Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 25, 2025
Contact: Kim Wells, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-217-1077, kim.wells@dcr.virginia.gov
Public information meetings for Sweet Run State Park to be held in March
Help shape the park's future and learn about existing resources
(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Trailhead at Sweet Run State Park)
(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Sweet Run State Park main office)
HILLSBORO, Va. – The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will host a public information meeting in person on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. and virtually on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. The in-person meeting will be held at the Between the Hills Community Center located at 11762 Harpers Ferry Road, Purcellville, Virginia.
For those who can’t attend in person, the meeting will also be available to attend virtually on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. The link to the meeting will be posted when available on the Sweet Run State Park Master Plan webpage at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/sweetrunmasterplan.
DCR is preparing a master plan for Sweet Run State Park located in Loudoun County. The purpose of a master plan is to guide the management and development of a park by identifying natural, cultural and physical resources, as well as identifying park needs and engaging with the public.
This meeting will introduce the master planning process, existing resources and information on public outreach and engagement opportunities.
The Code of Virginia requires that master plans be written for all Virginia State Parks. The plans cover the size, types and locations of facilities as well as the site’s special features and resources. Plans also cover infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, and outline phased development and costs for operations, maintenance and staffing.
Public meetings are held at key times during the initial planning process: the public information meetings at the beginning of the process and public comment meetings once work has been completed on the master plan’s principal recommendations. At the public information meetings, staff presents information about the park and an overview of the park’s existing inventory of physical, natural, and cultural resources. The public will be invited to share their perspectives by completing a public input survey concerning the park.
The principal findings of the survey and recommendations of the master plan are compiled during the months that follow, which are presented later to the public. The public will be invited to provide feedback regarding the draft purpose, goals, themes, and recommendations for new and expanded facilities. All comments received at the meetings and within the following 30 days will be considered and, where appropriate, addressed in the final draft of the master plan. The final draft is then presented to the Board of Conservation and Recreation (BCR) and, following BCR review, forwarded to the General Assembly for additional review and comment. Once all comments have been resolved, the DCR director may adopt the master plan for the state park.
Sweet Run State Park is currently under development and features expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sweet Run and Piney Run streams bisect the property. The property includes 11 miles of hiking and nine miles of equestrian trails along streams, through mature forest, meadows and mountain-side terrain, and has a picnic pavilion and nature play area for children. Parking is limited. The property is steeped in history, featuring the ruins of a 19th century farming community.
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