ALANE CALANDER / Stafford County Sun
Published: March 19, 2008

When I saw the majestic trees of Widewater, I thought they must somehow be comparable to the tall redwoods we hear about in that Woodie Guthrie folk song, "This Land is Your Land."

The opportunity to see the treasures of Widewater could be characterized as a life altering experience in that it stimulated my long-held appreciation for nature and motivated me to work with Miller and others to get a horrific illegal dumpsite cleaned up that sat at the base of those beautiful trees.

I was Stafford County's litter control coordinator at the time and Miller was a leader of the Stafford County Beautification Committee.

It took persistence but eventually we got the county to set aside some money for cleaning up the dumpsite, and the area along Brent Point Road was restored to the condition it was meant to be.

Thankfully, today that area--and over 1,000 acres total on the Widewater peninsula--are under the control of the Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation for future use as a state park.

How glorious that something so precious is being preserved and how wonderful that people from all over the country and all over the world will one day come to visit Widewater State Park.

A special thanks to former Gov. Mark Warner and to current Gov. Tim Kaine, as well as to all the county officials, state legislators and conservation advocates who made it possible for beautiful forests and shoreline to be set aside for all to enjoy.

Please don't delay in providing funding for the infrastructure improvements required to make this dream a reality.

As the efforts on behalf of Aquia's Crow's Nest continue, the preservationists are keeping an eye on the Widewater plans. There's always a juggling act between looking out for the needs of visitors to freely enjoy waterfront recreational facilities and the needs of residents who have benefited from a serene Potomac River or Aquia Creek waterfront views.

Fortunately, the early emphasis for this park is on canoeing and kayaking. That type of primitive boating seems appropriate for the historic parkland that goes back beyond America's early settlements.

Eventually a re-enacted fish camp, based on the years-ago glory days of fishing, will combine with other interpretive facilities to serve as a cultural and education center.

Hopefully Widewater State Park will develop into a quality project like Jamestown's. What a great way to teach folks about the past and to inspire future generations to respect and care for our threatened natural resources.

Plans also call for honoring Samuel Langley's early experiments launching aircraft from boats. Hopefully American Indian culture will be showcased as well.

Nature study will be perfectly situated among the rich and diverse habitats prevalent in the area.

Near Brent Point Road, which runs through the center of the preserved property, is the new Potomac Point Winery, one of the classiest businesses that Stafford has attracted so far.

Situated atop a steep hill, the architecturally significant Italian-style winery will make for a great stop-off point for tourists headed to or from the state park.

All we need to do is improve the road system, while minimally disturbing the environment, and beautify the haphazardly erected communities along the routes to the Decatur Road winery and the state park. That is no small task, but hopefully individuals demonstrating community spirit like Elaine Miller did years ago will initiate spruce-up campaigns.

As I think of Elaine and those who founded the Stafford County Beautification Committee in the 1980s - like Hutch Blackburn and county employee David Gayle - I am reminded of one of the volunteers who was instrumental in promoting beautification, Joan Shea, who died this winter.

I think of the birds and other wildlife and the wide varieties of flowers and shrubs that Joan nurtured at her former home at Woodland's Pool.

To all who ever advocated for environmental protections, may Widewater State Park be dedicated to you one day soon to come.

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