Calendar Year 2022
pwcparks.org
Click image to view our State of the Parks video
OUR MISSION
Create recreational and cultural experiences for a more vibrant community.
OUR VISION
Be a lead collaborator in delivering solutions for holistic community transformation.
Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Front cover: Silver Lake Regional Park Seth Hendler-Voss Director
Thank you for picking up a copy of the calendar year 2022 Annual Report for Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. Within these pages you will discover our accomplishments and learn about our impact on the community as well as what’s to come in calendar year 2023.
With a passionate staff of over 1,400 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees, the Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism strives to create recreational and cultural experiences for a more vibrant community.
We are proud to steward one of the most robust park systems in the United States. Residents and visitors can choose from 57 parks and facilities, and 50 miles of trails spread across 5,000 acres of land—from the foot of the ancient Bull Run Mountains to the mouth of the mighty Potomac River. Each year, millions of visitors partake in our offerings, relying on us for their quality-of-life pursuits.
The array of services we provide and the sheer number of people we interact with on a daily basis position our department to serve as a lead collaborator in driving holistic community transformation for our residents.
The extent of our impact on the lives of others runs deep:
• We provide beautiful spaces for informal play, which is the foundation of healthy childhood development.
• We partner with private sports organizations to create opportunities for team-based, competitive play at every level, from beginning to elite on the finest turf fields in Northern Virginia thanks to our professional maintenance staff.
• We provide hundreds of fitness and instructional classes for all ages taught by certified staff that promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
• We provide licensed childhood education, before and after care, and summer enrichment programs rooted in love of nature and love of neighbor.
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• We partner with Prince William County Schools to bring their classrooms into our parks and historic sites utilizing state-approved science and history curricula, and provide mental wellness training for students.
• We partner with conservation entities and volunteers to steward and protect our natural resources to ensure access to open space for future generations.
• We connect people to places along “nature’s roadway”—a network composed of 50 miles of multi-use trails.
• We research and preserve our historic resources and narrate the stories of our past so that we may better inform our future.
• We create safe havens in nature by deterring and investigating illegal and prohibited activity and assisting those in need.
• We promote visitation to Prince William County as a destination in order to create jobs and drive economic growth for local small businesses as well as help curate the County’s brand identity.
• We serve as the largest employer of youth in the County, teaching vital job skills such as communication, professionalism and accountability.
Focus Areas
All decisions—from budgeting to program planning—are made with consideration of our department’s core principles:
Positive Experience for Guests at Every Touch Point
• Implement the right technology and policies to help guests find and utilize parks and services with ease.
• Ensure quality guest-staff interaction.
• Provide modern conveniences at facilities and efficient customer service practices.
Community Engagement
• Promote the department externally in ways that instill confidence and inspire the next generation of advocates and customers.
• Maximize participation of advisory bodies.
• Build the participation of under-represented populations.
Employee Engagement/Leadership at all Levels
• Provide professional development and leadership training opportunities.
• Involve employees closest to the operations in shaping the future.
• Maximize employee performance and wellbeing.
• Listen and communicate abundantly.
• Regularly assess work culture and organizational health.
• Encourage intra-departmental team building and recognition.
Operational, Planning, and Business Excellence
• Embody best-in-industry service delivery.
• Maximize new and existing tools to enhance internal service delivery.
• Strengthen working relationships with other County departments.
• Embrace data-informed decision making.
• Leverage partnerships.
Safety and Environment
• Accelerate environmental and cultural stewardship.
• Increase employee ownership of risk and environmental practices.
• Increase workplace safety.
• Increase safety of public in parks and facilities.
Diversity and Inclusion
• Demonstrate and embrace different viewpoints and backgrounds.
• Develop programming that is accessible for everyone.
• Seek ways to connect others through the common bond of recreation.
*Please note, seasonal employee counts are approximate.
Advisory Boards and Commissions
Numerous Board of County Supervisor appointed advisory bodies provide policy guidance for staff and serve as a conduit for resident input.
Parks and Recreation Commission
The Parks and Recreation Commission advises the Board of County Supervisors and the Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism on matters relating to the provision of parks and recreation services to the residents of Prince William County. In doing so, the Commission may be asked to consult with and advise the County Executive and the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director. In providing advice and consultation, they work closely with the residents of the community to understand and interpret their needs and desires relating to parks and recreation services.
Commissioners
Brodie Freer, Chair, Occoquan District
Jeffery Bergman, Vice Chair, Gainesville District
Jane Beyer, Coles District
Selonia Miles, Potomac District
Nate Murphy, Neabsco District
Sharon Richardson, Woodbridge District
Erica Tredinnick, Brentsville District
Christian Thom, At Large
Prince William Parks Foundation
The Prince William Parks Foundation is the official nonprofit partner to Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of long-time area leaders from business, government and community organizations.
Board of Directors
Ruth Anderson, Chair
Carolyn Custard, Vice Chair
Bill Milne, Board Member
Tim Hurley, Vice Chair
Marty Nohe, Board Member
Marcia Perez De Vasquez, Board Member
G.E. Buck Waters, Chair Emeritus
Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation
The Historic Preservation Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for the preservation program of Prince William County. The group also strives to increase public awareness of preservation and the steps to make the County’s historic treasures available to the public. This organization was founded solely for charitable and educational purposes. Learn more about the group, their mission and their current efforts at www.preservepw.org.
Board of Directors
Cornelia Rutherford, President
Mike Johnson, Vice President
Earnie Porta, Secretary
Sharon Pandak, Treasurer
Meaghan Reddick
Stan Contrades
Victoria Lee Johnson
Michael Garcia
Sandra Sargent
Yolanda Green
Trails & Blueways Council
The Prince William County Trails and Blueways Council is an advisory council established by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors to provide services for the development of trails and blueways in Prince William County. The mission of the Council is to advise the Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and the Board of County Supervisors on the development of a County-wide trails and blueways system in Prince William County. Learn more about the Prince William County Trails and Blueways Council at www.pwcva.gov/parks under Advisory Groups & Foundations.
Liz Cronauer, Tom Coyle, Brentsville District
Michael DePue, Joe Marshall, Coles District
Duane Martin, Gainesville District
Rich Wilson, Jason Williams, Neabsco District
Neil Nelsonneil, Eileen V. Sheridan, Occoquan District
Raheel Sheikh, Potomac District
David G. Brickley, Lynda N. Silverstrand, Woodbridge District
William McCarty, Jr., Amy Latalladi-Fulton, At-Large
Prince William County Tourism Advisory Board
The Prince William County Tourism Advisory Board includes representatives of the local tourism industry and stakeholders. The Board advises the Board of County Supervisors, the County Executive, and the Director of the Prince William
County Office of Tourism on matters related to promoting the County as a tourism destination and assist staff in identifying and securing new tourism opportunities. Learn more about the Prince William County Tourism Advisory Board at www.visitpwc.com/about.
Michelle DeWitt, Chair (The Farm Brewery at Broad Run)
Jim Larkin, Vice Chair (Murlarkey Distilled Spirits)
Jennifer Decker, Immediate Past Chair (Hampton Inn Manassas)
Gwenn Adams (National Museum of the Marine Corps)
Maureen Brennan (Prince William Ice Center)
Asad Chaudhry (Comfort Inn Dumfries )
Thida Win-Love (IMG Hotels)
Claudia Friar (Jiffy Lube Live/Live Nation)
Jacqueline Connor (Hylton Performing Arts Center)
Cathy Madigan (Madigan’s Waterfront Restaurant)
Bethany Webb (Zorn) (Potomac Mills / Simon)
Arts Council
The Arts Council promotes and supports local artists and arts organizations and enlightens and educates audiences about the arts in the Greater Prince William Area.
Executive Board:
Alice Mergler, Chair
Peter Alten, Vice Chair Treasurer
Debora Madsen, Vice Chair Nominations
Kelly Haneklau, Secretary
Susan Bardenhagen, Vice Chair Program
Victor Harper, Vice Chair Marketing
Appointees:
Ronnie Rigger, Coles District
Wanda Smith, Neabsco District
Catrina Stroman, Potomac District
Jay Torres, Woodbridge District
Kelly Haneklau, Brentsville
Dawn Franklin, Gainesville District
Angel Lopez, Occoquan District
Brenda Johnson, At Large
Herb Williams, Arts Recreation Specialist
Park System Statistics
5,000 Acres of public parkland
55 Developed parks
12 Undeveloped parks
50+ Miles of Multi-use Trails
4 Outdoor pools
13 Historic Sites
2 Aquatic/Fitness Centers
2 Waterparks
2 Equestrian Rings
2: 18-hole Golf Courses; 1: 9-hole Golf Course
1 BMX Track
1 8-hole Disc Golf Course
3 Community Centers
272 Athletic Fields
1 Mini-Golf Course
1 Indoor Ice Rink
2 Skate Parks
2 Marinas
1 Dog Park
Financial Performance Fiscal Years 2021 & 2022
Key Performance Indicators of Fiscal Year 2022
We utilize key performance indicators to measure our success in meeting our mission. In Fiscal Year 22 we achieved:
25,691
Youth Sport Participants
82,616 Golf rounds played
$3,039,271 Golf Revenue
220,702 Aquatics/Fitness Center Visits
2,035
Adult Sport Participants
122,255 Visits to Historic Sites
28,438
Estimated # of Hotel Rooms Generated
6,533 Summer Camp Participants
89% Summer Camp Capacity
51,350 Ranger Patrols
27,563 Sports Tourism Participants and Spectators
20 Capital Maintenance Projects Completed
10 Acres of new parkland acquired
26K Facebook Followers
3.3K Twitter Followers
2.4K Instagram Followers
2022 Accomplishments
Calendar year 2022 was filled with accomplishments.
Winter
• Last winter we broke ground on Rollins Ford Park, a new 70-acre regional park in the Brentsville District, on Vint Hill Road, near lake Manassas, which will feature two rectangular fields, a destination playground, picnic pavilions, basketball courts, a dog park, and a comfort station surrounded by walking trails and wildflower meadows.
• We hired a new archaeologist and launched the new Historic Community program to research and document the stories of historic enclaves across the county, beginning with the recordation of oral histories in the Thoroughfare community, which was founded by freed slaves.
• The Northern Virginia Disc Golf Association started construction on the new championship 18 hole disc golf course at Forest Greens Golf Course—the first stand-alone public disc golf course in the county.
• We launched the For the Love of Parks Photo Contest where visitors were invited to submit park photos for recognition in our E-newsletter and social media pages.
Spring
• In the spring we launched our second farmers market at a mid-county park, next to Pftizner Stadium. The market is open every Thursday night in non-winter months. Our Dale City Farmers Market was also recognized by InsideNoVA as the winner of the “Best Agritourism Attraction/Event” in their Best of InsideNoVA issue.
• We hosted the Arts Council’s Out Loud in the Park at Locust Shade Park, to celebrate the Rhythms and Sounds of Black Music intermixed with poetry, which featured the Poet Laureate of Prince William County and gospel, jazz, blues, classical and R&B music.
• Our Park Rangers participated in the Police Unity Ride in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty.
• We celebrated the 200th anniversary of Brentsville Courthouse Centre, the former town and seat of County government, which included a free Court Day and the unveiling of the County’s first Virginia LOVE sign.
• We completed repairs for the dock at Lake Ridge Park and reopened it for public use again.
• We completed accessibility improvements at Hammill Mill Park.
• We completed the addition of six new dedicated pickleball courts at Hellwig Park and our pickleball courts at A.J. Ferlazzo were named 2022 Finalist Parent Pick by Washington Parent Magazine in the category of Best Sports/Pickleball.
• We hit 25,000 followers on our Facebook Page, becoming a greater go-to source for recreation offerings for the citizens of Prince William County.
• We unveiled a “Story Trail” at Hellwig Park, behind Independent Hill Library in Manassas in collaboration with Prince William County Public Libraries, Keep Prince William Beautiful, and local Boy Scout Troop 35.
Summer
• Last summer we launched the Fridays at 5 music series in partnership with VAStreats to provide free outdoor music at Connaughton Plaza for families seeking new entertainment options to kick off their weekends.
• We debuted the Victory at Vets Triathlon at Veterans Memorial Park for kids of all abilities to swim, bike and run in an encouraging and healthy environment.
• We had a successful summer camp season with 6,500 participants spread across over 300 program offerings, out pacing pre-pandemic numbers, and again winning the “Best Summer Camps” category by readers of Northern Virginia Magazine.
• We partnered with the Prince William Parks Foundation to award over 100 needs-based summer camp scholarships through the Count me in Scholarship program.
• With the exception of one site, all of our outdoor pools and water parks were open and as popular as ever, with over
150,000 attendees and most weekends reaching capacity.
• One of our lifeguards received the coveted Golden Guard Award from Ellis and Associates, an international aquatic safety and risk management consulting firm, which is reserved for less than 1% of the 40,000 guards audited each year.
• We celebrated the opening of Harbor Drive Wellness Park in healthy partnership with Kaiser Permanente, which features our first universal playground, pollinator garden, and outdoor gym equipment, taking the place of a former commuter parking lot.
• We joined Fox5 for a live Zip Trips broadcast in downtown Occoquan, to showcase our unique tourism attractions.
• As part of the annual Juneteenth celebration we partnered with the Historic Commission, the Friends of Dumfries Slave Cemetery, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the Masonic Coalition to unveil a new slave cemetery marker in the Town of Dumfries.
• We acquired and began stabilizing the Williams-Dawe House, the oldest structure in Brentsville and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which expanded the Courthouse Historic Centre by over 5 acres.
• Adaptive recreation offerings including the Miracle League, Adapted Zumba®, Adapted Aqua Zumba® and Art Expressions.
• We launched the PWC Parks Explorer pass, an online app to discover parks in our system and test your knowledge to win prizes.
• We were awarded a grant from the Commonwealth History Fund for preservation of the Potters Field Cemetery at Thoroughfare.
Fall
• In the fall we started a Miracle League at the Dr. Richard Tami Miracle Field at Hellwig Park for children to adults in their 20’s with mental and physical disabilities to enjoy an adapted game of baseball while making new friends and building self-esteem.
• We partnered with the First Tee of Prince William to host the 20th First Tee Tournament, raising $7,500 to support local youth seeking to develop life skills through the game of golf.
• We held the inaugural Virginia Sportsfest, which welcomed over 4985 athletes from all over the region to compete in an Olympic style offering of activities such as softball, disc golf and basketball, made possible by a ARPA funding from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
• We held a special Halloween version of a Sip of History at Waters End Brewery, where we regaled over 350 participants with a collection of Prince William ghost stories.
• We unveiled the Courageous Four marker at Fannie Fitzgerald Elementary School, with the Historic Commission and Prince William County School Board, to commemorate the first African American educators to integrate the County’s all-white school system in 1964.
• The Board of County Supervisors adopted the new Master Plan for Doves Landing Regional Park in the Coles District, which at 500 acres, will become the largest park in the County once complete.
• We held the annual Bluegrass Festival at the Brentsville Court-
house Centre to continue the tradition of Brenstville as a center of community entertainment.
• We made numerous deferred maintenance improvements to the Prince William Golf Course to enhance the player experience and draw increased use.
• We completed renovation of the trail bridge at Cloverdale Park which was damaged during a flood event.
• We won two awards from the Virginia Recreation and Parks Association for the Warrior Course at Locust Shade Park and the Brentsville Jail exhibit.
• We participated in community outreach pop-up events in partnership with the Human Rights Commission to promote our health and wellness offerings to the community.
Winter
• This winter we welcomed back the holiday dance recital to GarField High School to showcase the talents of our Dale City dance class participants in the production of Winter Enhancements.
• We hosted a diversity in sports day with Nashville Soccer Club player and native Prince William County resident, C.J. Sapong, who spoke about the role recreation played in his professional success.
• The Board of County Supervisors approved the Land Use and Transportation Chapters of the Comprehensive Plan, setting policies to grow our parks and open space land holdings and trails system over the next twenty years. The comp plan identified another 5,000 acres of parks and open space to meet our goal of 10,000 acres by 2040.
• We held the Holiday Craft Show at a mid-county park, next to Pfitzner stadium, which featured dozens of arts and food artisans.
• During the holidays, we hosted “Rocking Around the Boardwalk”, a free event at Neabsco Regional Park which featured a Holiday Walk of Lights and unique Holiday Tree Display.
Outlook for the Year Ahead
We could not have accomplished all of these things without the help of so many wonderful community partners, our sister county agencies, our passionate staff, and you, our wonderful patrons, who trust us to provide lasting recreation and cultural experiences for you and your loved ones.
In the coming year we will:
• Continue to execute the 2019 bond referendum projects for trails and parks.
• Continue to make accessibility improvements and general enhancements to existing parks throughout our system using
Continue to try new ways to engage with new audiences and remove financial barriers to participation so that all residents have the opportunity to experience the benefits of recreation. Improve the online registration experience for customers who are signing up for programs and rentals. Employ new marketing strategies to increase tourism visitation to Prince William County. Begin planning festivities for the 250th anniversary of Ameri-
Prepare to capitalize on the Solheim Cup international golf tournament, which will be hosted in Prince William County in Complete new master plans for existing parks such as Silver Lake Park, as called for in the Comprehensive Plan. Expand our cultural resource land holdings. Enhance safety and security in our parks.
• Improve recruitment efforts to ensure adequate coverage for the summer pool season.
• Systematize our volunteer program to leverage the passion of citizens for water clean-ups and trail maintenance.
• Continue to expand opportunities for improvement and additional adult fitness and wellness programs, nature programs and family programming.
In Closing
Together, we will build on our successes to reach new horizons to become the community of choice in Northern Virginia and set a model of excellence for the entire country. We are grateful for the trust you place in our department to provide for your recreation pursuits. Our passionate staff is committed to ensuring you have an exceptional experience at every turn and ensuring we achieve
our vision to transform our community. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if we are not meeting your expectations or if you need help finding the right recreation opportunity. (Email helloparks@ pwcgov.org). May you strive to be your best self with Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism as your guide.
Department Structure Recreation Services Division
The Recreation Services Division is DPRT’s largest by both operating budget and number of full-time employees. The Division is comprised of multiple work units.
• Enterprise Recreation
• Parks & Community Centers
• Aquatics
• Sports Services
• Children’s Programs
Historic Preservation Division
The Historic Preservation Division of DPRT is dedicated to the preservation of Prince William County’s historic resources. Our Historic Preservation Division staff serve as the caretakers of County-owned historic structures, interiors, archaeological resources, natural resources, artifacts and collections, and 500 acres of historic landscapes.
Maintenance & Operations Division
DPRT’s Grounds & Maintenance Division is responsible for grounds upkeep and building maintenance for DPRT’s 50+ developed park properties.
Planning & Capital Projects Division
The Planning & Capital Projects Division within DPRT is responsible for the agency’s long-range planning functions and capital construction.
Administrative Services Division
The Administrative Services Division houses DPRT’s human resources, finance, budget and other administrative functions.
Office of Tourism
DPRT’s Office of Tourism promotes tourist visitation to the County and assists with the development of new tourism products within the community. The team markets the community to visitors from across the globe and maintains a robust sales outreach program to attract group tours, sporting tournaments, and largescale special events.
Park Ranger Division
DPRT’s team of Park Rangers ensure the safety and security of our parks, facilities, and the school athletic sites scheduled by the Department. Our Park Ranger Division achieves these goals by providing oversight
of facility security practices, managing the security systems at Agency facilities, providing training to DPRT staff, and making regular patrols of sites within our park system.
Marketing & Communications Division
DPRT maintains a marketing function to support revenue generating programs and to promote public awareness of DPRT programs and services. The Communication Services Division provides marketing and public information support for operations across the Department. Functioning as an in-house agency, the marketing and communications team provides services including advertising, graphic design, event coordination, web development, videography, and public relations.
DPRT Partners
Prince William Dogs
Boys & Girls Club
Green Associates
Trails and Streams Coalition
30+ Sports Leagues
Indigo Golf
NOVA Disc Golf Assoc.
First Tee®
Friends of Horticultural Therapy FORPWC
Conservation Alliance
NOVA BMX
Prince William Ice Center MORE
Keep Prince William Beautiful Miracle League
Prince William County Public Schools VAStrEATs
Lake Ridge Parks & Recreation Association
Charlie Boone Trails Memorial Foundation
