Time: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Location: Dulles South Multipurpose Center

This session served as an introduction to the project and a venue for citizens to voice their desires for active and passive recreational uses within the 257-acre site. Following a brief presentation of the existing site conditions by the design team, attendees of the meeting were asked to break-out into six-to-eight person groups. With the help of a facilitator from the design team, each group developed a list of recreational uses they would like to see within the park. A citizen representative was then nominated by each small group to present their ideas to the other groups.  After each of the small groups had presented their ideas, the floor was opened for discussion.

The data developed from the small groups was carefully documented by the design team and has been used throughout the master planning process in discussions with Loudoun County agencies in determining the types of recreational opportunities that may be provided within the regional park.

Design Team Progress

Immediately following public input session #1, the design team developed five “test-fit” diagrams using the small group ideas as a basis for design programming. These test-fit diagrams were highly conceptual “bubble diagrams” developed to look quickly at how various uses would fit together on the site.

Time: Monday, February 6, 2012
Location: Dulles South Multipurpose Center

This session began with a recap of public input session #1 and a presentation of the ideas developed by the groups from the first session. Using the design team's test-fit diagrams as a guide, attendees were then asked to break-out into six-to-eight person groups. With the help of a facilitator from the design team, each group was asked to create their own test-fit diagrams for the park layout. Each group was provided with a packet of typical test-fit bubbles that approximated the size of the various park uses discussed at public input session #1. For example, the test fit bubble might include a rectangle sized to accommodate a soccer field and associated parking, or a small oval that would accommodate an amphitheater and a picnic pavilion. Following the break-out session, each group’s test-fit diagrams were presented to the entire group for discussion.

For attendees who were unable to attend the first public input session, a design team facilitator organized a separate small group to brainstorm and develop their ideas for recreational uses within the park. These ideas were collected and incorporated into the master list used by the design team. The master list has also been augmented with suggestions emailed to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services from residents unable to attend either meeting.

Design Team Progress 
Following public input session #2, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the design team developed three concept plans for the park using the small group test-fit diagrams as a basis for design. These concept plans were hand-drawn to scale and showed the general locations of entrance points, roads, parking, active recreation fields, passive recreational open spaces, maintenance buildings, restroom / concession facilities, ponds and forested areas within the park. The concept plans did not show specific locations for every conceivable use that will be provided within the park, only those that require a large land area or those that have specific relationships to other uses that should be considered.

Time: Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Location: Briar Woods High School

This session began with a recap of the previous public input sessions and a brief presentation of the existing site conditions by the design team. A facilitator provided a brief overview of three park concept plans presented for discussion. A large 42” x 60” copy of each concept plan was located at three work stations located in the auditorium.

• Concept A
• Concept B
• Concept C

Attendees were invited to visit each work station for a more detailed review and discussion that was facilitated by members of the design team. At each work station, attendees were asked to place notes with comments of things they liked and/or disliked about each of the concept plans. There were additional members of the design team present at the meeting to answer specific questions about traffic, environmental, architecture and planning issues. After the break-out session the design team facilitators from each work station summarized the primary points posted on each concept plan. The meeting concluded with an open forum discussion and a summary of the projected planning and development schedule.