NOVA Parks has acquired a 128-acre riverfront property in Loudoun County. A donation by philanthropists Chuck & Stacy Kuhn of half the value of the land ($900,000) and an equal grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) made this addition to the parks agency possible. The LWCF is a federal program which provides 50 percent matching funds to state agencies and localities for the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation resources.

"Acquiring this new land overlooking the Potomac River is right in line with NOVA Parks' 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, which pledges a high quality of resources and our shared environment," said NOVA Parks Chair Cate Magennis Wyatt.

"NOVA Parks' plans to plant trees and restore habitat will greatly increase the ecological value of the land and protect the "Ribbon of Blue."

This morning, Chuck & Stacy Kuhn, owners of JK Land Holdings, JK Moving Services, and CapRelo, NOVA Parks Chair Cate Magennis Wyatt, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall, Supervisor Kristen Umstattd, and other community leaders signed the deed to become Springdale Regional Park.

"Creating this new park helps fulfill our goals of having more green and open space and providing Loudoun citizens with opportunities to enjoy Loudoun's beauty," said Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall. "We're grateful to NOVA Parks and Chuck & Stacy Kuhn for their role as stewards of Loudoun County's historic, and recreational resources."

Over the past decade, the Kuhns have conserved more than 22,000 acres of land—land greater than the size of Manhattan—ensuring vulnerable vistas and habitats are preserved and protected for future generations. The Kuhns have also won numerous awards, including being recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a Top Corporate Philanthropist and the Old Dominion Land Conservation partnership.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation deemed the property eligible for its historic grant because it met the criteria of the Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) grant program. The VOP aims to protect undeveloped land and waterways that provide essential benefits to society, such as clean air, clean water, food, fiber, open space for recreation, and a sense of place. The VOP prioritizes land along major rivers, like the Potomac.

The purchase saves the property from residential development, as it was once destined to become a subdivision for 16 single family residential lots. Instead, with the adjacent land already owned by NOVA Parks, the new park will comprise 278 acres of old a mix of Potomac River front. Springdale Regional Park will also enhance the natural habitat and to offer future families the chance to visit the park, experience nature, and learn about its rich history. The park is an ideal location for Native Americans, who fished along the nearby Heater's Island.

The first pillar of NOVA Parks' soon-to-be-finalized 2023-2027 Strategic Plan is protecting the environment. This includes actively acquiring and managing many of the largest intact natural areas in the region. NOVA Parks' efforts to restore natural resources like riparian buffers—which protect waterways—and to plant trees—which remove ozone-depleting carbon from the air, address the climate change and help our region be more climate resilient.