280 Acre Donation Paves Path For New State Park In Western Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A new state park is coming to western Loudoun County. This week, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation finalized their acceptance of a 280-ace donation on the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship preserve.

The donated land was funded by Loudoun County and had been transferred to the Old Dominion Land Conservancy before ownership could be handed over to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. The state had previously acquired 604 acres of the preserve in 2016.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation finalized their acceptance of the land on Wednesday. Now, the parks service will begin drafting their master plan. Park officials said they plan to engage members of the public throughout the planning process.

"It's exciting to be able to begin developing long-term plans for this new state park in Loudoun County," Virginia State Parks director Melissa Baker said. "As we move forward, we will seek to engage stakeholders in our planning processes as we move those plans toward implementation.”

For 22 years, the parcel of land that will become the Sweet Run state park has been owned by the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation. The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship has managed the park and offered several educational and recreational programs.

"As the property transitions into a new state park, we are grateful that the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship will continue with the conservation and education efforts they have steadfastly participated in for the last 20 years," Frank Duvall, acting director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation said. "We thank all the partners involved, including Loudoun County and the Old Dominion Land Conservancy, for ensuring that this special place is preserved for future generations."

Bob Leggett, president of the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation which owned the preserve, said he's glad the land will be accessible to the public for years to come.

"Since shortly after the foundation acquired the 884 acres in 1999, the land has been cared for and open to the public for research and appropriate recreation,” Leggett said. "This transition to becoming a state park will ensure the land will remain protected and available to the public in perpetuity."