Welcome back to Lynchburg Field Notes, a column that arrives in your inbox on Wednesdays with quick news updates from the past week and previews of what’s coming up next in the Hill City and surrounding communities.
Lynchburg’s only public pool, the Miller Park Pool, will enter a new phase of renovation in September now that its construction contract has been awarded. You can learn about the construction schedule in this edition, plus catch updates on how the Community Access Network plans to expand healthcare services in the area.
This roundup also includes a look at state and federal grants awarded in the Lynchburg region this month and what they’re set to fund across sectors of behavioral healthcare and food and farming initiatives.
As always, feel free to connect with me at emma@cardinalnews.org if you have questions about our region or ideas for future stories.
Miller Park Pool on track for reopening in summer 2027
Construction on the new Miller Park Pool is set to begin next month, according to a news release from the city of Lynchburg.
The announcement comes after demolition of the former pool was completed in February, the new pool’s design was finalized in the spring, and construction bids were opened in June. The bid process wrapped up this month when the city named Jamerson-Lewis Construction as the contractor.
Construction is planned to be completed in June 2027, according to the news release and project timeline.
“This is an ambitious timeline, and our team has been intentional about keeping each phase of the project moving forward with the goal of welcoming the community back to Miller Park Pool for the 2027 summer season,” said Wyatt Woody, director of the city’s parks and recreation department, in the news release.
The former Miller Park Pool was built in 1986 and was experiencing significant leaking before construction plans for the new pool were announced. The new pool was designed with public input in mind and will include swim lanes for laps, water slides, a children’s play area, a sloped entry for improved accessibility and shaded seating areas.
Community Access Network expands services to Jubilee
The Community Access Network, a Lynchburg nonprofit that provides healthcare regardless of patients’ ability to pay, is expanding thanks to a new federal recognition.
The nonprofit, located on Fifth Street, provides primary care and behavioral health services and connects patients with community health workers who help them navigate housing, food insecurity and other factors that can stand in the way of positive health outcomes.
Earlier this month, the organization announced that it was selected to become a Federally Qualified Health Center, which means it will now receive federal funding through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
With the additional funding, the organization plans to open a satellite site at the Jubilee Family Development Center in November, according to a news release. Jubilee, on Florida Avenue, is a nonprofit that provides academic, athletic and occupational programs that aim to strengthen family stability.
The award “allows us to expand a model that has always been rooted in listening to our community, meeting people where they are, and ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live a healthier life,” said Christina Delzingaro, CEO of Community Access Network, in the news release.
Community Access Network has been providing services for more than a decade to ensure that “every person, regardless of income, insurance status, or life circumstances, has access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare,” Delzingaro’s statement continues. “This award affirms the work our staff, board members, patients, and community partners have done together to create a model of care centered on dignity, access, and health equity.”
Mental health services set to increase in local schools
Horizon Behavioral Health announced last week that it received $4 million in federal funding to expand behavioral health services for elementary, middle and high school students in local public schools.
The award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will fund services in the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell, and the city of Lynchburg. The grant lasts for four years, starting this academic year, and is slated to provide care coordination to about 1,100 students and direct mental health services to about 1,400 students, according to a news release.
The services are intended to support students experiencing conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, behavioral disorders and co-occurring substance use disorders.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with making sure they have access to the support they need when they need it,” said Melissa Lucy, CEO of Horizon, in the news release. “This investment allows Horizon to bring more behavioral health services closer to where young people live, learn, and grow, while strengthening our partnership with local schools and families.”
Horizon has provided behavioral healthcare in Central Virginia for nearly 60 years and has the highest level of international accreditation.
State grants awarded to local food and farming initiatives
Of 14 state grants distributed for food and farming projects, Lynchburg-area programs took home two of them, according to a news release.
The Appomattox FFA Alumni Association received $50,000 to construct a multi-purpose agricultural complex, planned to serve as a hub for regional livestock aggregation, training, and marketing for producers of cattle, swine, sheep and goats across Central Virginia.
The EcoFriendly Foods Initiative in Bedford County received nearly $40,000 to replace the roof and upgrade electrical infrastructure at its processing facility. The improvements are set to increase meat processing capacity and expand cold storage capabilities.
The grants come from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ program for Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development.
“Modernizing local food supply infrastructure is a win-win for Virginia — it supports local agriculture and strengthens communities with improved access to fresh, locally grown food,” said Gov. Abigail Spanberger in a news release about the grant program.
