Park and Recreation Month has been celebrated in July by people all over the United States since 1985 to promote building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. This year's theme — “Where You Belong” — celebrates the many ways park and recreation professionals across the country foster a sense of belonging in their community by providing welcoming and inclusive programs, essential services for all ages and abilities, and safe, accessible spaces to build meaningful connections. To celebrate, we're sharing a few of our favorite park and rec projects.
This year's theme perfectly fits our Franklin Park project in Loudoun County, VA by creating an inclusive and community-focused recreational space. The expansion of Franklin Park provides diverse recreational options, ensuring everyone can participate in activities they enjoy.
J2’s preparation of the master plan involved active community engagement, making residents feel valued and included. The park will offer a mix of active and passive recreation, from hiking trails to equestrian paths, catering to all preferences. By addressing high demand for park amenities and working closely with the County, J2 ensured the project met the community’s needs and timeframes. Additionally, the master plan is adaptable to evolving community interests, ensuring the park remains a welcoming space for all. To read more about the Franklin Park project, click here.
Next up, we're sharing the Westpark Improvements project, which will provide a variety of passive recreational and educational opportunities for the community.
Working hand-in-hand with Loudoun County, J2 has developed a master plan to transform the old Westpark Golf Course into a large passive nature park with eco-friendly elements, such as trails and pedestrian bridges, picnic pavilions, disc golf, educational signage, fishing piers, and a dog park. Fun Fact: The entire property has an existing conservation easement to preserve the natural landscape.
By transforming the golf course into a conservation-focused recreational area, the project aligns with the theme "Where You Belong" by creating public amenities that benefit the community and preserve the natural environment, fostering a sense of belonging and stewardship among residents. We're excited to see this project come to life as our team continues preliminary and conceptual design work. To learn more about our master planning efforts click here.
Another one of our favorite park and rec projects is Potomac Yard Park, a 21-acre linear urban park located in the Brownfield development of Potomac Yard along Route 1 in Alexandria, VA.
As Civil Engineer on the project, J2 prepared conceptual site layout studies, zoning tabulations, site layout and grading, parking facilities, water and sanitary sewer layout and design, drainage design, SWM/BMP pond design, boundary plats, erosion and sediment control, and construction specifications.
The park features a unique history as it was the rail hub for the Washington metro region and much of the east coast. The design program includes a 5,400 LF multi-use trail, a series of urban plazas, athletic courts, play equipment, an interactive fountain, and interpretive landscape elements depicting the site’s history. If you're local, be sure to check out this hidden gem!
Last up is the Countywide Linear Parks and Trails (LPAT) System in Loudoun County, VA, which reflects the vision of the Board of Supervisors and County residents for an interconnected, equitable, and high-quality network of linear parks and trails spanning across the County's 500 square miles.
J2 is providing landscape architecture, land survey, and civil design services for this project. Pedestrians, equestrians, hikers, bikers, nature enthusiasts, trail runners, and dog walkers will benefit from the new 12+ mile interconnected system of linear parks and trails. This comprehensive network will connect communities while preserving natural and cultural resources. By offering multi-use recreational experiences, it fosters a sense of community belonging and strengthens connections to the environment.
We are honored to contribute our civil engineering and landscape architecture expertise to support our local parks. Through comprehensive master planning and innovative design, we strive to enhance these vital public spaces, improving accessibility, sustainability, and visitor experiences. From conceptualization to implementation, we are dedicated to collaborating closely with stakeholders to preserve natural landscapes, integrate sustainable practices, and create parks that enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Read more about other J2 projects here. To find out more about the National Recreation and Park Association and Park and Recreation Month, click here.
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