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Loew

Stafford County has appointed Eugene Loew as its new Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, bringing over two decades of experience in public recreation and leisure services. Loew joins the county from Prince William County, where he served as the Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation.

Loew’s selection follows the retirement of longtime Parks Director Brian Southall, who stepped down in January 2025 after more than 30 years of service to Stafford County. The Board of Supervisors honored Southall, recognizing his dedication and leadership across multiple county departments, including utilities and facilities management, before taking the helm of Parks and Recreation. “Brian has been a cornerstone of Stafford County, ensuring access to top-tier facilities and recreational opportunities,” Board Chairman Deontay Diggs said during the January 21st board meeting. “We thank him for his incredible contributions and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

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Occoquan Greenway Bridge Offers New Trail Connection for Pedestrians and Bicyclists [Photo: Prince William County Parks and Rec]
Prince William County residents will have another opportunity to hear about the progress and future plans for local parks, trails, and historic preservation efforts at the rescheduled State of the Parks Address hosted by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Originally postponed due to inclement weather, the event will now occur on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Forest Park High School Auditorium, located at 15721 Forest Park Dr., Woodbridge. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The annual address provides a platform for county staff to update the community on ongoing projects, upcoming developments, and how the county works to implement community goals for parks, open spaces, and historic sites. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with parks and recreation officials to share feedback and learn more about how they can get involved.

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Prince William County Parks executives take questions from residents at the inaugural State of Prince William County Parks event in 2023.

Prince William County’s State of the Parks event, initially scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Forest Park High School, has been postponed due to weather conditions and other considerations.

The State of the Parks event, set to feature insights from Prince William County Parks and Recreation Director Seth Hendler-Voss, will be rescheduled, with a new date and time to be announced soon.

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Leesylvania State Park Fishing Pier [Flickr photo pool]
The fishing pier at Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge has been closed due to significant structural damage caused by ice and extreme winter weather.

Repairs are needed across the entire structure, and park management is working diligently to complete the necessary fixes as quickly as possible.

“Most of the bracing has broken underneath, and the roof portion of the pier also has extensive damage to the pillars holding it up,” said Kenneth Ashdown, Leesylvania State Park Manager. “It is not safe for the pier to be open to the public at this time, and we hope to have this repaired as soon as possible.”

Although the fishing area is closed, the rest of the park will remain open for visitors. However, Ashdown noted that the repairs might impact the upcoming night fishing programs scheduled for March. Efforts are underway to find an alternative location for these events.

Visitors should check the park’s website for updates before planning their trips.

As a reminder, water temperatures in the Potomac River are currently around 35°F at the Little Falls Pump Station, as the National Weather Service observed. Those planning to fish or visit the river should be mindful of these cold conditions.

January 2025 has been a frigid month for the region, with temperatures significantly below normal. Overall, the average monthly temperature was 29.8°F, 4.5°F colder than usual. There were several days with low temperatures dropping below freezing, including a particularly frigid day on January 21, when the high was just 20°F, and the low dropped to 11°F, a departure of -18.4°F from normal.

Snowfall was also a significant factor, with 8.9 inches recorded for the month, further contributing to the cold conditions.

For more information about Leesylvania State Park, visit the park’s webpage.

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The property, once proposed as the location for a large indoor sports and recreation facility, is now part of a broader development plan. County officials aim to aggregate the land with four adjacent parcels, totaling nearly 50 acres of county- and state-owned land, including existing commuter parking lots. The mission is to transform the area into a community hub that harmonizes living, working, and leisure spaces while generating jobs and tax revenue.

Known colloquially as Prince William Landing, the area was previously considered as a potential site for a new Washington Commanders football stadium alongside another location near Potomac Mills mall. Both sites were discussed as part of efforts to keep the team in Northern Virginia after its lease on FedEx Field expires in 2027. However, those plans did not materialize.

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New Boat Ramp under Construction at Neabsco Regional Park

Neabsco Regional Park is set to feature another recreational amenity, a new boat launch, by the New Year.

Neabsco Regional Park is a scenic natural area in Prince William County. It includes a 14-mile, $3 million boardwalk through wetlands, is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and is rich with opportunities for birdwatching, hiking, and learning about local history.

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[Photo: Prince William Country Parks & Recreation]
Prince William County Parks and Recreation is hosting the 3rd annual Holiday Walk of Lights at Neabsco Regional Park, featuring hand-crafted light displays, holiday characters, carolers, and a holiday market on select nights. The event runs from December 6–27 with a special sensory-friendly evening on December 10, and shuttle services are provided from designated parking areas.

Press release:

Prince William County Parks and Recreation is hosting its 3rd annual Holiday Walk of Lights at Neabsco Regional Park. The FREE lights display begins Friday, December 6. New this year: in addition to the dazzling light display, visitors can experience the magic of the holiday season with visits from holiday characters, joyful holiday music sung by carolers and an unforgettable holiday shopping experience on select nights. A special sensory-friendly night will be held on Tuesday, December 10. All dates/times and important parking information can be found at pwcva.gov.

Admission is free for this family-friendly event. All are invited to enjoy the beautiful hand-crafted light displays that will light up the park!

Visitors are encouraged to sign up for text alerts by texting the word “lights” to 703-382-6716 to stay connected with latest event information.

 

2024 Hours of Operation

Friday, Dec 6, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Characters, Carolers

Saturday, Dec 7, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Market

Sunday, Dec 8, 5:30-9:00 pm

Tuesday, Dec 10, (Sensory Friendly Event only*), 5:30-8:00 pm – Holiday Characters, Carolers

Friday, Dec 13, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Characters

Saturday, Dec 14, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Market

Sunday, Dec 15, 5:30-9:00 pm

Wednesday, Dec 18, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Characters

Thursday, Dec 19, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Market

Friday, Dec 20, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Characters

Saturday, Dec 21, 5:30-9:00 pm – Holiday Market

Sunday, Dec 22, 5:30-9:00 pm

Friday, Dec 27, 5:30 pm-9:00 pm – Holiday Market & Characters

 

Location

Neabsco Regional Park

15125 Blackburn Road

Woodbridge, VA 22191

 

Free Parking Information

Shuttle buses will pick up and drop off at Neabsco Regional Park from the following lots:

Rippon Middle School

15101 Blackburn Rd.

Woodbridge, VA 22191

 

Porter Traditional School (Unavailable December 6th)

15311 Forest Grove Dr.

Woodbridge, VA 22191

 

Featherstone Elementary School 

14805 Blackburn Rd.

Woodbridge, VA 22191

 

Important Parking Information

Parking at Neabsco Regional Park is reserved for those with a disabled placard or license plate ONLY. All others should park at the designated free parking locations.

No Parking at Rippon Lodge Historic Site

 

Free Shuttle Bus Available (No Animals Allowed)

A shuttle bus will be running continuously every 7 minutes to pick up and bring visitors to and from from the designated parking lots. The last shuttle picks up at 8:35 p.m., the lights turn off at 9 p.m. Each shuttle ride is approximately 2-3 minutes long.

 

Where to Park When Bringing Pets

For visitors who would like to bring their dog(s) to Holiday Walk of Lights, there are two options for parking:

  1. Park & Walk: Park at Porter Traditional School and walk to the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk using the sidewalk/crosswalk at Rippon Blvd & Blackburn Rd. (see map) (Unavailable on 12/6)
  2. Park & Ride the Cool Bus: Park at the small parking lot at Rippon Middle School adjacent to the ball field and ride the “Cool Bus”. Make sure to ride the “Cool Bus” back with your pet.

Pet Rules

  • All pets must be on a leash.
  • Please pickup after your pet (please bring your own waste disposal bags)

 

Food & Beverage

Concessions will be available onsite.

Restrooms

Portable restrooms will be available onsite.

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Lake Anna (Photo: Virginia State Parks)

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has lifted the harmful algae bloom (HAB) advisory for Lake Anna due to the end of the recreational season. HABs have affected various branches of Lake Anna since June, with advisories expanded in July to include additional areas. Recent samples from mid-October showed acceptable bacteria levels, meeting the criteria to lift the advisory, despite earlier September samples showing unsafe levels.

The Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, which includes VDH and other state agencies, has suspended response sampling for the season. Although HABs may persist in some areas, the public is advised to avoid discolored or scummy water as it could contain toxins. Depending on weather conditions, the Task Force plans to resume monitoring in May 2025.

Press release: Effective immediately, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is lifting the harmful algae bloom (HAB) advisory for Lake Anna due to the end of the recreational season. The Upper North Anna Branches has experienced a HAB since June. In July, the advisory was extended to include the Middle North Anna Branch and the Upper and Middle Pamunkey Branches and Terry’s Run.
Results of samples collected September 18 and October 15 for Upper and Middle Pamunkey Branch indicated potentially toxic cyanobacteria were at acceptable levels allowing the advisory to be lifted.

To lift advisories, VDH needs two acceptable samples collected at least 10 days apart. While the October 15 sample results from the Upper and Middle Pamunkey branches and Terry’s Run were at acceptable levels, the September 18 sample results were at unsafe levels of cyanobacteria. No additional sampling is planned.

The Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force suspends response sampling and any active HAB advisories at the end of October each year when the recreational (swimming) season concludes and temperatures begin cooling in natural waters.

Algae blooms, which are still present in November in areas of a waterbody, may persist into late fall and possibly winter months. The public should avoid discolored water or scums that are green or bluish-green because they are more likely to contain toxins.
The Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, which includes the VDH, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Old Dominion University Phytoplankton Laboratory, will resume response efforts in May 2025, weather permitting.

For more information visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com.

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Camping cabin at Westmoreland State Park [Virginia State Parks]
Virginia State Parks has announced that seven parks will undergo extensive cabin and campground renovations starting this fall.

These upgrades aim to improve facilities and enhance the guest experience, though park officials urge visitors to check specific park web pages for the most up-to-date information on closures and project timelines.

“These renovations are key to the longevity of our parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker. “It takes time to upgrade the facilities and make each location more enjoyable for all guests. We look forward to sharing the upgraded cabins and campgrounds when the projects are completed.”

Closures at Westmoreland State Park

Westmoreland State Park, located closest to the Potomac Local region, will be significantly affected. Starting November 1, 2024, all cabins and camping cabins will be closed for renovations, with the closures expected to last through October 2026. The park itself will remain open, and day-use activities will continue as usual, but overnight stays in cabins will be unavailable during the renovation period.

Full List of Affected Parks and Dates

  • First Landing State Park: All cabins closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through October 2026.
  • Westmoreland State Park: All cabins and camping cabins closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through October 2026.
  • Claytor Lake State Park: Campgrounds B and C closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through the 2025 season.
  • Fairy Stone State Park: The main campground closed from Dec. 2024 through Feb. 28, 2026. Equestrian campground unaffected, but amenities limited.
  • Grayson Highlands State Park: Hickory Ridge Campground, including campsites, yurts, and bunkhouse, closed from Nov. 2024 through April 2026. Chestnut Hollow Equestrian Campground remains open for the 2025 season.
  • Bear Creek Lake State Park: Black Oak and Chestnut Campgrounds closed from Oct. 7, 2024, through May 2026. Acorn Camping Loop remains open through Dec. 1, 2024, for tents and small campers under 20 feet.
  • Douthat State Park: Douthat Lodge area closed to vehicles until further notice; pedestrian access via Guest Lodge Trail remains.

Despite these closures, daily park operations will continue without interruption, allowing visitors to enjoy trails, picnic areas, and other park features.

For more details and to stay informed about renovation updates, visit the Virginia State Parks website or the individual park pages.

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