Salona Park 'Turf War' Continues

Some people want athletic fields. Others want a dog park. Dan DuVal, the owner of a large parcel of undeveloped land in McLean called Salona, says he'd like to keep the property untouched for "education and historical purposes."

This, of course, somewhat oversimplifies what NBC Washington has dubbed the Salona Park "Turf War."

In 2005, Fairfax County purchased a $16 million conservation easement from DuVal for the property - the most the county had ever spent on an easement, NBC reports.

In early October, the Salona Park Task Force solicited public comment during a meeting held at the McLean Community Center. Hundreds of ideas were submitted.

As yet, no consensus has been reached. Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust told Patch he anticipates the task force will make a recommendation to the park authority by the end of the year.

In the meantime, interested parties continue to disagree on how best to use the land.

In the NBC Washington article, "Joel Stillman with McLean Youth Athletics says there’s a desperate need for fields at Salona. 'We have been asking the county for space to build fields for decades.'"

DuVal says he's opposed to fields at Salona, but "says if the community really wants fields there, he will accept it," NBC reports.

Read the full NBC Washington article here.

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