Originals

The Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the new Warrior Challenge Obstacle Course in Locust Shade Park.

Potomac Local News was there for the ceremony in Triangle, which attracted many representatives from the Prince William County Government, Quantico Marine Corps Base, as well as state officials

Located about a mile from the Marine Corps base, the obstacle course was created to give a place for residents in both the county and the base to get outside and exercise. The course, according to county parks and recreation department director Seth Handler-Voss, is inspired by the television show American Ninja Warrior where contestants run through a challenging obstacle course.

"I'm looking forward to seeing all the active duty, veterans, and residents coming out and enjoying the park," said Col. Michael L. Brooks, new Commander for Marine Corps Base Quantico.

The TV show is a spin-off based on a Japanese show called Sasuke that has been active since 1997, Sasuke was renamed Ninja Warrior when it was shown in the United States in the early 2000s.

The funds for the course came from a combination of a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense from their Defense Infrastructure Community program, one of only 15 such grants that were awarded this year. That grant was matched with another $250,000 in funding from Prince William County for a total of $500,000.

"This is the partnership between the County and Marine Corps Base Quantico, getting the grant for this course solidified that partnership. I'm extremely excited about the continued partnership with Col. Brooks as commander of the base and to continue that partnership in all activities including infrastructure, transportation. However that partnership rolls out, it is essential for the county," said Andrea O. Bailey, Potomac District Supervisor.

The opening of this course comes with new growth for the Quantico area, the base broke ground for their new wargaming facility in Sept. 2020. Quantico also awarded a contract to Dominion Energy to update the base's energy infrastructure. Both are aspects of the coming growth that Quantico will experience over the next few years.

There are plans to connect the obstacle course to the Potomac Heritage Scenic Trail which runs through Prince William County and now ends in neighboring Stafford County.

"The trail will connect through the Marine Corps Museum to this park and terminate in Stafford County who will take it from there and then go down to the Chesapeake Bay," said Handler-Voss.

Another opening will occur at Locust Shade Park in September when a new mountain bike trail will be opened to the public. Other amenities at the roadside park, located between Interstate 95 and Route 1, at 4701 Locust Shade Drive, include a mini-golf course, and a pond for fishing and paddle boating.