Just Like Nothing (else) on Earth: Georgetown Park (again)

By Tim Jon 

The train has returned along those tracks from the past, and it is good. Or, so I feel. You see, upon my own return to Georgetown Park in Leesburg, I found some very captivating renderings of local locomotive history bedecking the faces of the humble bridge bisecting the linear acreage (or – I saw a couple ‘purdy pichers’ on the cement walls).  

Although screened from passing vehicular traffic, those of us walking, running or biking the recreational trail that parallels the Park will notice this colorful artwork from either (head-on) direction.  

Eastbound trail users can expect to come upon (and overtake) an image of the caboose end, and visitors heading for the setting sun will make haste slowly right past the choo-choo’s business end – the engine itself. Artistic license even threw in some less defined railroad station building architecture for the background of each side. Overall: colorful, and quite striking – so I found.  

And these visuals were just one of the new developments I came upon since my initial, official visit to Georgetown Park. I made my original pilgrimage to the local facility back in the summer of 2015, and a period of seven years can see vast changes in a place like Loudoun County, Virginia.  

The local government put up a display of their plans to harness the meandering Town Branch (the ‘babbling brook’ of my earlier story) – an erosion control program similar to that implemented at nearby Brandon Park, which features the same waterway, just downstream.  

Now, those seeking to spend a bit of quality time in the great outdoors at Georgetown Park can enjoy shelter from any inclement elements (well, just about any) under the (new – to me) covered rest stop on the northern side of the park. The structure, at least in my humble, untrained opinion, adds to the overall railroad motif at the site.  

Other fairly recent changes include the installment of modern residential units along the north border of the space, flanked by a cobblestone-looking wall – ostensibly to shore up the bank on that side and keep any intermittent high water within the bounds of Nature’s borders.  

Gone, however, are the former (perhaps less aesthetically-pleasing) retail and other sundry shops which, in days gone by, lined the Town Branch in the proximity of Georgetown Park. I’m sure there are even more, albeit subtle, changes to the local facility in the intervening years which escaped my eye or other senses.  

These may creep into my consciousness through some extended time. But, for now I’ve already weighed in on the colorful, creative renderings on the South King Street Bridge as it crosses this little oasis of public land in the heart of our County Seat. 

 It registers a very positive response in the artistic temperament, it makes reasonable historic sense, and it transforms a very dull concrete surface into a great focal point for the casual visitor, or everyday passerby.  

Now – how do I feel about the Town’s plans to tame the sometimes (up to and including flood conditions during heavy rains) over-rambunctious Town Branch at this spot? Much the same as I did at Brandon Park: I will feel the loss of any mature trees removed in the process, but I’m sure I’ll come to accept the long-range changes as mostly a good thing – especially if it keeps high water out of the basements of local residents! Same goes for the impressive rest stop shelter at the northeast corner of the bridge; when my life slows down a bit (someday, I hope – or do I?), I’d like to think I may even get to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea at this spot, and just watch the traffic go by. Even if it’s raining. And maybe some of the folks who live in the new housing units will come and join me, and ask about my interest in Georgetown Park. And, if they get me going, we could talk for centuries… But back to today’s re-examination of the local acreage: the one drawback I find – somewhere inside my emotional memory of the spot – is the void left behind by those missing, bygone (admittedly sort of ramshackle) retail and even less-descript buildings that used to line the Town Branch in this part of Leesburg. Maybe that’s part of what I can tell those new residents about, when we sit under that shelter and have our coffee, or tea.