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$1.2 billion Prince William County park plan under review
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Prince William County (Map, News) - Prince William County leaders continue to mull an ambitious plan to triple the size of its parkland by 2030 at a cost of about $1.26 billion, despite a dire budget crunch.
County supervisors and the Park Authority board are scheduled to hold a special meeting Monday followed by a public hearing Tuesday to discuss a proposal to raise the amount of parkland from a current standard of 13.8 acres per 1,000 people to 25 acres per 1,000 people.
While conservationists and residents have pushed aggressively for the measure due to concerns that the fast-growing county's development risks eroding its forests and meadows, critics have cautioned the measure is too ambitious during a dismal budget year.
"It's very difficult to look at spending the kind of funds this costs," said Supervisor Wally Covington, R-Brentsville. "Do you cut third grade to do it? I don't know."
Overshadowed by top board priorities of expanding the police department for a new immigration crackdown and adding more firefighters in the wake of a line-of-duty-death in April, the park plan has been consistently delayed since October as the county's fiscal condition has worsened.
Chairman Corey Stewart led the push for the expansion because he says the county must aim high on an important citizen priority, even if funding won't be possible for several years due to a budget crisis.
One key issue is whether the county can include non-county-owned land, including federal and state parks, in its calculations to reduce costs.
Residential property values key to the county's property tax collections have plummeted 16 percent in the last year, raising concerns about the county's ability to pay for its top priorities.
Citizen surveys have rated preservation of open space as a key concern, and Park Authority Executive Director Jay Ellington said resident input has been and will be a key factor in the process.
January surveys by the park authority are expected to support the pitch for more land.
dgenz@dcexaminer.com
