A BILL to authorize the Department of Conservation and Recreation to acquire certain property to establish a new state park in Loudoun County.
HB500 authorizes the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), with the approval of the Governor and Attorney General, to accept or acquire approximately 1,240 acres of land in Loudoun County from The Conservation Fund. The property, known as Oak Hill Farm and located between Little River Turnpike, James Monroe Highway, and Tail Race Road, would be used to establish and operate a new state park.
The bill specifies that the park should provide outdoor recreation and historic interpretation opportunities while also supporting agricultural uses on the property. It functions as an enabling measure under existing law by giving the General Assembly’s approval for DCR to take title to the land and develop it for state park purposes.
If enacted, HB500 would amend the practical authority of the Department of Conservation and Recreation by allowing it to acquire a specific parcel of land for a new state park in Loudoun County. It does not broadly change statewide park policy, but it would add a new state-owned park site and could affect land use, conservation, recreation access, and historic preservation efforts in the county. The bill also contemplates continued agricultural use on the property, which may shape future management of the site.
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. The measure advanced through committee and was reported with a 14-0 vote in Finance and Appropriations, indicating unanimous support among those voting at that stage. No committee transcript or recorded floor debate was provided, so the public record here shows support but not detailed discussion of the proposal.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The bill’s main policy choices are the acquisition of a large tract of land for a new state park, the use of public authority to accept the property, and the inclusion of outdoor recreation, historic interpretation, and agricultural uses. Any concerns would likely relate to land acquisition, future management, or fiscal implications, but none are reflected in the supplied votes or transcripts.