And , if these hidden and forgotten places become used by and valuable to Loudoun ’ s residents , then they and the wildlife they support will be more loved , protected and preserved .
And , as we continue to struggle with the COVID pandemic we really see the need for this ability to access nature . As the Piedmont Environmental Council ’ s ( PEC ) Chris Miller puts it : “ In these emotionally and physically trying days of COVID-19 quarantines and social distancing , many people are increasingly turning to iconic parks , trails and green spaces for solace , exercise and restorative access to nature . And that ’ s great news .”
But right now in many of Loudoun ’ s suburban areas and in many parts of Loudoun ’ s rural west too , they are hard to reach and experience , have few access points , are often in private hands , feature dense brush and tree cover , and are generally invisible behind large buildings and homes .
The New LPAT Program
Loudoun ’ s new trail system will bring access to the beauty of nature to hikers , runners , bikers , horseback riders , and their dogs , too !
Over the years and more recently , Loudoun ’ s residents from all over the county during numerous planning surveys and community discussions have made it clear that more parks and trails and more access to natural areas are important to them and should be a high priority for the county . Responding to this desire , connecting these natural features of the county and making them accessible to the public has long been a goal of the County .
As Steve Torpy , the Director of Loudoun ’ s Parks and Recreation Department , explains : “ Over the years , the county has understood this need and has developed plans to better connect residents to nature , excellent parks and trails have been created by the county and some good trails have been built by HOAs for their own residents as well .”
But this effort has been limited as growth has made land costly , budget constraints have limited the county ’ s options , and other priorities have prevailed . Despite many efforts over the years , Loudoun still has far fewer acres of public parklands and far fewer miles of public trail than its plans and goals call for , and it lags behind many other communities in connecting its residents to the natural areas where they live , study and work .
But , recently , a committee of the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition has renewed public interest in these hidden spaces , calling the initiative “ Emerald Ribbons ” in honor of a 150-year-old system of
linked parks in Boston called the Emerald Necklace . The Committee proposed using land alongside streams and in other areas where restrictions prohibit building , to provide access to nature at a lower cost than conventional parkland . The Committee further proposed connecting all of these trails with existing trails and parks into a county-wide network of linear parks that provides good natural protection for wildlife and can be easily accessed by any Loudoun resident in any part of the county
In January of 2019 the Loudoun Board of Supervisors agreed , and with the support of the Parks and Recreation Department , approved a new LPAT ( Linear Parks and Trails ) program which proposes “ a county-wide linked system of accessible trails and
wander I spring • summer 2021 11