Parks and trails in Northern Virginia are starting to see signs of life after several years of financial difficulty brought on by the economic recession. In Prince William County, the proposed budget would add about $600,000 to the parks authority’s budget, much of it designated for trail development. An earlier attempt to fund the project using bonds failed because of economic problems, said Zoe Vitter, president of the Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition.
“This is hugely helpful,” Vitter said. “The park authority can now do things like purchase bridges, and that’s really been the missing piece along a lot of trails.”
The money will be used to upgrade sections of the Potomac Heritage Trail, which runs from Pennsylvania to Virginia’s Tidewater region, as well as improvements to an extensive trail system at Andrew Leitch Park in Dale City.
In Loudoun County, the fiscal 2012 budget includes enhancements to Brambleton District Park and Byrnes Ridge Park, major attractions for soccer and softball players. It’s the first time in two years that the county parks department has not been forced to cut staff or increase fees.
Fairfax County is in a similar situation. For the first time in three years, the 2012 budget allows parks to maintain current staffing levels. In addition, the parks’ first bond referendum since 2008, if passed by county taxpayers, would provide $38 million for renovations and improvements.
Slight fee increases will help to pay for Fairfax parks’ added expenses, including $635,000 to meet a new requirement for funding employee retirement benefits. The cost of a one-month family membership at the county recreation center increase to $194 from $179.50, while a train ride at Burke Lake Park will cost $2.50, up from $2.25.
