What About Reston National Public Park?

In mid-March, residents of Lyndhurst, OH and nearby communities were excited to a 155-acre park that is now part of Cleveland Metroparks.

The opening of the paved trails and rolling, open space ended a controversy that ensued for much of 2012. And it sounds very similar to the saga of which in undergoing its own uncertain future in a changing community.

The shareholders of Acacia Country Club, at the site since 1925, no longer wanted to be in the country club business. They had an offer in 2012 to sell the property - which is close to a lifestyle center similar to Reston Town Center a major indoor mall - to developers interested in turning it into strip malls with big box-stores.

The city of Lyndhurst, along with other developers, offered $16 million to purchase the golf course and facilities and turn it into mixed-use development, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

But in the end, the nonprofit Virginia-based Conservation Fund purchased the club for $14.75 million - and turned it over to the Metroparks.

Could a similar deal be worked out in Reston? The golf course is not currently for sale, but there is a possibility of redevelopment. Residents who live near Reston National are working to save the 166 acres of green space that is the golf course.

The golf course opened in the early 1970s as an amenity to attract potential homeowners to Reston. Last April, RN Golf Management, the course owners, inquired with Fairfax County Zoning whether the course could be considered residential, sparking reports that the owners were interested in building high-density residential on the golf course.

When zoning said the course is classified as open space, the owners appealed. After being postponed several times, the appeal is now scheduled to be heard by the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals on May 22.

The Conservation Fund, based in Arlington, was formed in 1985.  It's mission "to save land for future generations," according to its website.

"We have consistently shown that effective land conservation makes good economic sense," the website says. "In addition to saving land directly, we act swiftly to accelerate and sustain conservation. Our team helps communities strategically plan for development, provides loans to small green businesses, and works with companies to compensate for environmental impacts, among other efforts. With our skills and financial resources, we make land conservation a viable choice. We want to be sure your favorite places stay that way."

The Conservation Fund says it has saved 60,000 acres in Virginia, including several Civil War battlefields and wildlife preserves.

Bill Bouie, chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, says there have been several cases in the county where a conservation trust has purchased land and turned it over to the FCPA to manage and operate.

"We would absolutely be open to doing that," Bouie said about a scenario involving Reston National as a county park. "We would love to do that."

Could working with The Conservation Fund or a similar conservation group be a viable alternative for Reston National? Would you like to see the group purchase the land for use by Reston Association or Fairfax County Park Authority? Tell us in the comments.

See all Reston National Rezoning news on our Reston National Topc Page