The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced the land acquisition last month of the Lake Caledon property, which is adjacent to Caledon State Park.
Support to expand Caledon State Park was initiated by local residents. Partnerships among Friends of Caledon State Park, King George County, and volunteers led to the opening of The Community Foundation’s “Lake Caledon Fund,” which raised funds and awareness for the project.
“This acquisition reflects the strong interest and commitment of the local community in expanding and protecting Caledon State Park,” said Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Stefanie Taillon. “Virginia’s state parks deliver multiple benefits, and conserving this additional property will provide additional outdoor opportunities, while continuing to serve as an economic driver for King George County.”
“Partnerships are key when it comes to projects like this,” said DCR Director Matt Wells. “As the park’s master plan gets updated, we look forward to expanding recreational opportunities at Caledon State Park.”
Conservation efforts have been a long-standing focus in the area. In 1984, when bald eagles were listed as endangered, Caledon became a natural area for 18 years, offering limited recreational opportunities to protect the habitat. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list, reflecting the species’ recovery due to conservation efforts. A few years later, Caledon was designated a state park again.
“Caledon has been a state park since 2012, and now with this new expansion that increases the park acreage by 20%, many of the recreational opportunities enjoyed at other parks will be possible here as well with future development funding,” said Virginia State Parks Director Dr. Melissa Baker.
The new property adds 455 acres, bringing the total to 3,034 acres of land. The location provides an opportunity for expanded park development, as Caledon State Park lies on the shores of the Potomac River.
The northern half of the property lies across the road from the existing state park and consists of forests and farm fields.
The southern half of the property lies on the opposite side of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, a 16-mile multi-use trail that follows the route of the 1940s Dahlgren Branch Rail Line. Several crossings of the rail-trail connect to the northern half of the property. This area is mainly forested and contains an approximately 47-acre lake and wetlands.
“Protecting Lake Caledon and expanding Caledon State Park is a remarkable achievement made possible through a community-driven effort that attracted a broad collaboration of conservation partners,” said Lynda Frost, Senior Project Manager at Trust for Public Land. “This project ensures that the lake and surrounding lands remain a thriving natural haven, open for King George County residents and park visitors to explore and enjoy for generations to come.”
The project received funding in part from a $3 million Land and Water Conservation Fund grant awarded by the National Park Service. Another $500,000 was provided by the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation in the first grant awarded to Virginia State Parks.
An additional $900,000 in funding came from the U.S. Navy’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program. To qualify for this funding, the protection boundary around Naval Support Facility Dahlgren was expanded.
“Thank you to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Trust for Public Land for the expansion of Caledon State Park,” said Capt. John Nadder, commanding officer of Naval Support Activity South Potomac. “The support of our neighbors and community partners is absolutely critical to Naval Support Activity South Potomac accomplishing its missions. This expansion enhances the recreational opportunities for our service members, while also protecting the rural land uses and natural resources that ensure those critical base operations continue. This represents a win for the community, a win for the base, and a win for Virginia.”
“As a longtime supporter of Virginia State Parks and conservation efforts in Virginia, I’m thrilled about the new expansion of Caledon State Park on the historic Northern Neck,” said Sen. Richard Stuart, who also serves on the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Board of Trustees. “Thank you to all the individuals, organizations, and government agencies who worked together to make this long-held dream a reality.”
“Conservation is key to connecting the public to the stories of these lands, and I am excited that after much work protecting our natural resources along Caledon State Park, it will come to fruition,” said Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent. “I am grateful to all the constituents who played a pivotal role in making this expansion possible and supporting our state parks.”