A 280-acre parcel of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship preserve in western Loudoun County has been acquired by the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the development of a new Virginia state park.

BRCES, a nonprofit organization, has been offering recreational and educational programs and managing the preserve owned by the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation for 22 years. The organization will continue to manage the property on behalf of the state.

In 2016, the state agency acquired 604 acres of the preserve. Two years later, Loudoun County provided funding for the second parcel, which the foundation transferred to Old Dominion Land Conservancy, a local land trust, intending for it being donated to the state. The acceptance of the 280-acre addition was finalized yesterday.

DCR, which manages Virginia State Parks, will continue to develop a master plan for the new park known as Sweet Run. The process will include opportunity for public input.

Virginia State Parks Director Dr. Melissa Baker said, \“It's exciting to be able to begin developing long-term plans for this new state park in Loudoun County. As we move forward, we will seek to engage stakeholders in our planning processes as we move those plans toward implementation.\”