Save Oak Hill State Park–Calls, emails needed TODAY
You may be aware that, after visiting Oak Hill, Governor Youngkin will ask for a budget amendment to designate Oak Hill a state park. This is but a first step and requires approval by delegates of the General Assembly. It is far from assured that delegates will vote in favor of Oak Hill when they meet to consider amendments on April 2nd.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED!!!
Please email and call Delegates and Senators in the Loudoun delegation (listed below). Urge them to KEEP OAK HILL IN THE BUDGET! We have enough votes in the Loudoun delegation alone to ensure this passes, but we need every one of those votes. Let them know how important this is to you!
To email:
Copy and paste the email addresses of the Loudoun Delegation:
DelDReid@house.virginia.gov
DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov
DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov
DelJSingh@house.virginia.gov
SenRPerry@senate.virginia.gov
SenKSrinivasan@senate.virginia.gov
Here’s some “talking points” to help you craft your call/email… edit, cut & paste as needed:
SUBJECT: VOTE YES, Save Oak Hill!
Dear [Delegate/Senator __________________],
[As your constituent, if you are one] I write to you today to urge you to say “YES” to the creation of Oak Hill State Park in Loudoun County.
Please, keep Oak Hill in the budget!
Oak Hill is our 5th President, James Monroe’s, home. Keeping it in the budget will conserve important history and beautiful greenspace for Loudouners, Virginians, and beyond. What a mistake it would be to miss this opportunity. There are so many good reasons to make Oak Hill the latest jewel in Virginia’s parks system:
- The park will have no financial burden on the Commonwealth.
- After this one-time grant by the County, the park will be privately financed.
- Maintenance and operational costs will be paid for privately by endowment and investment from the endowment.
- This “newly re-discovered” park will generate new interest and revenue for all of Loudoun and the Commonwealth since historical tourism is a huge part of our local economy.
- Oak Hill has been meticulously maintained and preserved to keep its authenticity — with private funds. We would be inheriting a bargain–the work has already been done. With its deep history going back to Colonial times, and even prehistoric times, once Oak Hill and its land is lost to development, it will be gone forever. We can’t let that happen.
- The Oak Hill grounds will remain open to all for generations to come.
- Its 1240 acres of forest, fields and wetlands, right on Rt.15 in Leesburg means easy access for tourism and recreation for millions of people.
- For equestrians, it could include miles of public access trails.
- For everyone, it means a Central Park-like, curated oasis for passive recreation, agriculture and history.
This is a great opportunity that we will lose forever without your support. Please vote YES on Oak Hill!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Click the links below for phone numbers to call:
Senator Russet Perry (already came out publicly in support – express thanks)
Link to all other members of the House
Link to all other members of the Senate
Now that you have sent your emails and made your calls, please forward this to your friends and neighbors to do the same. Let’s preserve Oak Hill for us all to enjoy for generations to come!