Dear Gainesville Resident,

 

As you may know, at the board meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously voted to convey the Silver Lake property to the Park Authority, without deed restrictions.  With this issue settled, the Park Authority has already begun the process to open the park.  Jay Ellington, Executive Director of the Prince William County Park Authority and Park Authority staff surveyed the park yesterday.  The Park Authority has established a two phase approach to opening the park, a brief description of each phase is included below.

 

Within the next 120 days, the Park Authority will be preparing the property for safe passive recreation; securing or removing the dilapidated buildings, cleaning up the lake shore line, removing the broken lake dock and clearing areas for picnicking.  As soon as the property is secured, fishing will be allowed from the bank of the lake.  Also within those first 120 days, the Park Authority will conduct the Master Plan process for the Park.  This process will seek input from the public and with organizations who would like to partner with the Park Authority.  These meetings will be well publicized for citizens to participate.

 

Phase Two, which is subject to budgetary constraints, could include a bathhouse, marina, camping area, picnic shelters and outdoor classrooms for environmental studies.

 

I am delighted that after years of public debate, discussion, input and feedback we are finally poised to open "Silver Lake Park" to public use. I want to thank the Board of County Supervisors for the unanimous vote to deed the property to the Park Authority. Silver Lake will be a jewel for our great County.

 

Sincerely,

 

John T. Stirrup

Supervisor

Gainesville District