Prince William Forest Park Archives - Page 2 of 3

Published June 17, 2024 at 9:51AM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 9:36PM

The Greater Prince William community is gearing up for the 4th Annual Juneteenth Parade, which will be held on June 19 at Prince William Forest Park.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the U.S., marking the 159th anniversary of Union General Gordon Granger’s announcement of the end of slavery in Texas. This year, the event will honor the contributions of the “Divine 9,” a group of historically Black fraternities and sororities that have supported Black communities for over a century.

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President Biden announces sweeping climate actions during Earth Day speech at Prince William Forest Park

By Kevin Sandell

Published April 22, 2024 at 5:35PM

Biden at Prince William Forest Park [YouTube screenshot]

The president was joined by the Secretary of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, the AmeriCorps CEO, and members of Congress to announce $7 billion in grants through the EPA’s “Solar for All” grant competition, which provides funding to states, municipalities, and nonprofits to deliver residential solar power to 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Additionally, the president announced the start of the American Climate Corps, a federal jobs initiative to hire 20,000 Americans to build clean energy and climate resiliency projects around the country. The American Climate Corps is modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps, a workforce initiative started by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt following the Great Depression in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps developed and built the Prince William Forest Park in Triangle.

Breaking News

Biden to speak at Prince William Forest Park

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 22, 2024 at 11:29AM

A portion of the 13,000-acre recreational area near Quantico Marine Corps Base is closed to visitors to accommodate them.

The closure and restrictions imposed on the park are in response to a request from the United States Secret Service to ensure a secure staging area and perimeter with adequate standoff distance to safeguard the President during his visit, federal documents state. These temporary measures are also aimed at enabling the Secret Service to conduct security sweeps of the area, secure the landing zone for the President’s arrival, and ensure public safety.

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Woodbridge man takes 3rd consecutive win in Marine Corps 17.75K at Prince William Forest Park

By Potomac Local News

Published March 23, 2024 at 12:41PM

Jonathan Ladson, 32, from Woodbridge, won the Marine Corps 17.75K today at Prince William Forest Park. He finished the run in one hour, six minutes, and 26 seconds.

For the third year in a row, Ladson and Alex Trouteaud, 44, from Barnesville, Md., were the top two finishers, with Trouteaud trailing by 89 seconds.

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Marine Corps 17.75K this Saturday; Traffic delays expected near Prince William Forest Park

By Potomac Local News

Published March 20, 2024 at 9:21AM

The Marine Corps Marathon 17.75K run in Prince William Forest Park [Photo: Marine Corps Marathon]

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) will hold the Marine Corps 17.75K at the national park near Dumfries. Over 2,000 runners will begin running the 11-mile course at 7 a.m., with the last participant estimated to finish around 11 a.m. Marathon organizers say that significant delays should be expected between 4:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on event day.

Pleasant Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

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Denied by the Planning Commission, Parsons Business Park proposes changes for data center campus on Route 234; Decision expected Tuesday, March 19, 2024

By Potomac Local News

Published March 15, 2024 at 8:53AM

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will decide on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, whether or not data centers belong near Prince William Forest Park, the largest natural protected area near Washington, D.C. The server farms would be built on the east/north side of Dumfries Road (Route 234), east of its intersection with Independent Hill Drive.

The plan to build a data center campus on the property stirred interest and controversy within the community. If approved, it would be the first major data center project east of Manassas.

Features

Prince William Forest Park a snowy spectacle

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 22, 2024 at 1:35PM

[Photo: Prince William Forest Park]

A Facebook post from Prince William Forest Park highlights the beauty of snow covering the forests in the park.

It mentions that trails are still snow-covered, while Scenic Drive and parking areas have been cleared of snow. However, caution is advised due to the remaining icy patches on the roadways.

Features

NPS: Prince William Forest Park tourists spend $19 million

By Amelia Breeden

Published August 23, 2023 at 9:52AM

National Park Service: “A new National Park Service report shows that 294,916 visitors to Prince William Forest Park in 2022 spent $19.1 million in communities near the park.”

“That spending supported 222 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $27 million.”

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Prince William Forest Park will close the orienteering course

By Uriah Kiser

Published June 8, 2023 at 10:00AM

Press release: For visitor safety during a wastewater system improvement project, Prince William Forest Park will close the orienteering course from June 20 through October 27. The project will cause periodic closures at Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground, and many of the points on the course are in or adjacent to the campground – including the starting point. Due to heavy equipment operation and excavation occurring in the area, the park has decided to close the orienteering course while work is ongoing.

“Parking will still be available in a limited capacity at the Turkey Run day-use area while the work is ongoing, though visitors are encouraged to use caution and follow all closures in the area. While visitors will still be able to access Turkey Run Ridge Trail from the day-use area, access to the Little Run Trail loops, Old Blacktop Road, and Mary Bird Branch Trail from the Turkey Run day-use area may be closed periodically due to the infrastructure work. These trails are still accessible from other parking areas in the park such as Parking Lot E, Parking Lot F, and Parking Lot H.”

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Wastewater improvements planned, campgrounds to close

By Potomac Local News

Published April 18, 2023 at 10:00AM

The National Park Service will begin improving wastewater systems at Prince William Forest Park’s campgrounds this summer.

The work will require periodic closures at Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground and Oak Ridge Campground and the extended closure of Cabin Camp 3. These improvements will ensure that Prince William Forest Park can continue to welcome visitors to these campgrounds into the future, providing a convenient and fun experience for all.