Loudoun County will soon be celebrating a major milestone: its first state park. Recently, legislators approved funding for the purchase of a 281-acre parcel in the Catoctin District, in northwest Loudoun County. The money would come from the interim budget. In the meantime, the park initiative would be added as a “priority” to the 2017 State Legislature meeting.
Plans for the state park have been in the works since 2014, at which time former Governor Bill McDonnell forged an alliance with the Leggett Foundation to acquire land and stream property consisting of 600 acres towards the creation of a new state park to be located in northwest Loudoun. In June, the land was transferred to the Commonwealth to become part of a land parcel that will, hopefully, soon consist of 1,500 acres. The new park will be bordered by the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and consists of former farms, fields, and meadows. Ever since McDonnell left office, efforts towards the building of the park have consisted of adding land located on the Blue Ridge to the state government.
The new 281-acre parcel encompasses the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship which, according to the Loudoun Times, “includes an environmental education center, restored historic buildings, roads, trails, water well , septic system and electricity.” The parcel was considered a “bargain” at $2.9 million by Supervisor Geary Higgins (R-Catoctin), since it has appraised at $3 million. The land comes with all the infrastructure needed for the park.
The wording of the resolution adding the new parcel states that the state park will “preserve significant natural and historic resources, support the rural economy, provide important trail connectivity and provide economic benefit to the county.” That’s a realistic expectation, as state parks add $171 million in funding to the state on an annual basis.
It will be years before state residents are enjoying the park, due to the fact that there is still much work to do. Next on the list for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the Virginia park system, is getting together with park planners, state leaders, and area residents to hammer out the details of master plans for the property.
“The significance of this new state park is immense and I have been privileged to have been a part of this process over the past three years,” Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin) proudly stated in regards to the milestone that the national park represents. “This park will be a jewel to Loudoun County, the Catoctin District, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Nation.”
