Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - May 22, 2026

The Leesburg Parks and Recreation Commission met on May 22, 2026, to discuss a range of topics including the Flower Garden event, e-bike enforcement, disc golf at West Park, multi-purpose trail connectivity, pickleball tournament promotion, the master plan adoption timeline, and capital improvement projects. The meeting was chaired by the commission chair and included staff updates and member comments.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (April 15, 2026): Motion to approve passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Yoga on Town Green: A member inquired about how a yoga teacher could offer classes on the town green. Staff clarified that if the teacher donates time as a public good and does not market her business, it would be permissible; charging a fee would require further review.
• E-bikes on Trails: Members noted complaints about e-bikes speeding on trails. One member reported having witnessed it and directed complainants to contact the police department. Another member mentioned pending state legislation by Senator David Reed to address e-bike regulation.
• Flower Garden Event Feedback: Members shared positive feedback from attendees, including a visitor from Baltimore who attends annually and praised the event. However, the number of landscape displays has decreased in recent years due to landscapers being busy. Vendor demand remains high, with about a third to a half of applicants turned away. Vendor satisfaction is generally high, with many selling out by Sunday. A member also mentioned that some attendees complained about lack of shade in certain areas.
• Multi-Purpose Trail Gaps: A member described inconsistencies in multi-purpose trail widths and sudden crossings on Battlefield Parkway, making bike travel unsafe. He suggested the town map these trails to identify gaps and improve connectivity. He volunteered to help create such a map. Staff responded that a map exists from the Leesburg Bike Club but may not show all details. The member also questioned why some sections narrow to sidewalk width, citing a lack of standards for developers.
• Disc Golf at West Park: Members discussed noise concerns raised by residents. One member, who is involved, reported that the Board of Supervisors approved the disc golf course and recommended noise reduction studies. Proposed solutions include additional landscaping, moving baskets further from homes, filling poles with sand, and adding rubber padding on poles. A member commented that disc golf noise is minimal, likening it to a golf ball dropping into a cup. A viral video of an opponent at the hearing was noted.
• West Park Buffer Wall: A member reported that a resident is upset about a proposed buffer wall of mature trees along the parking lot near Country Club. The member clarified that the landscaping is intended to provide privacy for neighbors, but the residents prefer open access to the parking lot. Staff noted the trees will be 6–8 feet tall and will take time to mature.

Discussion Items

• Pickleball Promotional Items: The commission discussed ordering promotional pickleballs for the upcoming tournament. Options included printed balls with a logo or plain balls with a zip-tie tag and QR code. Staff noted that printed pickleballs have limited space, and printing could cost around $3 per ball. The budget is $2,500. A decision was made to order $2,000 worth of neon green outdoor pickleballs, design a simple logo (possibly incorporating Parks & Rec or Town of Leesburg colors), use a QR code tag for registration, and aim for a fall tournament to coincide with the opening of pickleball courts (expected October). Staff will procure the balls and arrange graphic design.
• Master Plan Adoption Schedule: Staff presented a timeline: a rough word version will be sent to commissioners in early June, review at the June 17 meeting, then comments from other commissions in July, endorsement by the commission in August (possibly August 12), followed by planning commission endorsement (two meetings) and final council approval in November. The document will not be made public until the planning commission phase, though public can attend meetings. The commission agreed to the schedule.
• CIP Project Updates:
  • Veterans Park: Ribbon cutting tentatively scheduled for late August, weather permitting. Will include a road, boat launch, primitive parking, and porta-johns. Later, bike and disc golf communities will coordinate routing.
  • Basketball Court: A scheduled closure was expedited when the contractor became available earlier than planned; social media notification went out hours after the decision.
  • Fox Reach Park backstop: Replacement work started unexpectedly early; staff are working to finish by Friday to avoid schedule impact.
  • Water Filling Stations: The fountain at the cabin will be replaced with a bottle-filling station (cost $5,000–$10,000). Future fountain replacements will incorporate bottle fillers as a standard. Adding a new station near the town green or tennis courts would require a water line extension and budget request.
  • Chestnut Oak Tree Planting: A ceremonial tree planted from an acorn from Mount Vernon was noted to have only two leaves initially; it is healthy but small. A plaque explains its origin.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved from April 15, 2026.
• Pickleball Promotional Items: Approved ordering $2,000 worth of neon green outdoor pickleballs. Staff will design a logo and QR code tag for tournament registration. A fall tournament (likely October) will be organized, with staff handling logistics and commissioners serving as event faces.
• Master Plan Schedule Adopted: Timeline set with internal review in June, endorsement by the commission in August, planning commission review in September, and Town Council approval in November. The draft will remain internal until public comment period.
• CIP Updates Noted: Veterans Park ribbon cutting in late August; basketball court closure expedited; Fox Reach Park fencing accelerated; water bottle filling station at cabin to be installed; future fountain replacements to include bottle fillers.
• Multi-Purpose Trail Mapping: A member will coordinate with staff to obtain a trail map and propose improvements.
• Disc Golf Noise Mitigation: The Board of Supervisors’ recommendations will be implemented; commission members expressed support for the course.

Note: The meeting did not include formal votes beyond the consent calendar; all decisions were reached by consensus. No public testimony from non-commission members was recorded in the transcript.