The first Master Plan of improvements for Franklin Park outside Purcellville was released on October 14, 2022. An informational meeting was held on October 25 to consult with the community on the improvement plans. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is staying involved in this process to advocate on behalf of wildlife with the aim of ensuring that wildlife habitat is protected as much as possible as these improvements are implemented.

Franklin Park map showing proposed improvements.

An updated version of the Master Plan was released on January 26, 2023. Notable changes include an additional equestrian facility in Franklin Park East and two more parking areas in Franklin Park West.

The Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure has submitted their rezoning application for Franklin Park West, which will be heard by the Planning Commission on September 23, 2025. Of note in the application are plans for multiple picnic pavilions and trails through mature forest. These trails and structures were not included as part of the revised Master Plan.

The park plan incorporates efforts to improve connectivity of linear parks and trails in the county and beyond. Hiking trails to be installed in the new section of Franklin Park will link to the Round Hill trail that opened in September 2022. The Linear Parks and Trails Plan (now called Loudoun Trails and Waters), a system of connecting green spaces for environmentally sound outdoor recreation, are a vital component in encouraging environmental involvement and advocacy by making outdoor experiences accessible. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy supports the proposed Franklin Park master plan in these aims.

Other improvements to the park include the installation of equestrian and mountain biking trails, as well as the construction of  multiple facilities in what is currently a forested area of Sleeter Lake Park. This forested area is home to mostly native species of mature trees.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Comments on the Master Plan

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy commends the efforts to improve linear parks and trails connectivity in Loudoun County with the inclusion of additional hiking trails in Franklin Park.

Loudoun Wildlife offers the following recommendations on the proposed Franklin Park Master Plan:

• Designated “meadow” areas need to be clarified. Many areas currently designated as meadow (especially on the Franklin Park East portion) are actually athletic fields. Other areas of Franklin Park East labeled as “meadow” are more or less manicured lawn areas of nonnative invasive plants such as Japanese Stilt Grass, Oriental Bittersweet or Johnson Grass, and are for practical purposes more accurately portrayed as unprogrammed lawn areas rather than meadows. We do recommend that large swaths of unprogrammed lawn areas and fields be managed as true meadows. These fields could be reseeded with native grasses and native pollinator plants that are suitable for a meadow designation. It would provide ecological value as well as enhancing the aesthetic beauty of these areas. It would also allow for paths and educational opportunities on the value and benefit of native plants, pollinators, grassland nesting birds and other species that need grassland meadow habitat to survive.
• We have concerns about the applicant’s proposed location for the natural surface trails in Franklin Park West. Since all new trails connect to existing trail plans in Franklin Park East, it is expected that the incoming trails will be multi-use. However, this area of the forest contains mature native canopy and understory tree species including Tulip, White Oak and Dogwood. The density and late successional stage of this forest provides tremendous ecological value for wildlife. The applicant’s Concept Development Plan contains more trails than does the Franklin Park Master Plan, which was developed through public input by Parks and Recreation. The application before the Board does not delineate where mountain biking and equestrian uses in this area are to be allowed. Opening all trails to these intensive uses would disrupt this ecosystem and negatively impact wildlife.
• Similarly, the location of the proposed facility to be constructed near the trails is also populated with mature native canopy and understory trees. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy suggests that this building site be removed.

Resources for Additional Information

• Updated Master Plan documents and maps of proposed improvements
• County page for the Franklin Park improvements
• County update on Franklin Park’s future improvements

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