Article Text
Visitors to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and other Northern Virginia regional parks could see fewer invasive species and more native vegetation over the next year under NOVA Parks’ newly adopted budget.
The NOVA Parks Board of Directors approved a $43.3 million fiscal year 2027 spending plan on May 21. It increases funding for invasive-species management across the park system and supports new tree and shrub plantings along the 45-mile W&OD Trail.
Dominion Energy is contributing $100,000 for the trail plantings as part of a new vegetation management agreement with NOVA Parks, Executive Director Justin Wilson said.
The agreement was finalized in February following public outcry over tree clearing near Vienna and Dunn Loring. It requires Dominion to give at least 30 days’ notice before power-line work affecting the trail, obtain NOVA Parks’ approval before removing trees or shrubs, and use native plants to restore affected areas when possible.
Dominion also agreed to restore vegetation where trail-side trees had already been removed in Vienna and Dunn Loring. Utility spokesperson Aisha Khan said that work remains underway.
Khan said Dominion installed plants along the trail last fall and plans additional planting in the spring and fall.
The budget also expands habitat restoration and invasive-species control throughout the NOVA Parks system. Staff members, volunteers and contractors will carry out that work.
Other funded priorities include an expanded Roving Naturalist program offering guided walks, kayak tours and live-animal activities. The plan adds staff at Alexandria’s Winkler Botanical Preserve as its operating hours increase and provides more full-time employees at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville to support field trips and programs for Title I schools.
Employees will receive raises that include a 2.2% cost-of-living increase. Funding for major maintenance will rise by 48% in an effort to lessen disruptions from park repairs.
The spending plan is 5.25% larger than the fiscal year 2026 budget. NOVA Parks said growing revenue, including money from user fees and retail operations, will cover most of the increase. The full budget is expected to be posted online when it takes effect July 1.
Board Chair Sean Kumar said strong revenue growth has allowed the authority to expand services despite financial uncertainty and constrained municipal budgets across the region.
NOVA Parks will also begin developing a five-year strategic plan covering fiscal years 2028 through 2033. Wilson said the authority is selecting a contractor to assist with the update, which is expected to take about a year.
The current strategic plan, adopted in August 2022, called for expanding the W&OD Trail’s dual-trail design, creating a trail visitor center in Vienna and transforming Gateway Regional Park in Fairfax City into a wetlands education facility. It also set broader goals for environmental protection, accessible and diverse programming, and support for current and future employees.