NOVA Parks News

George Washington is a man who needs no introduction. Just like any other virtuoso Washington tried many things throughout his life. One of his businesses is well remembered in the region for its ambition and promise but also for its overall failure. NOVA Parks operates a regional park on the banks of the Potomac River in Great Falls that showcases the history of Washington’s endeavor while also providing recreational land for fishing, hiking and connecting with nature.

The place is Seneca Regional Park, and there NOVA Parks is proud to have a one-mile section of an old canal that remains to this day as part of the land. Built by one of George Washington’s companies, the Potowmack Canal project was completed in the 1790s and was supposed to allow for barge traffic to traverse difficult parts of the river as boats were pulled upstream. Signage in the park retells the story of the project and build. Because there was a significant effort to build it cost-effectively, the Potowmack Canal was not designed as well as the C&O Canal that was built on the Maryland side of the river 30 years later. However, the stonework that survives contributes to the overall experience of visiting the regional park, providing a unique connection to the past.

Northern Virginia is so rich with history, and NOVA Parks has been leading many of the efforts to preserve these sites for 60 years. Because of this legacy, today the sites of NOVA Parks collectively tell the story of many of the early and critical turning points in American history. Unique destinations and activities are part of the NOVA Parks brand and Seneca Regional Park is a place where this history provides a uniqueness all its own.