Manassas Working To Acquire Land For Park, New Facilities

MANASSAS, VA — As the City of Manassas looks for more space for parks and recreation, it is negotiating the purchase of a 20-acre former school site.

The 20-acre site at 8760 Sudley Road is the former Marsteller School site and has been owned by Manassas Baptist Church since 2002. The city plans to use the site to establish its 21st park with a future community center, fire station, athletic fields and open space. The proposed purchase is $9.9 million.

"In one transaction we were able to address multiple needs that have been identified in our community survey and long-term planning: green space/fields, an indoor community center, and a location for a future fire station," said interim City Manager Douglas Keen. "Community discussions and a space needs analysis will help us determine additional uses of the existing building."

According to the city, the site has former school recreational facilities that are usable: two diamond fields, a rectangular field and outdoor running track.

The fire station on the site would replace the existing Fire Station 1 to reduce wait times on the north side of the city. The city says it would also be closer to the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center.

Planning and design for the new park facilities is starting so programming can begin in the summer. The city expects the purchase to be complete in July or August. Funds for the purchase are being allocated in the fiscal year 2025 City of Manassas budget. The public hearing on the budget will happen on April 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Jennie Dean Elementary School, 9601 Prince William St., Manassas, VA.

If the church sells the property, it does not affect Manassas Baptist Church's church building and surrounding six acres. The church will continue to run its homeless shelter and will move other essential services to its main building. Some programming would continue during a transition period after the sale.

"I have long been an advocate for a community center in the City and am glad we have this unique opportunity to re-acquire a former public property in an important partnership with one of the city's most historic churches," said Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger. "We will be able to offer more recreational opportunities and more open space as our residents have requested."