Marty Gordon, NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Kelly Delucia moved from the Tidewater area to the New River Valley just over year ago.
She found a small cabin on social media and what came with it was a bonus.
“Once we moved here, we discovered over two acres of overgrown areas adjacent to the New River,” she said last week during a tour of the side.
The light bulb then popped up. Then came the cavalry in the form of a herd of goats, who would clear the underbrush to reveal several open spaces perfect for small gatherings.
“I said what a great place to share with others,” DeLucia said.
Fairlawn Riverfront is a conservation-focused riverfront destination located along the New River in Fairlawn, directly across the river from Radford’s Bisset Park.
The site has evolved into, according to its new owner, a way to restore and protect New River habitat while creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect with the
river, nature, and their community.
“People often talk about protecting places they love,” said DeLucia. “This is our attempt to do exactly that – not by locking people out, but by helping them form a connection to the river and the landscape.”
By reservation, she will welcome small group areas with picnic tables, benches and fire pits. It has multiple outdoor gathering areas overlooking the river and offers a natural setting with mature trees, wildlife habitat and river access.
“We continue work to restore the habitat. The existing infrastructure is being repurposed rather than replaced,” she said.
So far, the owner has removed hundreds of invasive plants, and planted more than 200 native trees and shrubs with more than 10,000 native wildflower seeds being planted.
Multiple illegal dump sites have been removed. Ongoing habitat restoration and wildlife enhancement projects continue.
Those planned uses include educational programs, conservation and environmental events, photography sessions, community gatherings, outdoor recreation opportunity, small weddings and celebrations and family reunions.
Delucia also boasts the best place to watch fireworks from Bisset Park.
“We’re trying to prove that conservation and community use don’t have to compete with one another,” said DeLucia. “The goal has never been to maximize attendance. The goal is to create a place where people can gather, celebrate, learn, and enjoy the river while helping leave the property better than they found it.”
She said Fairlawn Riverfront represents a different model for riverfront development—one that combines conservation, education, recreation, and economic activity while preserving the natural character of the landscape.
For more information or to reserve a space contact Kelly DeLucia at of through her Facebook page.
