Thanks for doing this!

Great meeting last night, I learned so much information last night. I really would like to see a disc golf course in Prince William County. Fairfax, Alexandria, Fredricksburg, Fredrick County, and Spotsylvania County all have disc golf courses. I know Bull Run middle school put one in, but it is on school property and can not be used for much of the year due to school, after school activities, and weekend activities at the ball fields. Some of the great benefits of disc golf are that it can be enjoyed by all ages, construction is inexpensive, maintenance is minimal, and you can make use of land unsuitable for other sports, activities or development. Thanks and see you at the next meeting.

I have to tip my hat to Jay Ellington of the Prince William County Park Authority for the professional job he did Tuesday night with the Master Planning process. Introducing the list of activities that had been agreed upon between Bull Run Mountain Conservancy and the PWCPA as a beggining point from which to deviate showed his dedication to the intent of the land proffer. Jay introduced the entirety of the wetland areas early, speaking to how the PWCPA would keep those independently identified areas preserved, while continuing to provide for the fishermen, joggers, hikers, equestrians, bicyclists, and the majority of PWC citizens the recreation desired for this fine lake property.
I can envision - company picnics on the order of what I have attended at Seneca State Park in Maryland - overnight camping stop along trails identified in the County Master Plan - nighttime fishing by bank and by boat - place where citizens can relax in total This park is the first of it's kind to be operated by the Prince William County Park Authority, and I have to say, I fully believe Jay and the citizens of this county will be dedicated to keeping it preserving it as such. Again, my hats off to Jay.

When I got home from work, I still had about 45 minutes before dark so I grabbed my fly rod and set out to find this new park. The lake is tiny when compared to Lake Anna or Burke Lake but I got a bite on my second cast with whatever fly I had on my rod. A man and his daughter had been fishing there for a bit and had caught and released quite a few largemouth bass. I am confused about the fishing restrictions, though. It seems that the only area we can fish from is a small stretch of no more than 60 feet. Will this change as the park is developed? I would love to be able to take a kayak out and fish the whole lake.

I would like to see non-motorized boating (canoes/kayaks) allowed. No facilities/upgrades are needed, boaters would just carry their boats from the parking lot to the shore and put in. It would be nice to have a drop-off/pick-up area closer to the lake than the parking lot, but not a requirement.
Brad B Haymarket

The PWC Parks website information concerning Silver Lake is not updated and insufficient. There is ongoing construction visible from our neighborhood but no indication of what the scope is. I placed a phone call but the call was not returned. There are concrete sewer conduits strewn about in the area adjoining the construction. The quarry is fenced off although it was open to access before.
I agree this can be a great park. I note the above as an indication that there are limitations administrative and otherwise that may be hindrances that should not be. Meetings are great but ongoing avenues for solicitation and awareness are even better in my opinion and they are not currently working.

It is nice to see a way to leave a citizen comment!
I also would like to see a Disc Golf course added. Like the comment "neighbor to silver lake" added.. I can envision company pinics on the order of what I have attended at Seneca State Park in Maryland.... they also have a World Class 27 hole disc golf course in which many Prince William County Citizen have also attended.

Wow, looks like Silver Lake could become something special. As a disc golf enthusiest, I am thrilled at the possibility of having a championship type course in PWC.

NoVa Disc Golf would like to offer our support for the development of a disc golf course at Silver Lake Regional Park. NoVa Disc Golf is the Disc Golf Club of Northern Virginia and we support the development of both recreational and competitive disc golf throughout the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
The possibility of a disc golf course installed at Silver Lake Regional Park holds tremendous promise. Disc Golf as a sport has mushroomed in growth across the United States. The beauty of the sport is that it can be enjoyed by all levels of participants from recreational play by families and juniors to high level competition by professional players. The potential of installing a disc golf course at Silver Lake is an opportunity which should not be considered lightly. With very little investment, Silver Lake has the potential to become the first disc golf course in Prince William County. The course could easily be designed in such a way as to allow for all levels of play. NoVa Disc Golf would like to support any initiative the Prince William County Park Authority takes towards disc golf. We have a large constituency which would be very willing to offer support both financially and through donations of time and work. We would also be willing to spearhead fundraising opportunities to help support the development of a disc golf course at Silver Lake or anywhere within the Prince William County Parks Authority system. Helpful links: http://www.pdga.com http://www.novadiscgolf.com Sincerely, Tom Coffin President, NoVa Disc Golf

remembering silver lake when it was a campground & spending many weekends & vacations there ....yes i would like to see camping return
there.....even if restricted to pop-up campers & tents[no large rvs] i know many others who feel the same way

I would also like to see a Disc Golf Course

A disc golf course would be fantastic, and is great exercise for the entire family. It definitely has my support.

OK, enough about the Disc Golf course. Obviously they're spamming this blog. Your message has been sent, now let them figure it out!
Silver Lake is shaping up very nicely. Thanks Janet

Thank you for creating this blog. This is great for citizens to express ideas for how to use the Silver Lake Regional Park land. However, as I read through the replies above it seems as though everyone wants to turn the park into an asset to suit their own personal needs. Some want a horse arena that is covered and lit, some want a disc golf course, the point these people are missing is that the park is such a wonderful asset as is. The Master Plan for this park should be conservation. Please read through the Prince William Conservation Alliance article: http://www.pwconserve.org/issues/conservation/silverlake/index.htm for more information on the natural assets Silver Lake has to offer.

Dissapointing...to say the least, if you are a bass fisherman. You can't have access to 3/4 of the lake. The very small areas you can fish are the worst part of the lake. Its flats and only about 1-2' deep. My suggestion is....OPEN THE ENTIRE LAKE TO FISHING!!!! Thats what parks are for, right? Conserve & protect wetlands? NOT IN PARKS!!!!

Saw the citizen notes from 6/30/09. Please do not limit non-motorized boats to "rental only". There's absolutely no reason why people should not be able to bring their own boats and unheard of in this area. Just makes the County and Parks & Rec seem greedy.

How wonderful to have a large tract of mostly unspoiled land, WITH A LAKE, for passive recreation and the contemplation of nature. I hope that Silver Lake will maintain its rustic character. Hiking trails, picnic spots, and places to fish fit right in. Primitive camping is fine too. A restroom would be handy. But let's preserve the natural habitat: No motorized boats, bikes, or other noisy toys. Nothing that would bring in hundreds of people and require large parking lots or greatly increase traffic in the area, please! And no structures or "improvements" that would cost county taxpayers an arm and a leg.
Thanks for all of your hard work getting Silver Lake ready to open!

As the mother of a disabled child, it would be wonderful to have a handicapped accessible playground area. Clemyjontri Park in Fairfax County is fabulous. I would not expect to have a park that large, but to have facilities so that disabled kids can access equipment and swings is desperately needed. If Rainbow Therapeutic Riding is located close by, then the kids who ride there would definitely want to play there, too.
Thanks for considering this input.

I would like to keep the lake activities non-motorized-after all, there is a really nice river just east that motor boaters can use-let us keep this one pristine for swimmers and other small watercraft.
A dog park would also be appreciated.

I think that PWC residents should be able to launch their own kayak or canoe, we should not be forced to rent boats. Having boat rentals requires the county to hire employees to manage the rental boats and perform maintenance on them. Not to mention the cost of purchasing the rental boats. Allowing residents to use their own does not trquire hiring employess. I also believe that there should be more shore fishing access.

Perhaps the first county owned/run dog park? It's a shame that we are one of the only counties in the area that lacks a dog park.

Lake Fairfax park in Reston has had a throphy size trout program since 1995 that has been very sucessfull, especially with seniors and kids. Locust Shade park had one for a few years that was sucesful but turned it over to the state which led to its current poor condution. I recomended trout fishing with a pay to fish $100 season price tag. If it makes money reduce it if not increase it.

I would really appreciate an outdoor shooting range. Trap / skeet shooting is a great sport, and no one in this area offers this. Thanks.

PLEASE provide a place to swim. Not everyone belongs to communities that provide pools. It appears that swimming at Long Park will not come about so allow families to use Silver Lake for that purpose.