NOVA Parks News
THROWBACK THURSDAY--NOVA PARKS--AT THE END OF THE WATER
Occoquan Regional Park was opened in 1983. The spacious 350-acre site is a great example of NOVA Parks’ commitment to regional cooperation and preservation of the history in Northern Virginia.
The name Occoquan comes from the native Dogue Indians and means “at the end of the water.” This name reminds park visitors that water recreation in a natural setting is a welcome feature of the area. The site takes full advantage of its river access.
The birth of Occoquan Regional Park was a joint effort by the Park Authority and the District of Columbia. NOVA Parks was asked to build a park on land that was owned by the federal government and leased to D.C. In the 1970s, D.C. ran both the prison and a landfill in the area, and there was a desire to have some positive amenities for the public in Northern Virginia.
In the early phases of the park’s development, funding for building and operations came from yet another source of regional cooperation. Some of the monies derived from refuse dumped at the Lorton landfill were used for park development. That source of funding ended in the 1990s.
The park amenities of the early 1980s served the public well for many years. In 2017/2018 the park was reimagined and rebuilt again. With the stunning River View event venue on the bluffs overlooking the river, the very popular Brickmakers Café serving up delicious food and views of the river, a 5K loop trail around the park, popular boat ramp, and numerous group shelters, the park has seen significantly more visitors in the last year. The 1608 Room that is part of the River View helps tell the story of how Captain John Smith and a group from the Jamestown Colony visited this area and traded with the Native Americans.
