'All Ideas Are Welcome': Planning Begins For Claude Moore Farm

MCLEAN, VA—After Claude Moore Colonial Farm closed late last year, the future of the 69-acre park will be determined by a public planning process. The National Park Service will begin that planning with an open house Thursday, April 25 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in classroom 7 at the Madison Community Center, 3829 North Stafford Street Arlington, VA.

A public comment period to shape the park's future will begin on April 25. Members of the community can submit feedback online or via mail.

"We want to hear everyone’s ideas about how they would like to enjoy the park," Superintendent Charles Cuvelier said in a statement. "Should we offer farm activities, return the area to its natural state, provide connections to neighboring trail systems or something else altogether?"

Cuvelier says that "all ideas are welcome." NPS plans to develop a range of concepts for the park after the public comment period ends. More feedback will be collected once these concepts are announced to the public. NPS says it will not consider commercial development for the park.

NPS anticipates these concepts will require additional environmental and historic preservation compliance.

Claude Moore Colonial Farm, which is part of the larger Turkey Run Park, closed on Dec. 21, 2018 when the cooperative agreement between NPS and Friends of Claude Moore Farm ended. The closure came after failed negotiations for a new agreement failed. The Friends entered into an agreement to provide the living history programs in 1981. The group operated the programming for 37 years before the farm closed in late 2018.

To follow the planning process for Claude Moore Colonial Farm, visit go.nps.gov/ClaudeMooreFuture.