Prince William County Parks & Recreation held a ceremonial ribbon cutting for Brentsville District's new Rollins Ford Regional Park on Oct. 7.
Rollins Ford Regional Park is a 69-acre park located on Rollins Ford Road and Vint Hill Road in Nokesville, at the edge of Gainesville and Bristow. It was designed with the community inmind and incorporates a state-of-the-art farm-themed playground, sports fields, a two-mile walking path and a deluxe dog park.
"I know this park has been a long time coming," said Prince William Board of Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler-R. "It's really got something for everybody. As this area becomes more built up this park is going to become more and more important to the community. There is nothing like having a place to go and people to gather."
County Executive Chris Shorter thanked Parks & Recreation Director Seth Hendler-Voss for completing the park ahead-of-schedule and below-budget. Parks and Recreation said the funds for the project came from a variety of sources including proffers, general funds, and funds from Dominion Energy.
Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson thanked her park commissioners Brian Vargo and Erica Trennick and her administrative aides Mary Beth Schaal and Michelle Trenum for working with Parks & Rec. and residents in creating the vision and design for the park
According to Trenum, the park has been 13 years in the making. The site was originally added to the county's master plan in 2010 as a soccer field complex. The plan was updated in 2018 to reflect the current needs and desires of residents.
The new park is intended to balance "passive and active uses" and reflect the agricultural heritage of the area. It was designed to have, “something for everyone,” from birders and hikers to the youth athletic community.
The customized wooden playground is a first for a Prince William-run park. The agricultural theme, a nod to the county's rural character, makes the park distinct. The barn slide, and newly-named "Cardinal Climber, makes the park easily recognizable.
The park amenities include
Other features are a work in progress. The dog park currently has only one bay opened, others will be opened shortly. A wildflower meadow is still geminating and may take a few seasons to become firmly established.
Parks and Recreation plans to convert Bermuda grass fields to turf, in spring, and add goal nets to ready them for team play. Eventually the Broad Run trail may connect to the park pending funding.
There is also the prospect of installing a pump track next to the basketball fields. The Park Foundation is raising $300K to construct the bicycle track. When built, it will be the first of its kind in the county.Readers can donate to the construction of the pump track by going to. https://www.pwcparksfoundation.com/
Local parents, children, even pups came out to witness the opening of the park.
Local Girl Scouts from Brownie 90115 (Bristow Run Elementary) and Girl Scout Troop 90006, which meets at Glenkirk Elementary, but includes girls who attend Gainesville Middle School, were invited to participate in the ribbon cutting. The girls shared what they liked best about the park.
They said they were impressed by the farm theme, playground equipment and the basketball court. One girl said she is happy the park is accessible to those with differing abilities, so more people, like her mother, could enjoy the park too.
Once the weather cleared more people came to visit the park on its inagural day. One Bristow parent said they were there for three hours. Another family said the multi-use trail proved ideal for roller skating.
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