Gov. Glenn Youngkin and leaders of the commonwealth’s park service gathered in northwestern Loudoun County on Friday morning to formally dedicate the Sweet Run State Park.
Virginia’s 42nd, and northernmost, state park covers nearly 900 acres in the Neersville area, stretching west from Harpers Ferry Road to the top of the Blue Ridge. It features 11 miles of hike trails, including a link to the Appalachian Trail; nine miles of equestrian trails; a fishing pond; a picnic pavilion; a nature play area for children; and historical sites that provide insight into early settlement and industry in the region.
Property was part of the original land grant to Lord Fairfax in 1649. Early settlers leased land and later bought plots. The land provided timber for shipbuilding and charcoal to fuel the armory operations at nearby Harpers Ferry.
The park opening is the culmination of a nearly 25-year effort by Bob and Dee Leggett to preserve the property for public recreational use.