Implementation Plan For The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail In Loudoun County Prepared for the Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Department by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission July 2002 Acknowledgments i The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) wishes to acknowledge the following individuals for their contributions to this project: Don Briggs, Superintendent of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail for the National Park Service; Cindy Welsh, Director of Loudoun County Department of Parks and Recreation; Kate Rudacille, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority; and, members of the Loudoun County Open Space Advisory Commitee. This report is an NVRC staff product to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Federal Highways Administration in fulfillment of a grant received from the Federal Highways Administration's Transportation and Community Grant Program. Any assessments, conclusions, or recommen- dations contained in this report represent the results of NVRC staff's technical investigation, and do not represent policy positions of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission unless so stated in an adopted resolution of said Commission. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Loudoun County or the Federal Highway Administration or any of its subagencies. Funding for this report was provided by: The Federal Highway Administration Transportation and Community Preservation Systems Program U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Report prepared by: Douglas A. Pickford Director Economic & Heritage Resources Northern Virginia Regional Commission with assistance from Jennifer Burke nvrc THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL COMMISSION 7535 Little River Turnpike, Suite 100 Annandale, Virginia 22003 703.642.0700 www.novaregion.org THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA ii REGIONAL COMMISSION as of 3/1/02 Chairman Hon. Katherine K. Hanley Vice Chairman Hon. Scott K. York Treasurer Hon. Kristen C. Umstattd Executive Director G. Mark Gibb Commissioners Arlington County County Of Prince William Hon. Albert C. Eisenberg Hon. Hilda M. Barg City of Manassas Park Hon. Barbara A. Favola Edgar Bruce Holley Jesse Ludvigsen Hon. Jay N. Fisette Hon. John D. Jenkins Hon. William R. Wren Hon. Charles Monroe Don White Hon. Edgar S. Wilbourn, III Town of Dumfries County of Fairfax Hon. Christopher K. Brown Hon. Sharon Bulova City of Alexandria Hon. James C. Chesley Hon. William C. Cleveland Town of Herndon Hon. Gerald E. Connolly Hon. Redella S. Pepper Hon. Thomas Davis Rust Anna F. Dixon Robert Rapanut Brenda Z. Greene Town of Leesburg Hon. Penelope A. Gross City of Fairfax Hon. Kristen C. Umstattd Hon. Katherine K. Hanley Hon. Scott Silverthorn John F. Herrity Town of Purcellville Hon. Catherine M. Hudgins City of Falls Church Hon. John D. Marsh Hon. Elaine N. McConnell Lyman Krekel Hon. Stuart Mendelsohn Hon. Steven A. Rogers Town of Vienna Sally B. Ormsby Hon. Albert J. Boudreau Alice Keane Putman City of Manassas Lilla D. Richards Robert C. Goessman Hon. Harry J. Parrish, II County of Loudoun Charles J. Billand The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) is an independent public agency char- Hon. Mark R. Herring tered in 1969 to plan for the physical, social and economic development of the region. The Com- Hon. Scott K. York mission serves in an advisory capacity to local, state and federal governments and as an advocate for Northern Virginia and its 1.8 million residents. The Commission's policies and programs are established by a 42 member Board of Commissioners comprised of elected officials and private citizens appointed by the governing bodies of the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William; the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and the Towns of Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg, Purcellville and Vienna. Table of Contents iii I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 How to Use This Report ................................................................................................................ 1 II. POTOMAC HERITAGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL (PHNST) ................................................... 2 The Trail At A Glance .................................................................................................................... 2 PHNST Generalized Alignment Corridor Map ............................................................................. 3 III. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................. 4 Trail Characteristics of the PHNST in Loudoun County............................................................... 4 Action Items .................................................................................................................................. 5 IV. THE PHNST IN LOUDOUN COUNTY Map1 - Fairfax County Line to Countryside ................................................................................. 6 Recommended Alignment ....................................................................................................... 6 Opportunities and Issues.......................................................................................................... 6 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................ 7 Aerial Photograph of Corridor................................................................................................. 7 Cost Estimate ........................................................................................................................... 8 Map 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Map 2 - Countryside to Keep Loudoun Beautiful Park ................................................................. 10 Recommended Alignment ....................................................................................................... 10 Opportunities and Issues.......................................................................................................... 10 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................ 10 Aerial Photograph of Corridor................................................................................................. 11 Cost Estimate ........................................................................................................................... 12 Map 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Map 3 - Keep Loudoun Beautiful Park to Leesburg and Vicinity ................................................. 14 Recommended Alignment ....................................................................................................... 14 Opportunities and Issues.......................................................................................................... 15 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................ 15 Aerial Photograph of Corridor................................................................................................. 15 Cost Estimate ........................................................................................................................... 16 Map 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 17 iv Map 4 - Leesburg and Vicinity to Point of Rocks ......................................................................... 18 Recommended Alignment ....................................................................................................... 18 Opportunities and Issues.......................................................................................................... 18 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................ 19 Aerial Photograph of Corridor................................................................................................. 19 Cost Estimate ........................................................................................................................... 20 Map 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Map 5 - Point of Rocks to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park ................................................. 22 Recommended Alignment ....................................................................................................... 22 Opportunities and Issues.......................................................................................................... 22 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................ 22 Aerial Photograph of Corridor................................................................................................. 23 Cost Estimate ........................................................................................................................... 24 Map 5 ......................................................................................................................................