HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_10_08_r167 Approving 20 Yr Parks Recreation Open Space and Trails planThe Town of
Leesburg,
trgtma
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION:
PRESENTED October 8, 2002
2002-167 ADOPTED October 8, 2002
APPROVING THE PROPOSED 20-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR
PARKS, RECREATION, OPEN SPACE, TRAILS, AND GREENWAYS
WHEREAS, in October, 2000, the Leesburg Town Council awarded a contract to Rhodeside &
Harwell, Incorporated to develop a comprehensive master plan for parks, recreation, open space, trails,
and greenways; and
WHEREAS, the overall scope of the work included a community profile, inventory and
assessment, implementation strategies, plan priorities and community involvement in order to develop
a 20-year master plan for the town's park and recreation system; and
WHEREAS, Rhodeside and Harwell invested a significant amount of time inventorying and
analyzing the parks and recreation opportunities in and around the Town of Leesburg, including a half-
day planning workshop with representatives of the Town of Leesburg Planning Department and
Engineering Department; and
WHEREAS, discussions were also held with the County of Loudoun Parks Recreation, and
Community Services Department, County of Loudoun Planning Department, and the Northern
Virginia Regional Park Authority; and
WHEREAS, Rhodeside and Harwell encouraged citizen involvement by conducting a citizen
survey and a citizen input session; and
WHEREAS, the proposed 20-year plan has been unanimously endorsed by both the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Commission and the Planning Commission, as well as, reviewed by the Tree
Commission and the Environmental Advisory Commission without comment; and
A RESOLUTION:
-2-
APPROVING THE PROPOSED 20-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN FOR PARKS, RECREATION, OPEN SPACE, TRAILS AND
GREENWAYS
WHEREAS, a public heating was held on Tuesday, September 10, 2002, to consider the
proposed 20-Year Comprehensive Plan for Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails, and Greenways; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Parks and Recreation recommends approval of the proposed 20-
Year Comprehensive Plan for Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails, and Greenways as presented.
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia that the
proposed 20-Year Plan for Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails, and Greenways dated July 2002 is
approved as presented and establishes the following priorities in no particular order:
SECTION I. Set aside funding to acquire open space for new park sites in the southwest
quadrant, northeast quadrant, and the downtown area and strategize ways to acquire additional sites for
active recreation; and
SECTION II. Substantially implement the Trails Plan described in 1993 (and included in the
1997 Town Plan), and expand the plan to include new trails and connections which are compatible
with neighborhood concerns; and
SECTION III. Create "greenway" trail linkages along rivers and streams, starting first with the
Potomac River, Tuscarora Creek and Town Branch; and
SECTION IV. Acquire land and/or easements to connect existing and planned parks along the
Potomac River, and to connect these open spaces to Ida Lee Park; and
SECTION V. Acquire strategic properties and easements along rivers and streams in order to
protect wildlife habitat, water quality, and visual character; and
SECTION VI. Work proactively with developers to ensure the provision of usable public
recreation areas and open spaces in new subdivisions; and
A RESOLUTION:
-3-
APPROVING THE PROPOSED 20-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN FOR PARKS, RECREATION, OPEN SPACE, TRAILS AND
GREENWAYS
SECTION VII. Identify and protect important cultural and historic sites in Leesburg that are
currently unprotected; and
SECTION VIII. Expand Ida Lee Park Recreation Center to include a third indoor pool, and
possibly an outdoor pool, when demand indicates the need to do so; and
SECTION IX. Implement entrance and corridor improvements along Routes 15 and 7, and
establish design guidelines for street trees, medians, sidewalks, signs, furniture, and lighting along
these corridors.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the implementation and timing of this long-range park master
plan depends on the town-wide priorities of the Council, the availability of funding and the debt
situation of the town at that time.
PASSED this 8th day of October 2002.
ATTEST:
Council
lca4s~ C. ~dmstattd, Mayor' (
Town of Leesburg
20yrparkplanrev