided in the quitclaim deed, substantially in the form of the quitclaim deed attached to this ordinance and incorporated herein; and
WHEREAS, in conformance with section 15.2-1803 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, the City Council desires to accept from the School Board the conveyance of every interest the School Board might have in a portion of real property located at 200 West Clay Street and a portion of the real property located at 119 West Leigh Street commonly known as Abner Clay Park and more particularly shown as “City of Richmond School Board, Parcel ID. N0000122016, 200 W. Clay Street, New Acreage 174,967 S.F./4.017 AC.,” on a plat entitled “Boundary Line Adjustment of Parcels Occupied by the City of Richmond School Board,” prepared by Timmons Group, and dated August 30, 2024, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this Ordinance, and to authorize the execution of the deed by the Chief Administrative Officer;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That (i) the City hereby accepts the deed from the School Board conveying every interest it might have in a portion of the real property located at 200 West Clay Street and a portion of the real property located at 119 West Leigh Street commonly known as Abner Clay Park and more particularly shown as “City of Richmond School Board, Parcel ID. N0000122016, 200 W. Clay Street, New Acreage 174,967 S.F./4.017 AC.,” on a plat entitled “Boundary Line Adjustment of Parcels Occupied by the City of Richmond School Board,” prepared by Timmons Group, and dated August 30, 2024, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this Ordinance, provided such deed is in a form approved by the City Attorney, (ii) the Chief Administrative Officer is hereby authorized to act on behalf of the City in executing such deed, (iii) the Chief Administrative Officer’s signature on the deed shall be deemed acceptance by the City of such deed and (iv) the Chief Administrative Officer, with the assistance of the City Attorney, is hereby authorized to take such other actions as may be necessary to complete the conveyance of every interest the School Board might have in a portion of the real property located at 200 West Clay Street and a portion of the real property located at 119 West Leigh Street commonly known as Abner Clay Park by the School Board to the City.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
DATE: July 18, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Amy Popovich, DCAO for Human Services
FROM: Christopher E. Frelke, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities
RE: Transfer of 1 Richmond Public School Parcel to the City of Richmond for the purpose of operating a public park.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To accept a quitclaim deed from the School Board conveying a portion of 200 West Clay Street and a portion of 119 West Leigh Street and commonly known as Abner Clay Park to the City and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to act on behalf of the City in executing such deed.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) operates manages the existing public greenspaces with assistance from the Department of Public Works (DPW). Ownership of Abner Clay Park is required for PRCF to continue to maintain and make improvements to the public greenspace. Historically, recreational programming at the park has included youth league sports (soccer and football), summer camp activities, and events like Down Home and Movies in the Park. Recreation anticipates increased usage of the park relating to youth league sports and activities with the recent transfer of Calhoun Family Investment Center being transferred back to PRCF.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Through a robust community engagement process, PRCF created a master plan for Abner Clay Park in 2017.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: None.
CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: Richmond Public Schools (RPS), DPW
FISCAL IMPACT / COST: The City will accept the property as a simple transfer by deed of gift with no funds being applied to the acquisition. PRCF and DPW will continue to manage the ongoing maintenance and improvements of the park.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 8, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 22, 2025
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Planning Commission
AFFECTED AGENCIES: PRCF, RPS, DPW
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A – Subdivision Plat, Attachment B – RPS Executed Resolution, Attachment C – Quitclaim Deed
STAFF: Christopher Frelke, Director, PRCF – (804) 646-1128
Nissa Richardson, Deputy Director, PRCF – (804) 646-5619
Daniel Hazlett, Senior Management Analyst, PRCF – (804) 646-7506