Loudoun supervisors on July 7 approved plans for a controversial 295-acre park planned for land north of Leesburg.
County leaders voted 5-to-3 to approve plans for White’s Ford Park after months of debate.
Plans for the park ultimately were scaled back in the face of resident protest.
The park, in the original blueprint included a nonmotorized boat launch into the Potomac River, a boat rental facility, hiking trails and a 60-site campground with up to 10 cabins.
RVs, Jet Skis, pop-up campers and power boats with more than 10-horsepower engines would not be allowed at the park.
The plan supervisors voted on July 7 was scaled back to include 36 campsites, with up to 10 cabins. The park will have a capacity of 75 campers per night.
Residents who live in the park’s planned vicinity have asked that its application be denied since officials with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority first submitted the blueprint to county leaders in February 2009.
The rural road network surrounding the area, residents said, can’t support traffic the park would produce.
As a condition of approval, the Northern Virginia Park Authority has agreed to complete a traffic study for the U.S. 15 and Spinks Ferry Road intersection. The study will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation to determine if a traffic light is warranted at the intersection.
In addition, residents questioned the park’s impact on the environment and archaeological sites on the land.
Supervisors who supported the plans said officials with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority had made a valiant effort to address residents’ concerns. White’s Ford Park, those supervisors said, would help to achieve a goal of more parks for residents.
“Legitimate issues were raised. But I think through this process … the conditions of approval address those issues,” said Vice-Chairman Susan Klimek Buckley (D-Sugarland Run). “I think ultimately this was a balancing act and I believe we’ve reached a good result.”
Citing traffic safety concerns, Chairman Scott York (I-at large) and Supervisors Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg) and Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) voted against the plan. Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) was absent for the vote.
“This is recreation. There are other places where we can put a venue where there are the appropriate transportation networks to get to them,” York said. “Ultimately, I do know if I were living in this community myself, I would be sitting with [residents] and coming to every meeting speaking against this particular use.”
also not sure who is in charge of sending out information on this new park but the first I heard of it was in the paper - if the group that is against it had any sense they would get all the residents in Lucketts involved - look what happened with Elysian Heights - 15 yrs ago big community ctr meeting, we all said no we dont want it our roads cant support the people, they said we will improve Sinclair Ln they will use that road - well they dont because why because its too hard to get on 15 from that route - so they travel down Lucketts Road (too fast) and think thats ok - well its not ame thing is going to happen with this park - when they start all the traffic will ultimatley filter down Lucketts Road WTH is wrong with our system - engineers my arse
ok I have to put in - before they even considering do any more developing in Lucketts area - please get VDOT involved these roads in Lucketts need lower speed limits and people need to pay attention! I have no problem with the park if it is maintained and patrolled - but the roads cannot support the additional traffic - most roads in Lucketts have speed limits of 35-45 mph it makes no sense when RT 15 is 45 - where is the common sense!
They wouldn’t have to widen if they just got rid of the White’s Ferry traffic light. That’s what bogarts traffic! I know it seems hard to believe, but this traffic light is what causes the backups going up 15 North from Battlefield Parkway/Exeter. Make the folks go up to Point of Rocks. Equal amount of time more or less. 4-5 minutes difference by the time you wait for the ferry…..
And I agree,let’s put some more people to work and widen Route 15 North to the border!
For G_ds sake, it’s only a park. And…What’s in a name. Who named “Keep Loudoun Beautiful Park”. My out of town family thought someone mixed the words when printing the sign. “Keep Loudoun Park Beautiful”. Maybe it should have been Col. Wrights Park.
I agree, the Virginia section of US 15 is a joke, and for what reason? Historical preservation? Yeah sure, that’s what everybody thinks about when they drive up and down US 15- “the historical wagon trail that so many have traveled”. It’s time for Virginia to make some new history and create a safer route like the two states to the north have done long ago.
US 15—the ONLY continuous north-south highway to enter and exit Loudoun County—is a traffic mess that our County leaders continue to neglect. This decision will add to the congestion with another traffic light!
I hope someone picks up all the trash too.
Boat launch, camp ground, rentals, trails, what’s not to like? One thing’s for sure, it prevents any further development. We need to capture all the land we can for parks and preserves. Score one for nature and nature lovers.
Monopolistic Capitalism abounded in the early/mid 1800’s, good for Conrad! Was he getting taxed on his business? Did residents pay a ‘personal property tax’ on those riding carriages?
The History of White’s Ferry
During 1828 (or before) a ferry business began operating at White’s Ferry, then known as Conrad’s Ferry for its initial owner who pulled passengers and cargo from Virginia to Maryland across the Potomac River. Ferryman Earnest Conrad also had a post office named after him which was located on the Maryland shore and owned a warehouse on the Virginia shore which he used to store grains for profit. For a one way crossing he charged six and one-fourth cents per man, mule or horse, three cents for a head of cattle, and riding carriages were a steep price of six and one-fourth cents per wheel!
After the Civil War, Elihjah Veirs White bought the ferry franchise and warehouse. Col. White was a prosperous attorney and Sheriff of Loudoun County. He owned 357 acres in Loudoun County, a dry goods store in Leesburg and Stoney Castle in Montgomery County. In 1871, the minutes of the Loudoun Court forgot the name Conrad and the site became known as E.V. White’s “Landing at White’s Ferry.”
...
Today, this boat is still in operation, named after the confederate Civil War General, Jubal A.Early and propelled by a diesel tug named Early’s Aid. The back-up tug is named the General’s Pusher.
A park with campsites and cabins is an excellent idea!
Genocidal Union officers!?? Oppressive Union Gov!?? I suppose you consider the Confederate to have been human rights sympathizers? Let it go man, just let it go!
Actually Stingray, your definition of the Ford is straight from Wikipedia…shame on you. White’s Ferry was named after the Colonel, the Ford after his family…but before he was alive. I digress….
StingRay - Just because a newspaper reporter says in an article that the park is named after the Confederate Colonel, then it must be true! Don’t always believe what you read…do some research outside of the internet…Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg can be of great assistance to you my friend…they have a website, but you will have to go there to do the research ;-)
Aldieman: As stated in the article “The park, named after Confederate Lt. Col. Elijah White, will be in the same area where the Army of Northern Virginia crossed into Maryland on Sept. 5 and 6, 1862, bringing the war to the North. Twelve days later came the battle at Antietam.”
And according to NPS: “The ford (a shallow place where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle) was named after Captain Elijah V. White, a Confederate cavalry officer and leader of the cavalry battalion known as the Comanches. His farm was on the Virginia side of the ford.”
As for your statement “This is what happens when Loudoun becomes full of people are either not from here or know their local geography…. ”
You must be speaking of your kind
Calm down people….the park is NOT named after the Confederate Colonel…he just owned the property. The park is named after White’s Ford…a ford along the Potomac since BEFORE the Confederate was even alive. That area has had that name since the early 19th century….so, its fitting…and not because of the Confederate soldier but because of GEORGRAPHY. This is what happens when Loudoun becomes full of people are either not from here or know their local geography….
Naming that park in honor of a man who fought against the United States of America is a travesty.
The confederacy lost? Hate to break it to you but this is the SOUTH! You obviously failed both history and geography class. The war of northern aggression and the Confederacy is part of our heritage. The men that fought for our independence from the oppressive union government have EARNED the honor to have public lands named after them. Maybe you should consider relocating above the mason dixon where you can find public lands named after the genocidal union officers that killed and terrorized their own countrymen then turned west nearly wiping out all Native Americans.
Why do you have to choose someone else to name it after. He may be a Confederate but he is part of the history for Northern VA. When the Civil War sites are marked and recognized, it was regardless of who won or lost. It was the point of the history behind it. And being it was his land and his former house is there, that is another reason to name it after him.
Did they vote on this yet today?? Anyone there or able to watch it online (I cannot)?
I am pretty sure Kurtz announced a long time ago that she would not be running for another term.
It is 2010 and we are still naming stuff after Confederate officers? There is no one else to choose from?
Sally, you are already good as gone in the next election. Why even bother coming to work? You thin kwe will forget the Limestone Overlay district so easily?
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