Good news state parks lovers: Virginia should be adding a 36th state park sometime this summer.

The budget that recently passed the General Assembly includes the funds necessary to open and operate Powhatan State Park (located on the banks of the James River in Powhatan County). The totals allocated for Powhatan are $200,000 for fiscal year 2013 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2014.

Credit: Rex Springston

According to Department of Conservation and Recreation spokesperson Gary Waugh, if the governor signs the budget as is, state parks would move ahead and “hire staff, furnish buildings, buy equipment, groom the park and establish trails using existing logging roads. If all goes well with the budget approvals we are shooting to open the park sometime in June.”