HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2013-09-20 Raflo Park Bike Depot Wins State Award
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Leesburg Parks & Recreation Department Receives VRPS
Award for Bike Depot at Raflo Park
Leesburg, VA (September 20, 2013) – At the
2013 Virginia Recreation and Park Society
(VRPS) Conference in Williamsburg last week,
the Town of Leesburg’s Parks & Recreation
Department was honored with the Best New
Renovation/Addition Award (Parks,
Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways or Trails)
for the new bike depot at Raflo Park.
The Raflo Park Bike Depot includes a bike
rack, a portable toilet enclosed by a stockade-
style fence, new lighting, an air pump, and a
water fountain with attached dog fountain.
The depot is located on the W&OD Trail at Harrison Street, just south of downtown Leesburg.
“The bike depot provides a great stopping point for bicyclists on the W&OD Trail, who want to
go into downtown Leesburg,” said Rich Williams, Leesburg’s Parks & Recreation Director.
“Council Member Dave Butler first suggested adding bike rest stops at entry points into the
Town along the W&OD Trail. We chose Ralfo Park because there is an existing shelter and
adjacent parking, in addition to its proximity to downtown. ”
The bike depot project was a partnership between the Town and the Northern Virginia Regional
Parks Authority, which owns and maintains the W&OD Trail, and the Friends of the W&OD Trail.
Both groups donated $3,000 each to offset the cost of the bike depot construction. The design
was completed in-house by Parks & Open Space Planner Bill Ference. The drinking fountain
was installed by the Town’s Utilities Department. The remaining construction was divided
between contractors and Town staff. Total cost for the bike depot construction was $17,000.
Each year, the VRPS Awards and Citations Committee chooses winners in fourteen award
categories that include four population categories. These awards are presented at the Annual
Virginia Recreation and Park Society Conference. For more information, please visit
www.vrps.com.
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TOL PR 2013-09-20 Raflo Park Bike Depot Award
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About the Virginia Recreation and Park Society: The Virginia Recreation and Park Society
(VRPS) is a private, non-profit professional organization, founded in 1953 and incorporated in
1956. Its purpose is to unite all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in
the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia, into
one body. The members work together to promote and improve the profession in all its
diversity. VRPS is affiliated with the National Recreation and Park Association.
Contact:
Richard Williams
Director of Parks & Recreation
rwilliams@leesburgva.gov
703-737-7140
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