Plans for the incoming Western Loudoun Recreation Center proceed despite criticism

By Tabitha Reeves

In the interest of building a new recreation center for Western Loudoun, the Board of Supervisors have agreed to purchase 142.7 acres of farmland located between Purcellville and Round Hill for $6.9 million. The transaction is slated to be finalized this month, with the successful vote to buy the parcel occurring back in February.

In March, the Board agreed to relocate the recreation facility originally intended for Fields Farm Park in Purcellville just minutes down the road to the new 142.7 acre site upon its purchase. This further progress towards construction of the recreation center was unanimous amongst Board members.

“This is where I had envisioned [the Western Loudoun Recreation Center] from day one and so I’m extremely happy to be getting this 142 acres,” Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said when discussing the early stages of the purchase in February.

Buffington went on to say that the amount of land being bought is “much more” than is actually needed for the proposed center. While Buffington pointed to the large amount of land with gratitude, emphasizing its potential for the community, some locals have found the size and consequent cost to be wasteful.

At the Board of Supervisors business meeting on June 6, residents of Purcellville and Hillsboro voiced their opposition to the purchase and future plans.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of the residents of Western Loudoun recently and one of the questions that comes up frequently is ‘Why is the county willing to pay so much for that piece of farmland just west of Purcellville?’” Hillsboro resident John Ellis said.

The plot of land was assessed to be worth $1.8 million prior to the agreed-upon sale to Loudoun County at almost four times that amount.

“This does not appear to be a responsible use of taxpayer’s money,” Purcellville resident Joseph Sacco said. “The expense is unnecessary since the county already owns at least one other property that is more suitable for the recreation center.”

The current plans for the incoming facility include playgrounds, up to 10 lighted athletic fields, pickleball courts, outdoor pavilions, indoor meeting rooms, a gym and pool, amongst other amenities.

Ida Lee Park Recreation Center in Leesburg has a gym, playground, pool and athletic courts and fields. Purcellville’s Franklin Park also offers many of the same benefits and equipment and is one-quarter of a mile away from Loudoun’s new property.

The newly-purchased farmland is part of the Rural Policy Area, which means that any usage of
the land must “protect, preserve and enhance natural areas and open space, retain farmland and the vitality of the rural economy and foster a high quality of rural life for residents.”

In listing his reasons why the county should not purchase the property, Sacco mentioned that building on the proposed acreage would be encroaching in this form of policy area, as well as bring extra traffic to the already traffic-ridden main streets of Purcellville.

“Most citizens of Western Loudoun agree we need those recreational facilities,” Ellis said. “That’s not the issue. The only question is where they should be located.”

In response to the criticism, Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) reported that these plans have been in the county’s Capital Improvement Program for “well over eight years.” Now, having obtained adequate funding, he is glad that progress on the center is occurring relatively quickly.

With the latest acreage under its belt, the county expects to have the recreation center project constructed within the next six years. In fall 2023, the facility’s design phase will officially begin.

“We want to make sure we have a Western Loudoun recreation center to serve the constituents and the citizens of Western Loudoun,” Kershner said. “It’s something that’s been desperately needed.”