A BILL to authorize the Department of Conservation and Recreation to accept certain property to establish a state park in Loudoun County.
HB239 authorizes the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to accept or acquire, with the Governor’s approval and a deed approved by the Attorney General, approximately 1,240 acres of land known as Oak Hill Farm in Loudoun County from The Conservation Fund. The bill states that this conveyance is made as evidence of General Assembly approval under existing law and is intended to allow the Commonwealth to establish and operate a state park on the property.
The proposed park is described as serving multiple purposes: outdoor recreation, historic interpretation, and continued agricultural uses on the site. The bill specifically identifies the property by location, including its boundaries near Little River Turnpike, James Monroe Highway, and Tail Race Road, and includes any buildings or structures on the land. In practical terms, the measure would enable the state to add a new park asset in a rapidly developing part of Northern Virginia while preserving a large tract of land for public use and conservation.
If enacted, HB239 would expand DCR’s authority to accept a specific parcel of real property for state park purposes and would facilitate creation of a new state park in Loudoun County. It would not broadly amend park law, but it would operate as a site-specific authorization under § 10.1-104 of the Code of Virginia, affecting state land acquisition, park development, and management of the Oak Hill Farm property. The bill would primarily affect DCR, The Conservation Fund, Loudoun County, and future park users, while also preserving the property’s agricultural and historic character.
The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, as reflected by its incorporation into HB500 by the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee on a voice vote. No recorded opposition, roll-call vote, or committee transcript is provided, so there is no evidence of significant controversy in the available materials. The bill appears to have been treated as a straightforward land-conveyance and park-creation measure.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be the use of state authority to acquire a large tract of land, the terms and conditions of the conveyance, and how the property will balance conservation, recreation, historic interpretation, and agricultural uses. Because the bill is site-specific and involves a substantial acreage in Loudoun County, questions could arise about land use, long-term management, and the implications for local development. However, no explicit objections or competing viewpoints are included in the provided record.