Action Alert: Urge Prince William County to Approve Proposed Budget Increase for Parks & Rec
The Prince William County Executive just released his proposed FY27 budget.
The draft Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes increasing the annual funding for park facilities to $5 million—good news for outdoor recreation in the county. Now we need you to urge the Board of County Supervisors to approve the proposed increase. This is also a great opportunity to let them know how important trails are to you.
Last time advocates succeeded in getting a budget increase for Parks & Rec, the department allotted $300k to trails, hired three full-time employees, and purchased equipment for trail maintenance. An increase in CIP funding would mean county-led improvements of natural surface trails and better connectivity through the completion of greenway projects.
What can you do?
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Sign up to comment on FY27 during a public hearing on March 17, March 25, or April 7. You can sign up through Prince William’s online portal 24 hours before the scheduled public hearing, so mark your calendars to be sure you get a spot.
- Send an email to the Board of Supervisors. See instructions and sample message below. Please personalize your message for greater impact.
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SAMPLE EMAIL
To: bocs@pwcgov.org, chair@pwcgov.org, abailey@pwcgov.org, tgordy@pwcgov.org, yvega@pwcgov.org, Gainesville@pwcgov.org, vsangry@pwcgov.org, kboddye@pwcgov.org
CC: ExecutiveDirector@more-mtb.org
Subject: Approve budget increase for parks and trails
Dear Board of County Supervisors,
As a Prince William resident and avid user of our county’s parks and trails, I urge you to increase the Parks & Recreation budget for FY27 and approve a CIP that will fund park facilities at $5 million per year.
The county is home to local mountain biking gems, including natural surface trails in Andrew Leitch, James Long, and Locust Shade Parks, and a paved pump track in Rollins Ford. These parks provide venues for youth ride programs, races, community events, and opportunities to stay healthy and active outside. And the community wants more! The 2024 PWC Department of Parks & Recreation Needs Assessment Survey showed that hiking and biking trails ranked as the top priority for residents. Natural surface trails also strengthen the community through volunteerism and stewardship. Volunteer groups like the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) put in hundreds of hours of trail work in the county each year, bringing together trail users of all ages, and creating the next generation of environmentally responsible trail stewards. Expanding and improving natural surface trails and trail connectivity is a smart investment.
Thank you for your previous support for parks and recreation. Please continue making Prince William County a great place to live and recreate by fully finding the Parks & Recreation Department.
Sincerely,
[name]
[town/city]