NVRPA Releases Strategic Plan Draft

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) recently released a draft of its five-year strategic plan. (The draft can be downloaded to the right.) NVRPA manages four parks in the immediate area:

• Bull Run Marina in Clifton
• in Clifton
• in Fairfax Station
• in Fairfax Station

Residents are invited to a public meeting to discuss the plan at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the NVRPA Headquarters at 5400 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. Residents may also email comments to executiveoffice@nvrpa.org.

Some highlights of the 2012-2017 Vision and Plan:

• More than 50 percent of households walk for pleasure, visit historic sites, visit local parks and visit natural areas, according to the 2011 Virginia Outdoor Survey. In response, NVRPA plans to acquire new parkland to expand its inventory of trails, natural areas and historic sites.
• In an attempt to help families find more ways for children to spend more time outdoors, the authority developed an initiative called Nature Nuts with the goal of providing a meaningful outdoor experience to 500,000 children through NVRPA parks during the five covered by the strategic plan. The intended result is to improve the physical and mental health of our youth.

The authority controls 100 miles of trails, including some of the longest in the region -- W&OD at 45 miles, and Bull Run/Occoquan at 18 miles -- and has plans expand its role as a leader in developing and promoting major trail systems in Northern Virginia.

The group considers itself an economic engine for the region’s tourism economy by attracting visitors to the region.

A complete list of NVRPA's 24 regional parks is available on the organization's website.