On the tip of Stafford's Widewater peninsula, once slated for development, a tree stands sentinel on a rise overlooking Aquia Creek.

A gravel drive leads into the woods on the Widewater peninsula, part of which is destined to become a state park.

Hardwood trees and yesterday's blue sky are reflected in a pool of water on eastern Stafford's still-rural Widewater peninsula.

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The heavily wooded, wildlife-rich Widewater peninsula lies across Aquia Creek from Aquia Marina. Yesterday, Gov. Mark Warner signed a deed capping a years-long effort to acquire 1,100 acres there.

Virginia acquires the land for a new state park. Now what?

By Rusty Dennen

Date published: 1/13/2006

RICHMOND--If Widewater State Park develops as have other Virginia state parks, it will be a long and slow process but one that will eventually open up miles of prime waterfront land to public use.

Capping a multiyear effort to buy the 1,100 acres on the southern end of the Stafford County peninsula, Gov. Mark Warner yesterday in Richmond signed a deed conveying the property to the state as a bevy of supporters, politicians and environmentalists looked on.

With the swath of pristine land on the Potomac River and Aquia Creek protected, the development of the park can begin.

But don't expect anything like Westmoreland State Park--farther down the Potomac--anytime soon, for two reasons.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has no money in its budget to develop newly acquired parkland.

A formal development process must play out.

"First thing is a master plan before we can receive funding or start spending any money," said Gary Waugh, spokesman for DCR.

Park planners will need time to come up with the best combination of uses, and will give users ample opportunity to review what's proposed, he said.

"Once we get that in place, we need to get funding to develop the park and to staff and operate it," he said.

"That could take a couple of years to a decade or so."

The first order of business would be basic infrastructure such as roads and drinking water.

As was the case with Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Widewater's first phase of development will open up the land for day uses such as hiking, fishing, picnicking and boating. Lake Anna park opened in the early 1980s and only recently opened overnight cabins, with its first campground still under development.

A rough estimate of the cost of opening Widewater park for day use is about $9 million, Waugh said.

What is ultimately built depends upon the master plan.

For example, Caledon Natural Area in King George County, donated to the state in the 1970s, was first envisioned as a state park.

Later, its function was changed. It's now known for, and primarily used by, bald eagles.

Date published: 1/13/2006