Outlook: The Spotsylvania supervisors and residents have vehemently opposed the parkway, but it remains part of the overall plan in the federally funded project.

There is $14.8 million set aside for design and analysis of the project, including the parkway. That work, which will take about four years, has yet to start. No specific date has been set.

Once the design and analysis are done, work could start on the I-95 portion of the project, if it gets funding.

Nothing will be done on the rest area interchange or parkway unless the Spotsylvania supervisors change their stance.

--Scott Shenk

RIVERFRONT PARK

The story so far: Fredericksburg has planned for a riverfront park for decades. A few years ago, the city began buying land for a park on the riverfront at Sophia and Charlotte streets. The city has acquired the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge 61 property for $925,000 and plans to expand the park. The popular Lunch in the Park program was moved there last summer, but this year the event will move back to Hurkamp Park.

Outlook: A review of the current and long-range plans for the park will occur in the coming months between city staff and the Riverfront Task Force. City Manager Beverly Cameron has allocated $200,000 in his proposed 2013 budget for planning and design, another $2 million in fiscal year 2017 for construction.

--Robyn Sidersky

U.S. 17 CORRIDOR IN STAFFORD COUNTY

The story so far: Sumner Partners of Bethesda, Md., has cleared 26.12 acres opposite the Walmart on U.S. 17 in Stafford for Falls Run, a shopping center with six freestanding sites for retail and possibly office space.

The developer also has begun work on Stafford Lakes Shopping Center on a small parcel next to the Walmart. It has two freestanding sites for such things as a bank or fast-food restaurant, and several "inline" stores, or stores with common walls.

Berea Marketplace, which is adjacent to the traffic signal for Stafford Lakes Parkway, has a Union First Market branch. Aldi, ABC Phones and 7-Eleven have signed leases for space there.

Outlook: KLNB Retail, a commercial real estate services company working for Sumner, is seeing interest from both pad users and inline retailers for Falls Run and Stafford Lakes, but no leases have been signed. ABC Phones, Aldi and 7-Eleven are expected to open in Berea Marketplace this year.

--Cathy Jett