Project Concept
Canal Basin Square, An Outdoor Transportation History Park
Canal Basin Square, designed by Charlottesville Landscape Architect, Nancy Takahashi, is an outdoor transportation history park that chronicles the inextricable connection of Scottsville to the James River. Exhibits, when completed, will span the period from the early river batteaux to the packet boats and freighters of the James River and Kanawha Canal days.
Located at 249 Main Street and visible from the intersection of State Route 6 and 20, the park is easily accessible by the public.
Scottsville, Virginia's Canal Basin Square project is sponsored by the Town of Scottsville and the Scottsville Community Chamber of Commerce. The project was approved as an ISTEA (TEA-21) program by Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in January 1999. The US Army Corps of Engineers, VDOT, and the Town of Scottsville reviewed and approved the (100%) construction drawings.
On October 25th, 2001, sealed bids for Phase I were publicly opened. Coleman-Adams Construction, Inc. of Forrest, VA was the low bidder. On November 15th, the Virginia Transportation Board approved the low bid and contract which the Town of Scottsville signed on December 4th.
Phase I accomplished infrastructure and brick and mortar construction.
Phase II focuses on interpretive history and educational exhibits.
These include completion of interpretive signage, landscaping, a working scale model canal lock, a canal/river mural, placing the Edward Scott Batteau in its berth.
Phase III Completion of street scape improvements in front of the park. (A final portion of this phase will be part of Scottsville's Streetscape project.)
Phase IV will consist of building a replica passenger packet boat (approximately 60 feet long) and a replica freighter (approximately 80 feet long and 14 1/2 feet wide).
A TEA-21 Program request for $75,000 which was submitted January 31, 2002 to request matching funding to complete the Phase II portion of the project was approved by the Virginia Transportation Board June 20, 2002. This TEA-21 program money matched Foundation grants of $15,000 from the Charlottesville-Albemarle Foundation and a $60,000 challenge grant from the Perry Foundation which were announced in the fall of 2001.
