PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. â Prince William County Parks & Recreation is inviting residents to get outside â both to enjoy free summer fun and to help shape the future of the countyâs trails and blueways system.
On Thursday, May 29, the department will host a Countywide Trails Planning Charette from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center (14715 Bristow Rd, Manassas). The interactive public meeting is the first step in updating the Countywide Trails Master Plan, and outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to weigh in on what connections the county should prioritize. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, or paddling, this is your chance to help expand and improve local trails and water access.
Prince William Countyâs trail network includes more than 100 miles of paved and natural surface trails spread across over 50 parks and natural areas. The system includes popular routes like the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk and the Broad Run trail network, offering everything from scenic views and wildlife spotting to fitness and commuter paths. The countyâs âbluewaysâ â water trails for kayaking and canoeing â are also an important part of the outdoor experience, especially along the Occoquan and Potomac rivers.
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According to the scholarship website, the scholarship is an award of $200 allocated for each age-appropriate child in the household. Sarah Smith, recreation senior manager in the Prince William County Parks & Recreation Department, said a range of ages is typically awarded.
âItâs a wide variety,â Smith said. â[Applicants] go from preschool age all the way [up to 18]. I would say our oldest applicant is around 15.â
Ruth Anderson, chair of the Prince William Parks Foundation, said this scholarship was born out of the foundation’s revitalization efforts in late 2019 and early 2020.
âAnd what was happening at that time? Yeah, the pandemic,â Anderson said. âWe set up all the infrastructure for the foundation, and then we made our very first program ⊠because at that time, kids weren’t getting out to school and a perfect place for them was parks.â
Anderson also said other park foundations had similar scholarships available, so this was an opportunity to meet a need and follow in the footsteps of peer organizations.
âThe scholarship program actually became successful very rapidly because people were very willing to give to that effort,â Anderson said.
According to federal poverty guidelines, the scholarship was created for children at or below 130% of the poverty level. For a household of four people, the poverty guideline is an annual income of $31,200, which increases by $5,380 per additional person. Each qualifying child per household can receive a scholarship.
According to the foundation website, much of the money for the scholarships comes from cash and in-kind donations, grants, and other types of donations. Anderson said a large donor to the scholarship is The Hylton Foundation, a Dale City nonprofit.
According to documents provided by Anderson, the Hylton Foundation donated $10,000 in 2023 and $6,690 from the Parks Foundationâs fundraising efforts. In total, $16,690 was awarded to students in the county for various programs.
Smith said that in the 2023 scholarship year, more than 125 programs had registrations from 139 award recipients. The most popular programs are camps, swim lessons, and arts and crafts programs.
The scholarship application is open until February 2 and can be submitted via mail or online. Specific application materials can be found on the scholarship website.
Caitlyn Meisner is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.
