Leesburg finally has its own way onto the Potomac River. Veterans Park at Ball's Bluff, at 42314 Balls Bluff Road, held its ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 30, after 16 months of construction. The Town calls it Leesburg's first park with direct access to the river. The project page had set Spring 2026 as the finish date for this first phase. Because it opened in the fall, the park started out on its shorter schedule. The posted hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through October. From November through March they drop to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
So the time to go is now. What opened is the river access piece of a much bigger master plan. It's a road, a ramp, two small parking lots and trail connections. Most of what the master plan describes is still years away. The next few weeks have the longest hours you'll get here until April. They also bring a free guided walk and the last of the battlefield's volunteer tour season.
Why This Took More Than Two Decades
The wait explains why the first phase is so basic. Leesburg and NOVA Parks bought 141 acres together in 2001 for $3.3 million. The Town's share was 86 acres at about $2 million. The Town's own project timeline dates the purchase to December 2000. Its September 2002 master plan was updated in May 2012.
According to the Town, it held the land on purpose for more than 20 years, until there was money to build. Loudoun Now reported that the park stayed on Leesburg's capital wish list without funding until Loudoun County set aside $4 million in FY 2021. The same coverage described a land swap that gave Leesburg six acres inside Ball's Bluff Park and improved the connections between the two parks. In its opening release, the Town gave the project's overall cost as $4.2 million, with $4 million from the county.
Design started in December 2020. Neighbors met with the Town in June 2021 and February 2024. Madigan Construction Inc. built Phase I from plans by Alpha Construction and Engineering Corp. The Town's latest update thanks residents for their patience during construction, especially the Potomac Crossing community.
Former Town Council Member and retired judge Frank Buttery opened the original talks with a private owner, which led to the joint purchase. After the ribbon cutting, Mayor Kelly Burk and Supervisor Kristen Umstattd paddled a canoe across to Harrison's Island and back.
What Phase I Actually Includes
Here's what's there now and what's still on paper, based on the Town's project page and facility listing.
| Stage | Timing on the Town's pages | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Planned for Spring 2026, opened September 30, 2026 | 3/4-mile two-lane access road, parking, accessible boat ramp, trail connections |
| Phase II | Target of Fall 2029 | Road upgrades, more parking, picnic pavilion, silo upgrades, trail improvements |
| Later master plan items | No date posted | Boat storage for non-motorized craft, visitors center, mountain bike trail, disc golf, open meadow, created wetlands, adaptive reuse of the farm silos |
The picnic pavilion has two different dates. The opening release says a pavilion and a second parking area for trail access will open "in the spring." The project page lists a picnic pavilion in Phase II, with a Fall 2029 target. Until the Town says which one is right, don't count on a covered picnic spot next spring.
Parking Sets the Pace
The access road runs about 0.75 miles from Balls Bluff Road down to the riverfront. There are two parking areas, one by the boat ramp and one by the silos, and both lead to the trailheads. The April 2025 preconstruction plan called for 25 spaces at each lot, with two accessible stalls in each. That same presentation estimated the park would bring about 144 vehicles on a weekday and 170 on a weekend day. If those estimates hold, 50 planned spaces will turn over several times on a busy Saturday.
The rules leave little room when the lots are full. Parking on the roadways isn't allowed, trailers aren't allowed anywhere in the park, and unauthorized vehicles are towed at the owner's expense. If your boat travels on a trailer, it won't work here. A kayak or canoe on a roof rack will, and a morning arrival improves your odds of getting a space.
Before You Put a Boat In
The ramp is for non-gas-powered vessels only. The rules posted on the facility page are short:
- No gas-powered vessels.
- No swimming or loitering on the launch ramp.
- Use is at your own risk.
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.
- There is no lifeguard and no lifesaving equipment.
- Check weather and water conditions before you go.
The general park rules also apply. Dogs must be leashed, restrained and curbed. Alcohol and weapons are prohibited. The current facility page lists no launch fee or permit. The Town's 2025 FAQ said the park would have no rentals and no charges for activities. That was written before the park opened, so call the Parks Manager at 703-737-7155 if you want to confirm. The same FAQ said the site had no water or sewer hookups and expected to use portable toilets. The current page doesn't confirm what's installed.
Anglers have one more thing to check. Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources says Virginia and Maryland residents may fish the Upper Potomac from either bank with their own state's freshwater license. DWR sends anglers to Maryland for the rules on this stretch of river.
Don't plan a river trip around White's Ferry. It closed in December 2020. In a July 24, 2026 release, Montgomery County said buying the ferry would not restart service by itself, because the Virginia landing rights still had to be restored.
The Trails Link Two Parks
The walking trails go through wooded land along the river. They connect to primitive paths and to sections of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Loudoun Now reported that the new trails link with the 223-acre Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park next door. The Town hasn't published a name or length for the connector. NOVA Parks' trail map shows a 2.1-mile Potomac Heritage segment and battlefield loops of 0.5 to 1.7 miles. NOVA's self-guided tour brochure describes the path from the bluff down to the river as steep and rocky. Wear shoes with grip, especially on wet leaves.
That connection lets you combine both parks in one fall visit:
- Battlefield tours. NOVA Parks runs free volunteer-led guided tours of Ball's Bluff every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., from early April through the end of November. Tours start at the kiosk in the battlefield parking lot. NOVA Parks counts Ball's Bluff National Cemetery as part of the regional park.
- A fall color walk. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has a Fall Color Walk at Ball's Bluff on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon, led by Bill Cour. It's limited to 20 people and registration is required. The signup form shows $0, so confirm the cost with the conservancy.
The 11 a.m. battlefield tour and the October 24 walk both happen in the morning. That leaves the afternoon for a paddle from the Veterans Park ramp while the lot closes at 7 p.m.
What the Mayor Said
The Town's release quoted Mayor Burk on what she hopes the park will be used for:
"It is a place where families can enjoy a picnic, where someone can spend a quiet moment fishing along the river, where friends can launch a canoe or kayak, and where residents can hike the trails and discover the native plants and natural beauty that make this area so special."
The fishing, paddling and hiking are possible now. The picnic pavilion depends on whichever date the Town confirms. On November 1 the gates start closing at 5 p.m. and stay on that schedule through March.
Melody Visser of Sell Buy NOVA Homes keeps up with Leesburg parks projects and the changes around them. If you have questions about the new park, the roads around it, or the plans through 2029, let's connect. Here's what to expect next.
