Are You a Viking or a Farmer?

Below is an article I wrote that was published in Park & Recreation Magazine, September 2010.

Legendary Norsemen didn't conquer the known world by doing things the way they had always been done. Nor should park and recreation administrators.

The Park and Recreation field is undergoing great change. With state and local government budgets in great distress, a business as usual attitude is not a strategy for success. With many economists predicting that an end to the current recession will not come until sometime in 2013, what will parks and recreation look like at that point? Almost certainly, the agencies that survive and thrive will be those that chart new areas. These will be agencies with lean overhead and an entrepreneurial spirit. Agencies that show their value to the community in new and exciting ways and are less dependent on traditional sources of tax revenues will succeed. They will be Viking agencies.


From the late 8th into the 12th centuries, Vikings from Scandinavia were a dominant force in the world in and around Europe. They conquered vast areas and promoted trade. In the east, they set up the nation of Russia, and in the west they were the first Europeans to explore North America. Then, over time, they stopped exploring to become farmers, and the age of Vikings came to an end.

Most larger park agencies went through a Viking era, a period of time when leaders with foresight and a “can do” attitude created opportunities which resulted in rapidly expanding lands and operations. Over time, any organization can become so focused on managing what they have that they forget to grow.

Management is much like farming. You have a set of operations, and you tend to those like a farmer tending his fields. There is a great tendency to do the same thing every year. It seems to work and it becomes “how we always do things.” There is nothing wrong with being a competent manager or farmer, so long as external forces do not change too rapidly. But, when the way things have been done no longer addresses the changing circumstances, it is time to take to the “long boats” again.

While the farmer is focused on the management of a certain set of fields, the Viking is looking to the horizon for new opportunities. Successful Vikings were willing to take strategic risks and stretch themselves and their group to find the new opportunities. While they were seeking these new opportunities, they were not alone. Leif Ericson did not row to Newfoundland by himself, he had a team of Vikings willing to try new things and take risks together for a shared reward.

So, “Going Viking” is not a matter of becoming an individual maverick, but a process of adopting an organizational culture of growth and exploration. The stronger your team of Vikings, the more successful you will be at thriving in an era of change.

Thinking beyond your field is more than a catchy theme for this article. We need to think beyond the traditional park and recreation field to find new opportunities and achieve excellence. If you want to take the best of business principles and apply them to your world, you need to study the best in the business world. I would strongly suggest reading Harvard Business Review to get a handle on what the leaders in management, marketing and strategy are thinking about. For practical knowledge that will help the bottom line of your park agency, send your agency’s best and brightest to NRPA’s Revenue Development and Management School at Oglebay. This business school for park and recreation has been instilling entrepreneurism in park officials for over 45 years, with constantly updated course material.

Think about what Richard Louv and his book Last Child in the Woods did for outdoor/nature experiences. He changed spending time in nature from a nice thing to do for some, to a social imperative for all. And, as a result, nature programming and acquisition of open space have bloomed.

Think about new ways of positioning your park agency. If you are just considered the “fun” agency, you will be the first to be cut in economic hard times. But, if your facilities and programs are a big reason why tourists spend money in your community, or businesses locate there, you are no longer discretionary but have become essential.

These are examples of thinking beyond your field, looking for new markets and new worlds to explore. You can think like a Viking in looking for new revenue sources, new programming opportunities, new financing options and new marketing methods. And, to thrive in an unsettled world, you need a strong team of Vikings to row that long boat to new opportunities.

Final beam goes into Korean Pavilion

On Saturday, the master craftsmen from Korea that have been carving each piece of wood to make the traditional pavilion that will house the large bell at Meadowlark Botanical Garden finished their work. The final step for the carpenters was to hand paint in Korean "Bell of Peace and Harmony" and the date, and put the top beam in place.

Master Carpenter Lee did the honors of painting the bell's name on the beam, before it was lifted by cloth ropes up to the top and set in place. Except for the concrete foundation, the entire pavilion was constructed by hand with each piece of wood being carved from raw lumber. It all fit together tongue and groove without any nails or screws.

The bell is being cast in Korea by another master artist, and will be shipped here in early 2011.

When complete this unique feature of Meadowlark Gardens will be a tourist attraction, a symbol of the partnership between our two countries, and a cultural hub for the Korean American community in the Washington Metropolitan area.

90 Years Ago Women Won the Right to Vote

It is hard to believe that is was less than 100 years ago that women got the right to vote after a very long effort.

At Occoquan Regional Park we have Turning Point Plaza with interpretive signs that tell the story of the women who were imprisoned near there for seeking voting rights in 1917-1919, prior to the 19th Amendment being passed in 1920. In addition to the markers next to the historic brick kiln, the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Committee is working to raise funds for a much grander monument. We have a great design from architect Bob Beach, and the plan is to create this memorial before the 100th Anniversary.

A week ago, we had a nice ceremony at the plaza to mark the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and at this event we also put a time capsule  in the ground with information on the plans for future generations to find some day.

Time capsule

Girl Scouts fill in the hole

Virginia Wine Festival

If you like fine wine, great music and fun with your friends you need to go to Bull Run Regional Park for the Virginia Wine Festival on Saturday September 18th.

The Virginia Wine Festival is the oldest wine festival on the East Coast. Each year, the festival features 50 of VA\'s best wineries, craft exhibitors, seminars, and incredible music. At the Virginia Wine Festival you can celebrate and taste from more than 300 Virginia Vintages plus attend seminars on tasting, pairing, and winemaking, all at a beautiful outdoor venue while shopping and listening to authentic sounds of stellar regional performers. Performers: Over the Rhine, Robert Jospe Quartet w/ John D\'earth, Juggle This! & Stiltwalker and more!

The Special Event Center at Bull Run Regional Park is a great location of concerts, and festivals, and hosts some of the premiere events in Northern Virginia.

Cost: $25: Advance Tickets, $30: Tickets at the Gate


For more information go to www.vawinefest.com or call 1-888-VA-FESTS

Great Location Right Off of I-66

Del Keam meets with Master Craftsmen

Delegate Keam with Master Craftsmen

Yesterday Delegate Mark Keam (35th Virginia House District) visited Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna Virginia where the Korean Bell Garden is being create. Delegate Keam saw the site of the garden where the foundation is already in place for the traditional pavilion that will hold the large cast iron bell in the center of a uniquely Korean garden.

He also met with the special carpenter/artists that have come from Korea to build this pavilion in the same way traditional structures have been built there for thousands of years. These craftsmen have shaped every piece of what will be the pavilion from raw wood. It will all fit together without the assistance of a single nail. Beautiful carvings of birds and flowers have all been formed by hand, and it will be topped with special tiles shipped in from Korea.

The pavilion will be complete sometime in late September and the bell should be on site in early 2011. Already over 100 Korean trees have been planted and stone brought in to create an area that looks like the gardens seen in ancient Korean palaces.

This project is being funded by the Korean American Cultural Committee, with private donations and financial support from the Republic of Korea.

When  complete this site will be a tourist destination for the Northern Virginia area. Already tourism is the #2 industry in Virginia. There are direct flights everyday from Dulles Airport to Korea, this bell garden will provide an important draw to encourage people to come to Meadowlark Garden and see this unique site, and will certainly help the business community in the surrounding area.  There are two similar bells on the West Coast, but this will be the first Korean Bell Garden in North America.

Working with Temple Hall/White's Ford Neighbors

Last week we had a meeting with a number of the neighbors that had opposed the establishment of White's Ford Regional Park. It was a great opportunity to update them on how we are progressing on a wide range of issues, from getting a contractor to help with the various traffic studies we agreed to, to starting work fixing up the Col. White house, and doing more archaeological work on the site.

This park will not open to the public until sometime in 2011. But for those that were involved in the permit process it was a good time to get together and start laying out a productive course for the future.

We met in the main barn with free range chickens wandering though as we talked. We also reviewed the Endowment Plan for Temple Hall Farm and talked about how the entrance on Rt. 15 could be looked at if further charitable donations provided the development funding. I believe that while not everyone agreed on all issues, most people felt better about the plans and our partnership after the meeting than before.

Relationships are built through small positive steps, that over time create mutual trust, respect and appreciation. This I hope is the path we are on.

I would like to thank Supervisor Sally Kurtz, who facilitated this meeting and through the permit process sought to strike a balance.

Holly Morris Reports Live from Great Waves Waterpark

Today Holly Morris from Fox 5 Morning Show did another live broadcast from a Regional Park. This morning she was at Great Waves Waterpark in Alexandria. She did two segments on the giant wave pool, one on min-golf and some on the batting cages. To see the video footage see: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/mornings/holly_live/holly-morris-great-waves-water-park-072810

Strategic Plan Success

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die."- Daniel Burnham

Daniel Burnham was an architect and urban planner in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries who built great buildings in Chicago, but also left us with this great quote on planning.

Much of the business literature quote a number that 90% of strategic plans are not successfully implemented. Much of that is because it is easy to have a big disconnect between the plan and the realities of what the organization is doing. 

At the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority we adopted our first real strategic plan at the end of 2007. This five year plan is now at the midway point, and the good news is that we have made tremendous progress in every area we set out to. 

This success is one that the whole organization shares, in that making this plan a reality has taken the actions of hundreds of people all moving in the same direction. I am tremendously proud of all the staff, Board Members, and volunteers that have played a role in this implementation. 

The details on this implementation can be seen at:  http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/StratPlanNewsletter.pdf

While there is, and always will be much more work to be done, it is great to see that the goal we set are taking place and as a result the organization is able to serve the public in more ways than ever before.

Rewarding Excellence

One of the most important events of the year at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is when we recognize some of the great achievements that have been accomplished by our amazing team of professionals. The employee achievement award winners are all nominated by their peer and then selected by a cross functional committee that changes every year. This year we presented these award in the spring of 2010.

In the photos below the award recipient is the second from the left. I am on the left, and to the right of the awardee is Su Webb, NVRPA Chair, and Brian Knapp, NVRPA Vice Chair.

Heather Dunn has achieved recognition in the area of Programming. Heather developed new Scout programs and school tours attracting many younger visitors to the Carlyle House. She stepped into the role of Curator of Education in 2009 and seamlessly took over the volunteer docent program. Heather has also developed new materials for a number of existing public programs offered at the site.

Eric Ferguson has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. The last year was a challenging one for all of our operations and Eric had more than his share by transitioning from the busy season at Cameron Run to the busy season at Bull Run - just as the Festival of Lights was gearing up. Eric worked at both parks simultaneously, turning the Cameron operation over to a new manager while learning his new duties. When the snows hit, Eric stayed in his park the whole time plowing, shoveling and getting back open to the public as soon as possible. He also volunteered to help at other parks throughout the year including the Carlyle House and Algonkian.

Paul Hecky has achieved recognition in the area of Innovation. Paul brought a wealth of knowledge and new ideas to Brambleton which have resulted in improved playing conditions, new ways of caring for the course and new amenities that improve the golfer’s overall experience.

Ashley Kiser has achieved recognition in the area of Above-and-Beyond. Ashley quickly learned the installation procedures for the light show displays and became a leader for both the installation and tear-down processes. Once the lights were installed, he worked as the light technician after his normal park maintenance duties were through each day and provided the most trouble free Festival of Lights we’ve had so far. Ashley’s duties as light technician took on a whole new meaning after the heavy snows damaged many displays and much of the pathway lighting, which Ashley repaired in time for the show’s reopening.

James Short has achieved recognition in the area of Safety. Over the last year, James has improved the pre-season training and testing for coaches who use the Occoquan Reservoir for scholastic rowing. He has improved the procedures for monitoring of water and weather conditions and has worked with other rowing facilities to pass along safety protocols he has developed. James has even been able to reduce the instances of speeding by students and parents along the road leading Sandy Run Regional Park reducing the impact of the facility on the surrounding community.

Bryan McFerren has achieved recognition in the area of Cost Savings. The golf course at Algonkian has always been challenging to maintain due to the wet and flat conditions which exist. To deal with this, Bryan converted the rye grass fairways at Algonkian to Bermuda grass which needs less maintenance, water, fertilizer, fungicide and ultimately, less cost while providing the benefits and playability of a warm season grass.

Rich Bailey has achieved recognition in the area of Programming. Rich has displayed great creativity and skill in running the Junior Naturalist and Explorers day camps at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. All spots book each year at these popular camps which feature a varied and ever-changing set of indoor and outdoor activities, both within and outside the park. The camps enjoy many repeat campers each year and some even return as “Counselors-in Training.”

Becky Reynaldo, Azeana Roehn, Diana Lancaster, Kim LaPorta

The Finance Department has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. For the first time ever, our external auditors were unable to document any significant flaws or errors in the NVRPA financial records for 2009. This reflects the diligence these staff members have shown in tracking down inaccuracies in our finances and looking for ways to avoid mistakes made in past years. A fault free rating from auditors is a rare thing for any agency and ours’ is due to the hard work of these staff members.

Kevin Ruuska has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. Kevin is always taking on tasks not in his job description and does it with enthusiasm and a smile. As Chef at the Atrium, he can often be seen outside the kitchen helping clean the facility, setting up the rooms for upcoming events and helping with whatever tasks need to be accomplished.

Adam Melton has achieved recognition in the area of Versatility for his service to staff and NVRPA. Adam has taken on many new responsibilities in the IT department one being the task of setting up new types of equipment. Adam has also worked closely with the Operations and Marketing staff to provide technical support and insight on website development plans.

Charlie Anderson has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. Charlie volunteered to drive the NVRPA float in the George Washington’s Birthday parade in Alexandria and the proceeded to do the same each time we participated in a parade. In each case he gave up a holiday and his skill at maneuvering the truck and trailer through typically crowded street conditions was exceptional.

Casey Pittrizzi has achieved recognition in the area of Programming. Casey’s work as our Roving Naturalist has brought nature interpretation to facilities and park visitors who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn about the wonders of our environment. Casey scheduled and marketed the more than 99 programs he hosted through out the season. Casey obtained his own materials and delivered quality programs to almost 5000 people throughout the spring, summer and fall. He even brought his programs to the Holiday Village at the Festival of Lights adding a fourth season to his schedule.

Tony Blevins has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. Tony lost several staff members at a tough budget time when we had a hiring freeze in place. He was able to maintain the high standards of care that Pohick Bay Golf Course is known for by creatively managing his staff time and taking on more of the daily operations himself.

Steve Bergstrom

As Director of Finance and Budget, Steve has transformed those departments into award winning, vital operations within NVRPA. The Finance Department has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Budget Department has won the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, each two years in a row. His departments are recognized by other staff as being exceptionally helpful in supplying information needed in our decision making processes and they are seen to be especially nimble and flexible in providing services. For the first time in NVRPA history, our outside auditors were unable to find any flaws in our 2009 financial records. Steve has provided informative, easy to understand financial reports to the NVRPA Board, thereby inspiring confidence in our management and operations.

Master Carpenters Build Korean Pavilion

In the center of the Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna Virginia will be a traditional pavilion that will hold an enormous bell. Almost every element of this project is being done much as it would have been done a thousand years ago, except for the aid of power hand tools.

Right now a group of carpenters from Korea that have built such traditional structures before are working away forming each piece of wood by hand. They purchased large sections of White Pine that they are working on.

In today's world of modern construction, it is fascinating to see master craftsmen at work. The end result will be stunning. The main pavilion should be complete by October of 2010 and the bell which is also being cast in the same way it was done 1,000 years ago will be in place by the Spring of 2011.

A prescription for better health: go alfresco

The following article comes from Harvard Health Publications

Spending time outside might have some health benefits — and the ‘greening' of exercise might have some more.


Summer is the time when the outdoors beckons. We go to the beach in droves, have picnics and barbecues, paddle and fish and swim. Some hike, others bike, and a few do both — although not at the same time.

But these good times in the out of doors are really an exception to the rule, which is that most of us spend the vast majority of our time inside. According to one government estimate, the average American spends 90% of his or her life indoors, and as we get older we become even more inclined not to venture out.

When we do, there's a gantlet of precautions: slather on the sunscreen; take it easy — or head indoors — if air quality is bad; watch out for ticks, mosquitoes, and other creatures that might bite. It's all very well-meaning but it also reinforces indoor ways.

So it's back into the bunker — but that might not be good for you. The study results are ticking up: spending time outdoors seems to have discernible benefits for physical and mental health. Granted, some are merely by association and can be achieved by other means, perhaps while indoors, but often only with a good deal more trouble and expense. Here are five potential benefits of spending more time outdoors:

1. Your vitamin D levels will go up

Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because sunlight hitting the skin begins the circuitous process — the liver and kidneys get involved — that eventually leads to the creation of the biologically active form of the vitamin. Over all, research is showing that many vitamins, while necessary, don't have such great disease-fighting powers, but vitamin D may prove to be the exception. Epidemiologic studies are suggesting it may have protective effects against everything from osteoporosis to cancer to depression to heart attacks and stroke. Even by conventional standards, many Americans don't have enough vitamin D circulating in their bodies. The good news is that you'll make all the vitamin D you need if you get outside a few times a week during these summer days and expose your arms and legs for 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, it has to be sunny out.

There are some snags. Vitamin D production is affected by age (people ages 65 and over generate about a fourth as much as people in their 20s) and skin color (African Americans have, on average, about half the levels of vitamin D in their blood as white Americans).

Another problem: sunscreens are most effective at blocking the ultraviolet B (UVB) light, the part of the spectrum that causes sunburn, but UVB also happens to be the kind of light that kick-starts the generation of vitamin D in the skin.

The either-or of sunscreen and sunshine vitamin has stirred up a lot of controversy and debate between pro-sunscreen dermatologists and the vitamin D camp. But there is plenty of middle ground here: some limited sun exposure on short walks and the like, supplemented with vitamin D pills if necessary, and liberal use of sunscreen when you are out for extended periods, particularly during the middle of the day.

2. You'll get more exercise (especially if you're a child)

You don't need to be outside to be active: millions of people exercise indoors in gyms or at home on treadmills and elliptical trainers. Nor is being outside a guarantee of activity. At the beach on a summer day most people are in various angles of repose.

Still, there's no question that indoor living is associated with being sedentary, particularly for children, while being outdoors is associated with activity. According to some surveys, American children spend an average of 6� hours a day with electronic media (video games, television, and so on), time that is spent mainly indoors and sitting down. British researchers used Global Positioning System devices and accelerometers, which sense movement, to track the activity of 1,000 children. They found that the children were more than doubly active when they were outside.

Adults can go to the gym. Many prefer the controlled environment there. But if you make getting outside a goal, that should mean less time in front of the television and computer and more time walking, biking, gardening, cleaning up the yard, and doing other things that put the body in motion.

3. You'll be happier (especially if your exercise is ‘green')

Light tends to elevate people's mood, and unless you live in a glass house or are using a light box to treat seasonal affective disorder, there's usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to relax and cheer people up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles and laughter.

Researchers at the University of Essex in England are advancing the notion that exercising in the presence of nature has added benefit, particularly for mental health. Their investigations into "green exercise," as they are calling it, dovetails with research showing benefits from living in proximity to green, open spaces.

In 2010 the English scientists reported results from a meta-analysis of their own studies that showed just five minutes of green exercise resulted in improvements in self-esteem and mood.

Mind you, none of the studies were randomized controlled trials. The intuitive appeal of green exercise is its strength, not the methodological rigor of the research supporting it. It's hard to imagine how a stroll in a pretty park wouldn't make us feel better than a walk in a drab setting.

4. Your concentration will improve

Richard Louv coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" in his 2008 book Last Child in the Woods. It's a play on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers have, in fact, reported that children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. A study published in 2008 found that children with ADHD scored higher on a test of concentration after a walk through a park than after a walk through a residential neighborhood or downtown area. Other ADHD studies have also suggested that outdoor exercise could have positive effects on the condition. Truth be told, this research has been done in children, so it's a stretch to say it applies to adults, even those who have an ADHD diagnosis. But if you have trouble concentrating — as many do — you might see if some outdoor activity, the greener the better, helps.

5. You may heal faster

University of Pittsburgh researchers reported in 2005 that spinal surgery patients experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications during their recoveries if they were exposed to natural light. An older study showed that the view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) had an effect on patient recovery. Of course, windows and views are different than actually being outside, but we're betting that adding a little fresh air to the equation couldn't hurt and might help.

Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2010/July/a-prescription-for-better-health-go-alfresco

© 2000-2010 Harvard University. All rights reserved.

Northern Virginia Waterparks

It has already been a summer season for the record books with temperatures in the 90's all the time.

In the last few years the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has become increasingly know as the place to go for summer fun, with all five of our waterparks sporting a new look, and new features. Enhancing the fun factor, NVRPA's waterparks all have themes that transport you to new, exciting places. The result of fresh newly renovated waterparks and record heat equals places that are more popular than ever before.

Collectively we have seen 40,000 more waterpark visitors this year than we have ever seen, and the summer is only half over!

• Great Waves at Cameron Run is the waterpark that you can see from the Beltway, right off of exit #174 on Eisenhower Road in Alexandria. In addition to speed slides, and twisty slides and many other features, the centerpiece is a giant wave pool (the only one in the area). Like ocean waves you can body surf, or ride one of the free inner tubes that are available. When you are hungry the Riptide Cafe has what you need. If you want to shop for some summer essentials, the Shark Shack has you covered. If the best waterpark in the region was not enough, Cameron Run also has mini-golf and batting cages, in addition to areas for your favorite events.
• Volcano Island is the newest waterpark to get a face lift and new features. This polynesian paradise is at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling. Complete with giant dumping bucket, waterslides and a volcano on the roof, attendance at this site is up 70% from last year. This is a must see waterpark.
• Atlantis was lost for thousands of years and then we discovered it at Bull Run Regional Park in Centerville. Atlantis is an ancient Greek themed waterpark for those that like mermaids, Neptune, and lots of fun features including waterslides, buckets and more. As more people are discovering this great place the word is spreading and attendance is up over 50% for the second year in a row.
• Upton Hill in Arlington was revamped a few years ago with wonderful features including slides and more. Upton has an Outer Banks feel, for a laid back and fun summer day. This is a very popular destination.
• Pirate's Cove is a favorite for buccaneers of all ages at Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton (Mason Neck). Cannons bristle and menacing flags fly as you approach Priate's Cove. Inside the fun continues and even includes buried treasure. The popularity of this great site has gone up 40% this summer.

One of the most popular ways to explore all of these great waterparks is with the Bounce Pass. This is an annual membership that allow you to use these waterparks as much as you like. Less expensive and much more fun than most community pool memberships, the Bounce Pass is a remarkable deal. For more information on the Bounce Pass see: http://www.nvrpa.org/content/pool_passes/

Permitting for White's Ford is Done

Last week the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approve the permits for White's Ford Regional Park. This is a process that took 20 months from start to finish.

After a number of steps including additional traffic studies, we will be able to open White's Ford Park (in 2011). In the initial phasing it will be a place where those with canoes & kayaks can do a car top launch. No trailers and no motorized boats, just a beach area to launch and paddle. The public will also enjoy the natural beauty and historical significance of this great property.

It is not open yet. And will need a number of further steps including creating an internal road, and the launch area, the end of farming, before it will be ready to launch boats and explore. In the next year we plan to plant many trees and convert some of the open fields into meadows that will attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Historically, this is the site where the Confederate Army crossed the river on their way to Antietam in 1862.

Gaining almost 300 acres of new parkland along the Potomac River is a huge deal for the environment and the public good.

Volcano Island Errupts at Algonkian

The waterparks of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority have become known and loved for their great theming. We have Pirate's Cove at Pohick Bay, Great Waves at Cameron Run, Atlantis at Bull Run. Even Upton Hill has new themeing elements that will transport you to the Outer Banks. But now the Pacific is closer than ever before with the opening of Volcano Island at Algonkian.

Complete with a smoking volcano, palm trees, thatch, Easter Island heads, and much more, Volcano Island is the cool place to spend hot summer days.

The renovations have already brought record numbers of people to the waterpark and the word of mouth is just starting. Come see for yourself.

Korean Bell Garden Ground Breaking

The Korean Bell Garden project at Meadowlark Gardens is progressing ahead of schedule thanks to the great work of Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi the Chair of the Korean American Cultural Committee (KACC). We now have the building permit in hand to build the pavilion that will hold the bell, and carpenters from Korea are coming soon to start carving raw wood into the pieces that will be used in this traditional pavilion.

This spring we planted over 100 trees native to Korea, put in stone terracing and steps, and a path through this area of the garden.

Earlier this week we had the ground breaking. One of the things that made this event even more meaningful was that this was the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Many Korean War veterans attended as well as Mrs. Han the wife of the Korean Ambassador, Congressman Moran, State Senator Peterson, Fairfax Chair Sharon Bulova and Fairfax County Supervisors Penny Gross and Cathy Hudgins, and many others.

This will be the first Korean Bell Garden in North America. The pavilion is expected to be complete this fall and the bell should be on site by next spring.

In addition to be a place of great beauty, it will be a cultural icon for tens of thousands of Korean Americans in our area, and a tourist attraction for Northern Virginia.

Holly Morris Reports Live from Fountainhead Park

Holly Morris with Fox 5 news pictured above paddling hard, reported live from Fountainhead Regional Park on the first day of summer. She did three segments, one on boating, one on mountain biking, and one on hiking.

Here is a link to the video of Holly's morning of fun at Fountainhead Regional Park on the Occoquan Reservoir. http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/mornings/holly_live/holly-morris-first-day-of-summer-062110

Fountainhead is a great place to rent a boat and explore the reservoir. It also boasts the best mountain biking trail in the mid-Atlantic. And it is the trailhead of the Bull Run/Occoquan Trail that goes 18 miles to Bull Run Park. If you love the outdoors, Fountainhead is the place for you!

Challenges for White's Ford Regional Park

White’s Ford is a nearly 300 acre property on the Potomac River in Loudoun County that we hope will become one of our new parks. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has been engaged in a local permitting process that has gone on now for over a year and a half. After 14 months of review by the Planning Department including hearing and work sessions, the Loudoun County Planning Commission recommended approval of our permits by an 8-1 vote.

Recently, the Board of Supervisors approved the “Commission Permit,” which allows it to become a public facility, but sent two other permits, one for a boat launch for canoes and kayaks and one for camping, back for further review by the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the Board. Since then we have agreed to further reductions in use and other conditions.

Park Uses:

Most people would think that a park is a universally good thing. The issue is park uses. There is a group of around thirty people who are landowners near the site and friends and family of those neighbors who are opposing the public uses.

All that has ever been proposed for this site is boat launching, picnicking, camping, occasional special events, trails and historical interpretation - all uses that are considered by most to be “passive.” This is opposed to athletic fields, water parks, performing arts venues and other recreational uses that draw large number of people at certain times.

The road leading to the park, Hibler Road, is a rural gravel road. Much has been said about the transportation challenge that this poses. One of the challenges is that the permitting process for a park is the same as it is for a residential or commercial development. The big difference for a park is the pattern of road usage. Parks are not used heavily on weekday mornings or evenings (rush hours) like other uses. Parks are used mostly on weekends when other road travel is more spread out. The uses we are proposing are also not the kind of uses that will draw large groups at the same time.

It is important to think about why we create parks. We do this to offer places for the public to go and engage in wholesome outdoor activities. Fishing, boating, camping and hiking as well as historic tourism are all important.

In 2007, we asked a firm to poll/survey Loudoun County residents about park uses, and the results strongly support a White’s Ford Park with the uses we have proposed.

- 59% had a need for natural areas.
- 59% had a need for historic sites.
- 58% had a need for picnic shelters and areas.
- 46% had a need for unpaved trails.
- 30% had a need for campgrounds.
- 25% had a need for boat launch & rental sites.
- 21% had a need for cabin rentals.

The smallest of these percentages represents nearly 20,000 households in Loudoun County, yet around 30 citizens interested in keeping people out are having a disproportionate influence. Unfortunately, since the park does not exist yet, it does not have a constituency that has grown to use and love the park, and is willing to speak up for it.

History and Archeology:

During the process, some people have suggested this is a bad location because they are looking at it from the perspective of roads. But roads are not the most important factor in selecting land for parks. When we analyze properties for parks, we look at factors like access to water, historic significance, trail potential and others. White’s Ford is an outstanding property from a park perspective.

The biggest historic event to take place there was the crossing of the Confederate Army from Virginia to Maryland, shortly after the Second Battle of Manassas, on their way to the Battle of Antietam. General Stonewall Jackson and Colonel Elijah White scoped out all the potential crossing points along the Potomac and selected this as the best site. In addition, the site still has the house where Elijah White and his family lived before and during the war. We specialize in historic sites at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and are always looking for locations with rich history to preserve and interpret.

We have also done extensive archeological work on the site and discovered evidence in a number of locations that tell the story of Native American people who lived near the river. We have carefully planned park amenities to avoid these locations, yet the opponents like to suggest we are insensitive to the history. It is precisely because of these features that this land should be a park.

Environmental Protection:

The opponents have also made a lot of noise about how this park will somehow be an environmental problem. This line of thought is without any merit. Currently, the land has two uses. Next to the river it is plowed and planted in row crops, and the upland portion of the land is being used to graze cattle. There are very few trees on the property, other than directly along the river bank and along the one stream valley on the property. One can assume that the row crops by the river are likely being sprayed with fertilizer and/or pesticides. In short, the current condition of the land is less than ideal.

We are proposing to convert most of the land to forest and meadows that will substantially improve the habitat value of the land. We have worked with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on this plan, and they are supportive of our plans.

Along the river, we have agreed to a 200 foot riparian (forested) buffer. This is twice the buffer that would be required under Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas.

Some of the neighbors have spoke at every opportunity about the threat of shoreline erosion that they believe will come with trails and park usage. While the concern about erosion is noble, there is a great misunderstanding about cause and effect on this issue. In November of 2009, Williamsburg Environmental Group studied the impact on shoreline impact from boating and trail use and found that the shoreline was in good condition at numerous park locations along the Potomac, and there was no evidence that trails or boating posed a threat to the shoreline. I am sure no amount of research will convince some, but it is important that the broader community have a clear understanding that well managed hiking trails and boat launch areas pose no threat to the integrity of the shoreline.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has over 100 miles of trails; 35 of those miles are hiking/equestrian trails that parallel the Potomac, Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers. We own and manage over 8,000 acres of river front property.

Making White’s Ford a park will have tremendous ecological value.

Conclusion:

The Regional Park Authority has managed parks for over 50 years. We are a regional leader in conserving historic resources, and a national leader among park agencies in progressive environmental policies. We have extensive experience managing trail networks, family campgrounds, water access points and other features.

Up to now, we have kept our focus on the legal and land use issues related to the permits we were seeking. As public officials, it is our job to have thick skins and not worry too much if a few choose to oppose what is going to be good for the general public. However, by not addressing the issues the opponents have been putting out, some may think that those claims have merit. The purpose of this piece is not to disparage any individual who chooses to oppose White’s Ford Park or the uses of the park (everyone has a right to an opinion), but to set the record straight on a number of issues that we have not addressed as clearly before.

Making Parks Look Great

From time to time I get out and help maintain the W&OD Trail. This week I spent some time on a mower. It is always a great experience. It is a side of parks that many park users do not focus on. but every week our staff are cutting grass, painting buildings, cutting up fallen trees that are blocking trails in the woods, or other tasks. These efforts make your expedience in the parks great.

I am very proud of the efforts of our park staff and I think all the hard work is very apparent. In the last 3-4 years all of our parks have seen a significant improvements in their appearance.

If you enjoy your parks, thank a park employee when you see them doing their job.

Bike to Work on May 21st

Bike to work day is coming up and according to the Washington Area Bike Association around 1,000 people a year are joining this annual day which sees in excess of 8,000 people a year peddling to work.

Nearly 6% of the population of Portland Or commute on their bikes on a regular basis (and it rains a lot there). As more people in our area choose to the bike instead of the car to go places, the social and personal benefits are great. On the community level our road become less clogged, and our air becomes cleaner. On the person level, cycling is fantastic exercise.

The Fairfax Times just ran a great story about the bike to work trend which you can see at: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1493

In this story Charles Strunk Fairfax County Bicycle Program Coordinator notes "the Washington & Old Dominion Trail sees the highest commuter traffic, and even experiences a "rush hour" effect on weekday mornings and evenings. "The W&OD is like the I-66 for bikers," Strunk said of the 45-mile trail that extends from Purcellville to Arlington."

We are very proud to be able to offer the backbone of so many cycling trips that use the W&OD Trail as part of the journey.

For those interested in biking places, Google Maps has just recently added a feature where you can search out the best route between point A and point B that would work for a bike.

Whether your trip is to work, the local store, or an area park, plot out your course and go there via peddle power. In addition to being good for you and the world, it is a lot of fun!