On Saturday, Leesburg officially broke ground on what’s been a long time coming—Veterans Park at Balls Bluff. With shovels in hand, Mayor Kelly Burk and other town and county leaders marked the start of construction on the 86-acre park, which will become Leesburg’s first with direct access to the Potomac River.
This moment has been over two decades in the making. The Town bought the land back in 2001 for $2 million, and since then, it’s been a slow but steady process of planning, negotiating, and fundraising.
“We believe Veterans Park will offer our residents something truly unique,” said Parks and Recreation Director Rich Williams. “It’s been decades, not just years, and a lot of people have worked hard behind the scenes to get us here.”
Saturday’s ceremony brought out a strong lineup of local officials, including Vice Mayor Todd Cimino-Johnson, Council Members Neil Steinberg and Zach Cummings, Loudoun Supervisors Kirsten Umstattd, Juli Briskman, and Vice Chair Michael Turner. Delegates Marty Martinez and Geary Higgins also attended, along with retired Judge Frank Buttery, who played a key role in the park’s boundary negotiations with NOVA Parks.
The first phase of the project, with a $4.2 million price tag (mostly covered by a $4 million contribution from Loudoun County), includes building a park road, parking, and a river access ramp for non-motorized boats. The goal is to finish this phase by summer 2026.
The second phase is scheduled for completion in fall 2029 and will add picnic spaces, trails, and upgrades to the old farm silos on the site.
Mayor Burk called the park a “great collaborative effort” between the Town and the County. She added, “I am so excited for our residents to enjoy this new park.”
What’s unique about this park—beyond the river access—is its connection to local history. It sits next to the Balls Bluff Battlefield, and Town leaders have emphasized the importance of balancing recreational amenities with preserving the site’s natural and historical value.
For families in Potomac Crossing and throughout Leesburg, the long wait is nearly over. If all goes as planned, in just over a year, they’ll be paddling, hiking, and picnicking in a new kind of public space—one that connects Loudoun’s present with its past.
