About Ivy Creek Foundation

Trail

Our Vision

To inspire and engage our community in the stewardship of our natural resources and our rich African American cultural history.

Our Mission

Connecting people to the past and present by honoring the land, history, and community.

Impacts

If we have done our best work to live out our mission and execute the goals below we will have the following impacts in the Charlottesville-Albemarle community:

  • A more inclusive and empathetic community – “We are all one community.”
  • Broad community involvement in land management and environmental initiatives
  • Increased community health through increased access and understanding of nature

Goals

  1. Connect the Ivy Creek Natural Area (ICNA) land to the community by fully integrating the unique and exceptional story of River View Farm into Ivy Creek Foundation’s mission
  2. Connect the community to the land by deepening diverse community connection to historic preservation and sustainable land management
  3. Increase community health by leveraging natural outdoor space for community access and use
  4. Strengthen our capacity to execute on strategic initiatives

Non-discrimination Policy: Ivy Creek Foundation does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, or any other characteristic or category protected under applicable federal or state law.

See:

2021-2024 Strategic Plan
Facilities Management
Staff and Board of Directors
Contacting the Foundation
2023 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
2017 Annual Report
2016 Annual Report
2015 Annual Report
Ivy Creek Foundation Bylaws

 

A Short History of the Ivy Creek Foundation

In the fall of 1975 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) contracted to buy the 80-acre Riverview Farm along Ivy Creek, which it recognized as a place of beauty and ecological integrity, as well as a good opportunity to preserve green space in a rapidly urbanizing section of Albemarle County. The local TNC Project committee, led by Babs Conant, maintained oversight of the land, upgrading the house and grounds. TNC worked with Charlottesville and Albemarle to help them procure federal funds to purchase the land as a natural area to be owned and managed jointly by the city and the county.

When Babs Conant left Charlottesville for New York State in March of 1978, she expressed her hope that the citizen group she organized and sustained would serve as an advisory committee to the city and county after the land transfer occurred. On October 30, 1978 title to the Preserve was passed to the city and county, and it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Read the entire story in the Ivy Creek Foundation Chronicles (pdf)