In case you are not already aware – Prince William County has enabled a two-day Tough Mudder event at Silver Lake Park (located in the Rural Crescent) this coming Saturday and Sunday, June 1–2. Community concern is growing over the recent preparation activities at Silver Lake for this event.
Here is what you need to know:
We want to be crystal clear, the community is not blaming the Tough Mudder Event Planners for holding their event at Silver Lake. They sought, and were granted, a permit by the County. We hold the county responsible for the under-the radar decisions which have been made. For a total fee of $2.00, the County has leased Silver Lake Park to Tough Mudder for a minimum of one event annually through the year 2023. Yes, you read that correctly: For an unlimited number of events, for the next five years, we have traded away our most treasured open space park “jewel” for two bucks. Not only are we easy with our protected open space, we are cheap.
To understand why the community is reacting so strongly, it’s critical to understand the history of Silver Lake.
Unless you were there, you cannot fully appreciate the level of commitment this community expressed during the decision-making process as to what KIND of park Silver Lake was going to be. It was clear, public meeting after public meeting, that overwhelming support from citizens was for a passive recreation park.
A private citizen felt compelled to pay the fee for a “proffer interpretation” in order to clarify and have clearly outlined the specific passive uses allowed at Silver Lake: “Passive Recreation Uses that generally require or result in little or no alternation of the landscape and produce little or no light, noise or visual intrusion on their surroundings. Passive Uses may require trails, small footprint buildings for restrooms or visitor centers, parking, etc. Examples include hiking, jogging, birding, photography, nature study, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, biking or horseback riding.” Why? Because the community lacked trust that the County or the Park Authority to maintain Silver Lake for passive use. Stunning how prescient that effort was, given the circumstances we find ourselves in today.
At the time, precisely because the Community did not trust the park would be protected, there was a vote to put deed restrictions on the park, expressly laying out its passive recreation uses. Unfortunately, only Supervisors May and Nohe supported that Deed restriction. Here is the link to the failed motion.
From a Washington Post article, November 9, 2009:
“On Oct. 4, members of the Prince William Park Authority officially opened part of Silver Lake Regional Park, a roughly 230-acre plot in western Prince William County. The property, which was donated to the county by Toll Brothers in 2006 and valued at about $3 million, was closed for almost four years before the Prince William Board of County Supervisors turned it over to the Park Authority in June.
“This is really a jewel in western Prince William and a place where people can come and enjoy nature,” said Supervisor John T. Stirrup Jr. (R-Gainesville). “As time passes and the county builds out, I think people will be more appreciative that we set this land aside for perpetuity for people to come and enjoy.”
History is important, its context invaluable for good decision-making. Establishing a 5 year contract with Tough Mudder is a tragedy which shows a complete lack of historical understanding, and an inability by our county leadership to abide by the commitments made to county citizens. Good process, or a lack of process, is what ultimately failed in this case.
It has also come to our attention that a person in a leadership role at the Park Authority has suggested that the proffer restrictions aren’t relevant and the proffer interpretation not legally binding. Why? Because County staff has determined the event to be a temporary special event to which the proffers and zoning restrictions do not apply.
This position suggests the county sought a loophole to get around the intent of the passive use park proffers, technically excusing this incompatible use. What an insult to all the citizens who invested so much of their valuable time participating in the process, believing their efforts had been worthwhile, and that local government had responded to their concerns.
If this kind of thought process is allowed to stand, why not allow a special event once a month, every weekend, or every day? Simply designate an intensive active use as a special event, and circumvent all relevant ordinances, restrictions or underlying proffers?
Excavating massive mud pits flies in the face of the very first sentence of the proffers. Anticipating crowds of ELEVEN THOUSAND or more flies in the face of passive recreation. Erecting an obstacle course through RPAs and a stream is NOT protecting our environmental assets.
This issue has taken on a life of its own, and even people who are avid supporters of Tough Mudder are speaking up. Silver Lake is the wrong venue. It’s hard to admit mistakes; we have all been there at some point in time. It requires a particular inner strength to acknowledge a mistake and then demonstrate the fortitude to fix it moving forward.
People are clearly demonstrating that Silver Lake as a protected natural area and passive recreation park is to be respected. What is at stake here is so much more than a Tough Mudder event. What is at stake is respect for our beautiful open space assets. What is at stake is the community’s trust in government.
Supervisor Pete Candland (Gainesville district) is holding a town hall tomorrow Thursday, May 30 at Reagan Middle School at 7 pm to discuss revenue bonds. This is a perfect opportunity for you to show up and share your thoughts regarding Silver Lake. Supervisor Candland needs our support to ensure this never happens again at Silver Lake, or at any other passive-use natural park.
Email your County supervisors, tell them what Silver Lake means to you. Tell them you expect them to honor the proffers and ordinances they took a vow to uphold – not only when it’s convenient, but as a matter of integrity and responsibility.
Prince William Conservation Alliance outlines what Silver Lake is to all of us here. They have recommended that Silver Lake be put into a conservation easement.
Catch up on the genesis of what’s happening with the impacts at Silver Lake here and here.
Silver Lake is a regional park. The integrity of this park should be every Prince William County resident’s concern.