Town of Tappahannock Projects
The Town of Tappahannock Has Several Ongoing and Upcoming Projects.
Please See Below for Details and Updates Regarding the Ongoing and Upcoming Projects.
Rappahannock River Park Project
Project Details Coming Soon.
The Town of Tappahannock Has Several Ongoing and Upcoming Projects.
Please See Below for Details and Updates Regarding the Ongoing and Upcoming Projects.
Project Details Coming Soon.
History of Hoskins Creek:
Schooners loading lumber at Hoskins Creek, 1941 (photo by Robert Burgess courtesy of Essex County Museum and Historical Society)
Once Flowing Through a Quiet Expanse of Marshland, Hoskins Creek Was Shaped by Nature's Rhythms, Largely Untouched Except for a Small Boatyard Nestled Along Its Banks. An 1828 Plat Reveals a Landscape Dominated by Marsh, Its Potential Still Dormant. Around the Time of World War I, However, a Wave of Industrial Growth Swept Through, Transforming the Area Into a Bustling Center of Activity. In 1917, Lemuel Watkins Opened a Grist Mill and Granary. By the 1920s, Schooners Loaded With Lumber Tied Up at Landing Docks, and the Lumber Yard and Planning Mill of George Boughan Prospered, Bringing a New Energy to Hoskins Creek. The Northeast Corner of the Property Became Especially Notable, With a Towering Pile of Sawdust. Reisinger Marina Appeared in the 1950s Offering Sailboats and Motorboats as Leisure Time Increased. In 1953, Members of the Deshazo Family Established Rappahannock Equipment Company. They Sold Ford Tractors and Other Farm Equipment and Operated a Grain Elevator, Purchasing Harvests From Local Farmers. The Company Was Acquired by Perdue Farms of Maryland in 1973. The Global Perdue Agribusiness Still Runs the Grain Elevator Today, With Its Barge Terminal and Gigantic Bins Filled With Corn, Soybeans, Wheat and Barley Towering Above the Creek.
The Hoskins Creek Project Officially Began in October 2024, Focusing on Restoring and Stabilizing the Shoreline, Enhancing the Natural Landscape, and Protecting the Community's Waterways. This Vital Initiative Will Also Include the Construction of an Entrance Road, Followed by the Development of Docks, and a Fuel Station.
Phase 1 is Currently Underway, Marking the Beginning of Efforts to Preserve and Improve the Environmental Health of Hoskins Creek for Future Generations.
The Development Schedule for the Hoskins Creek Park Project Outlines Key Milestones Over the Next Two Years:
The Entrance Road, Which Will Provide Essential Access to the Park and Restaurant Site, is Expected to Be Completed by the End of 2025.
The Docks and Fuel Station Are Scheduled to Be Operational by Late 2026, Offering Valuable Amenities for Recreational Boaters.
History of Central Park:
Central Park in Tappahannock Holds a Rich History, Dating Back to Its Early Uses as Farmland and Later as Community Property. Initially Part of Harrison Southworth’s Land, the Area Was a Cow Pasture and Garden Before Being Sold to St. Margaret's School (Sms) in 1937. The Field Has Seen Diverse Uses Over the Years, Including Serving as a Hockey Field for Sms, With a Small House Nearby Likely Built Between 1910 and 1930. The House Served as Sports Equipment Storage but Has a Chimney, Suggesting It May Have Been Used for Other Purposes as Well. One Long-gone Faculty Member Noted That the Faculty Used to Go Over There to Smoke and Perhaps Have a Nip, Away From Impressionable Students.
Lot 3, Historically Linked to the Price, Stone, and Gaines Families, Further Enriches the Park's Heritage. Owned by Freedman Dennis Gaines and Later His Descendants, the Gaines Family Contributed Significantly to the Tappahannock Community, With Members Involved in Local Business and Government. St. Margaret's School Acquired This Lot After Ernest Gaines’s Passing in 2006, Preserving a Part of Tappahannock's Unique Historical Landscape. Several Graves Were Moved From the Back of the Property When It Was Sold, Although Whether the Bodies Were Moved or Just the Stones is Unknown. These Graves Belonged to Dennis, His Wife Sarah, Alexander, and His Brother Jessie Paul Gaines.
Phase 1 of Central Park Was Successfully Completed in August 2024. Located at 234 Virginia Street, This 2-acre Park Features New Pickleball and Tennis Courts, a Playground, and a Splash Pad.
Phase 2 of the Tappahannock Central Park Project is Expected to Begin in Early July 2025 and Will Include the Addition of Two 16x20-foot Pavilions, Permanent Restrooms, and the Conversion of Stone Pavers Into Smooth Concrete Pathways for Improved Accessibility. A Third Pavilion is Also Under Consideration to Provide Additional Shade Near the Playground Area. These Upgrades Are Designed to Enhance the Visitor Experience by Offering Essential Amenities and Creating More Functional Spaces for Community Gatherings and Events.
The Playground and Splash Pad Will Remain Open Throughout Construction. If Any Areas of the Park Do Need to Close Temporarily for Safety or Construction Access, Closures Will Be Brief. The Project is Anticipated to Be Completed by the End of January 2026.
Phase II Construction Schedule
Phase II Tappahannock Central Park Conceptual Photos
The Downtown Sewer Rehabilitation Project Was Successfully Completed in 2024. The Project Focused on Upgrading the Sewer System Along Key Streets, Including Queen and Cross Streets, With Phased Construction to Minimize Disruption. This Important Infrastructure Improvement Enhances the Long-term Reliability of the Town’s Sewer System.