Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Department of Conservation and Recreation
In accordance with Virginia State Code § 10.1-200.1, a master plan is required for Sweet Run State Park as a new state park for which land was recently acquired. This presents a unique opportunity for the public to participate in the first master plan for Sweet Run, which will serve to chart the future of the park.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Planning and Recreation Resources Division is leading this effort in collaboration with the Division of State Parks and the project consultant team. The result of this project will be a functional, long-range master plan that guides the conservation, management, and development of Sweet Run State Park’s rich historic and natural resources, thereby facilitating the park’s ability to meet its purpose as a public resource.
DCR is conducting a first round of public engagement in March and April 2025, including two Public Information Meetings (one in-person and one virtual) and an online survey to gather public input.
- Exhibit boards and a recording of the virtual meeting on March 26th can be found here.
Sweet Run State Park is located in Loudoun County, approximately four miles south of Harpers Ferry, WV.
Located in the valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Short Hills Mountain in northwest Loudoun County, Sweet Run State Park is home to a wealth of natural and cultural resources. The park’s landscape is comprised of fields, forests, and areas of successional vegetation, broad mountain views, two streams which converge in the center of the property, and two constructed ponds. Physical remnants of the site’s early settlement and agricultural history are present in the park as well. This land was previously managed by the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (now the Between the Hills Conservancy), before being donated to Virginia State Parks by the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation. Sweet Run officially became a state park in May 2023. Learn more about Sweet Run State Park.
The purpose of this state park master plan is to create a framework document to guide the development and operation of Sweet Run State Park over the next 30 years. The master plan will identify natural, cultural, and physical resources; define the park’s purpose, goals, and objectives; and create a roadmap for prioritization of future improvements.
Community engagement is a key component of state park master planning. The Sweet Run Park master planning process will include two rounds of public engagement. The first round, beginning in March 2025, will include two Public Information Meetings (one in-person and one virtual) to share initial progress. A subsequent round of public engagement, to share and receive feedback on the draft master plan, will occur later in the planning process. During the first round of engagement, the public will have the opportunity to provide input via an online survey. Details about public meetings and public input surveys will be posted on this page prior to each round of public engagement.
As required by state code, an Advisory Committee has been assembled for the Sweet Run State Park master planning process. The Advisory Committee is involved throughout the master planning process, meeting a minimum of three times to review and share ideas about park goals, programming, site design, and overall park master planning. The Advisory Committee includes representatives of key organizations and stakeholders in the region, encompassing a wide range of perspectives.
The project team is currently engaged in the Evaluation of Existing Conditions.
View exhibit boards from the March 11 Public Information Meeting here (PDF).
Watch the recording of the virtual Public Information Meeting hosted on March 26th.
Help shape the future of Sweet Run State Park!
As DCR begins work on the first master plan for Sweet Run State Park, we want to hear from current and potential park users about their vision for the future of the park. In March and April 2025, DCR is conducting a first round of public engagement to share information about the park and the master plan process, and to gather public input to inform the master plan.
How to participate
To contact us, email the master plan team at PlanningResources@dcr.virginia.gov with “Sweet Run State Park Master Plan” in the subject line.
A state park master plan is a guide for the development, utilization, and management of a state park and its natural, cultural, and historic resources. The purpose of the master plan is to establish goals, objectives, and recommendations for prioritizing new, improved, and expanded park facilities and services.
Following the acquisition of land for a new state park or prior to undertaking substantial improvements to an existing state park (valued at $2 million or more) that are not already included in that park’s current master plan, the plan must be reviewed and updated at least once every 10 years. The plan recommends and prioritizes improvements at the park for the next 30 years.
The process typically takes about 24 months, although it may take longer in the case of a new park. The public’s role is to provide comments and insights into the park’s needs and visitors’ expectations, particularly by attending public meetings (whether in-person or virtually) and completing a public input survey.
The proposed improvements require funding to be dedicated. Funding for capital development in the master plan is subject to appropriations from the General Assembly and approval of the Governor. Additionally, the General Assembly may authorize general obligation bonds for state park acquisition and development as part of a voter-approved bond referendum that occurred most recently in 2002.
Complete the public input survey when published and expound on your responses by providing comments as requested in the survey. Give us your honest evaluation of the park and provide feedback regarding your experiences as a visitor.
Check this page frequently for information about upcoming public meetings and to monitor progress toward the master plan’s adoption.
