Del. LaRock announces House budget funding for State Park in Loudoun

Delegate Dave LaRock has announced that the House Appropriations Committee included in their recommended amendments to the budget, Del. LaRock’s amendment providing funding to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for operations of the State Park in Northwest Loudoun County along Harper’s Ferry Road.

LaRock said, “I’m very pleased to see that we are moving closer to having a state park in Western Loudoun County. For a number of years, a team including Loudoun County staff, former Delegate Randy Minchew, Catoctin District Supervisors Geary Higgins and Caleb Kershner, Joe and Tammy Bane, Destry Jarvis, Robert and Dee Leggett (who donated 600-acres of the total 881-acres) and the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Henry Stribling and the Old Dominion Land Conservancy, and my staff have been working hard to get us to this point.

“This year I think there is a realization that with relatively modest funding we will add this gem to the Commonwealth’s park system. There are trails, a large pond, buildings, camping areas, and all the amenities already in place for a successful day-one opening of this newest State Park. I’m confident the public will see huge value as word gets out there is a new and exciting outdoor fun destination open to the public.”

The State Park in Loudoun was first announced by Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2013, but property acquisition has taken several years, finally completed with the Feb. 9, 2022 transfer to DCR of 281 acres purchased by Loudoun County. There is strong interest from the community, existing users of the site, local government and legislators in making the state park in Loudoun County more available to the public. 

The decision to fund the park will become final when the budget is approved by the House and Senate on or around March 12, then signed by the Governor later in the spring. Funding will begin July 1, 2022.

The Park is currently being referred to as “Sweet Run State Park”. A park master plan process, which takes about a year, including public input, will start in the next year will seek to identify any additional opportunities for public recreation, environmental education, resource management and future expansion.

LaRock’s budget amendment funds four full-time employees: a Park Manager, Chief Ranger Law Enforcement, Park Ranger Maintenance, and Office Manager, as well as funding for routine operations of the park including utilities, wage staff, supplies and materials, resource management projects, environmental education programs and equipment, grounds and facility maintenance.