At 500 acres, the park outside Manassas will be the county’s most extensive and will cater to passive users like hikers, kayakers, and birdwatchers.
The county’s parks and recreation department says the park build-out will cost about $10 million and will be completed in phases. It will pay $2.4 million to design the newly-expanded park. Plans include a $4 million pedestrian bridge over the Occoquan River, new picnic shelters, bathrooms, dual kayak launches, and a second parking lot.
Residents surrounding Cloverdale Park in Dale City have much to celebrate and enjoy now that the Cloverdale Bridge improvements have been completed and the bridge has been reopened. It’s been a little over four years since the bridge was severely damaged from flooding in July 2018, which led to the subsequent closure of the bridge due to unsafe conditions.
In October of last year, construction for the project to raise the bridge began and was completed last month. Many improvements were made including: removal of trees and underbrush; installation of erosion controls; installation of a stone-based access road; demo & removal of existing concrete bridge abutments and removal of existing bridge; and the formation and construction of new concrete pedestrian bridge abutments, resetting the bridge, filling & grading slopes up to the new bridge.
Six Flags America bills itself as the thrill capital of Washington, D.C.
However, some thrill-seekers headed to the regional amusement park in Maryland could find some areas of the capital off limits.
Brendon Hannafin is the new development director for the Fairfax County Park Authority.
He will oversee the development and master planning for new parks and facilities in Virginia’s largest jurisdiction.
Beginning on August 25, Manassas National Battlefield Park will observe the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Second Manassas. For five days, through August 30, events will remember the cost of battle and include the destructive impact on area families and African Americans.
A few highlighted events include:
The move is an effort by the Board of Supervisors to help reduce crowding and parking issues at the park. Residents of Stafford and the City of Fredericksburg will park for free with a valid ID showing residence.
“This park is in a flood zone and was never meant to be a high-capacity destination venue. The water on that stretch of the river is also hazardous,” said the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “While this was a difficult decision, we think charging for parking will cut down on some of the crowding from visitors, not from Stafford or Fredericksburg, making it a safer experience for everyone.”
Northern Virginia Conservation Trust has helped the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation acquire a 59-acre property of high-priority forested wetlands adjacent to the Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve in Stafford County.
The acquisition of this tract protects the habitat for bald eagles, great blue herons, at least 25 species of waterfowl, several rare plant populations, and neo-tropical migratory birds.
