Prince William supervisors give Silver Lake to Park Authority
Not everybody got exactly what they wanted after a public hearing about Silver Lake, but everybody should be happy with the end result, said Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart.
“Everybody should feel good,” said Stewart, R-at large. “We are at last going to open the darn thing up.”
The supervisors voted 7-0 Tuesday to give the 230-acre property on Antioch Road, near Haymarket, to the Prince William County Park Authority.
Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, was absent from the meeting.
The Park Authority plans to open the park, including the trails and lake, to the public within three to four months, Park Authority Executive Director Jay Ellington said.
Just about everybody who spoke during a public hearing before the vote agreed that Silver Lake should be reserved for passive recreation and horseback riding.
But there was some disagreement about what exactly passive recreation includes and what restrictions should be placed on the land.
Supervisor Michael May, R-Occoquan, proposed an alternative motion that would have placed deed restrictions on the land.
The deed restrictions would have listed specific uses for the park, including jogging, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking and fishing, and would have allowed the Board of County Supervisors to take back the land if the Park Authority didn’t follow the restrictions.
May’s motion to give the land to the Park Authority with those restrictions failed with a 2-5 vote. May and Marty Nohe, R-Coles, voted in favor of the motion.
Supervisor John Stirrup, R-Gainesville, said the deed restrictions would place an “unprecedented level of micromanagement on the Park Authority.”
“Why do we have a Park Authority if the board is going to be micromanaging?” he said.
Supervisor Frank Principi, D-Woodbridge, said he agreed that Silver Lake should be kept for passive recreation, but he didn’t think deed restrictions were the way to do it.
“I’m not certain we want to use a sledge hammer when a hammer would be sufficient,” Principi said.
Ellington said the Park Authority will partner with scouts, equestrian groups and other local volunteer groups to develop a trail system in the park.
In the future, when more funding is available, the Park Authority could further develop the park, possibly adding a camp store, marina and outdoor classroom, according to their proposal.
“We look forward to opening our newest and largest park in the fall of this year,” Ellington said in a statement. “We will begin the master planning process for this park, within the next 120 days and ask the citizens of Prince William County to join us in this process.”
Silver Lake will be the Park Authority’s 67th park.
The county has owned the 230-acre Silver Lake property since December 2006, when Toll Brothers, a developer that built the nearby Dominion Valley subdivision, proffered it to the county, but it has not yet been opened to the public.
Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.
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Reader Reactions
I wholeheartedly agree - please stop the back-biting.
This is not the venue for back-biting.
DtRT’s comments were classless. There simply was no point in making belittling remarks in the newspaper when someone is giving that much time to their community.
I don’t find manners to be liberal or conservative.
Moonhowler…
The negative comments made by individuals on the blogsite that you help manage are available to others for public viewing. They are, in essence, a matter of public record. Those statements cannot be refuted.
With respect to your words directed to “Do the Right Thing,“ you obviously do not know what she does for both her community and the PWC school system. One might suggest that you “find something constructive to do” instead of monitoring and posting on blogs all day bashing those with whom you disagree. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.“
You are entitled to your opinions just as much as Do the Right Thing is entitled to her opinions. Your opinions happen to be liberal - and her opinions happen to be conservative.
My bad i thought this was the tall tale telling “Phdee” club. Known liar, hater of religion, racist, etc. etc. Allison Kipp i applaud your efforts to make this a better community. It’s too bad that some politicians want to make this a bad place to live, and you all know your names. LOL Chris Cummings
No deed restrictions does not automatically mean a shoe-in for whatever future enterprises might want to go in at Silver Lake. On the other hand, its not my immediate community, DtRT, it’s yours. Be careful what you wish for.
I find you pathetic with your ‘thank you’s’ to all the supervisors who you approve of—today. Most of them know you like a book, however, and aren’t fooled by your obsequious speeches.
Meanhile, let the ‘lady in question’ and Mrs. Kipp continue doing the work they have done in the community. They are the ones who have been willing to do what others are not willing to do. They are the ones who have tried another approach to neighborhood problems rather than sitting back and taking cheap shots.
Mr. Cummings,
I really think you need to check your facts on who you are speaking of. Name the person you are speaking of.
Do the right the thing,
It takes a lot more than NW to maintain a decent neighborhood. I think your Supervisor and county staff would confirm this. I personally don’t care what your opinion is. I think others would agree. Hey, but if it makes you feel better about yourself to say the things you do about people on this board…go for it.
I only post on this site with ChrisP. You really need to get over yourself.
Moonhowler,
Please keep howling at the moon! Your lies are resonating in the blogshere.
Thank you once again to Chairmen Stewart,Supervisors Covington,Stirrup,Jenkins, and Principi for using good judgment in voting against the deed restrictions. Keep voting and doing the right thing for the residents of PWC.
Allison Kipp you rock! Keep up the hard work and dedication to the residents of PWC. Mrs. Mattes, thank you for all of your work on behalf of the neighborhood crime watch in your neighborhood.
Chris Cummings—you obviously do not know who you are talking about. Your information is simply incorrect. Stop listening to gossip.
I honestly hope that the lady in question sues you for libel. Name the person you are speaking of.
She has consistently lied, bashed, and otherwise denigrated Stewart, Stirrup, others religious beliefs, her own country, called people racists, rednecks, etc. She is hardly someone to look up to or reason with. I hope she is not put in any position of power because it would be a true tragedy. LOL Chris Cummings
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