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Residents don't see eye-to-eye with Prince William County's proposal to use park land to build school

The proposal looks at land near the corner of Crestwood Drive and Ashton Avenue, near Manassas Mall. The public able to voice opinion in hearing on Feb. 4.

MANASSAS, Va. — Prince William County officials a considering a proposal to transfer part of a Manassas Park into land for an elementary school to help ease overcrowding, but some residents in the area said they see the move creating even more traffic and further limiting parking options.

The proposal looks at land near the corner of Crestwood Drive and Ashton Avenue, near Manassas Mall. If approved, a little more than half of Rosemont-Lewis Park will go towards the school, but some neighbors are concerned about the impact it could have on traffic.

Carol Cutler moved to the neighborhood nearly 20 years ago.

"A lot has been developed since we've moved here. When we moved, it was a lot of farmland around," Cutler said.

The proposal would use about 12 acres of the nearly 24-acre park and would keep the pedestrian trails, tennis and basketball courts, shelter and play area in tact.

Cutler said she likes being around the corner from Rosemont-Lewis Park and worries about the increase in development.

"We already have a parking problem, and it is a really major thing because we have no place else to go for parking," Cutler said.

The proposal includes a single entrance for school buses to get to and from the school.

"The buses will be coming down our street, and it takes away the parking, so that could be problem," said Cutler.

To accommodate traffic, county leaders are looking at making changes to traffic along Crestwood Drive and Ashton Avenue.

Construction could begin as early as February 2021.

A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4. Learn more about the full proposal here.

Credit: Prince William County

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