Where does a Leesburg resident put a canoe into the Potomac without driving to Sterling or across into Maryland? Until September 30, no town park gave a good answer. That Wednesday, Mayor Kelly Burk and Council Members Neil Steinberg and Zach Cummings cut the ribbon on the first phase of Veterans Park at Ball's Bluff. The Town calls it "Leesburg's first park with direct access to the Potomac River."
The park that opened is a narrow piece of the plan. It has a road, two parking areas, trails and a ramp for boats without gas engines. There are no trailers, no pavilion yet and no boat storage. For now it is a park for people who own a kayak or canoe, can lift it off a car, and can get there before closing. October gives them the longest hours they'll have until April.
A Field the Town Held for Two Decades
The Town bought the land in 2001: 86 acres for $2 million, purchased jointly with NOVA Parks, which was then the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Retired Judge Frank Buttery, then on Town Council, started the negotiations with the private owner. At the dedication, former Mayor Kristen Umstattd recalled her first reaction to his proposal: "Frank, that's a lot of money."
The Town then held the property for more than 20 years, until it had money to build. Construction took 16 months. The project cost $4.2 million in total, and Loudoun County paid $4 million of it. The Town's project page had set Spring 2026 as the target for finishing phase one. The park opened at the end of September, and the Town's materials don't give a reason for the later date.
The County paid for nearly all of the construction, so the Town's main costs were the land and the wait. That helps explain why phase one covers only the basics of getting to the river and onto it.
What the Gate Opens Onto Right Now
The park is at 42314 Balls Bluff Road. A paved two-lane road runs about three-quarters of a mile from Ball's Bluff Road down to the river. Two parking areas serve the boat ramp and the old farm silos, and the trailheads start from those lots. The ramp is accessible and open only to boats without gas engines. The Town's page shows kayaks waiting at the water's edge, and Mayor Burk's opening remarks mention friends launching "a canoe or kayak."
Several rules are easy to miss on a first visit:
- Trailers can't park in the park. The Town's pre-construction FAQ said the lots can't handle large trailers. It also said large commercial groups can't bring in non-motorized boats.
- Gas-powered boats are banned at the launch. Swimming and loitering at the ramp are also banned. The Town's pages don't say whether electric motors are allowed. Call the Parks Manager at 703-737-7155 before bringing one.
- A Coast Guard-approved life jacket is required. The park has no lifeguard and no lifesaving equipment, and the Town says to check weather and water conditions before you launch.
- The park doesn't list an entry or launch fee. When the pre-construction FAQ asked whether the Town planned rentals or activity charges, the answer was "No."
- Parking is limited. The pre-construction FAQ planned for about 50 spaces. That was a design figure, and the Town hasn't published a count of what was actually built.
Fishing is allowed along the river. The Potomac belongs to Maryland here. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says residents with a valid Virginia or Maryland freshwater license can fish the Upper Potomac from either bank, and Maryland rules apply.
Where the Trailer and the Outboard Still Go
The new ramp doesn't replace the launches Loudoun boaters already use. Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling takes kayaks, canoes, jon boats and powered boats launched from trailers. On the Maryland side, the National Park Service's Edwards Ferry ramp at C&O Canal mile 30.8 has parking for cars and trailers. It's reached by Edwards Ferry Road.
The quick crossing to Maryland is still closed. White's Ferry wasn't running as of Montgomery County's July 24, 2026 announcement. That agreement moved the Maryland property and business assets to the county, but landing rights on the Virginia side still have to be restored before service can start again. For now, a Leesburg resident with a powerboat still launches at Algonkian or Edwards Ferry. A resident with a kayak now has a launch in town.
The Island the Officials Paddled To
At the end of the ceremony, Mayor Burk and Supervisor Umstattd, who now represents Leesburg on the Board of Supervisors, paddled canoes across the river to Harrison's Island and back. The island ties the park to the battle it's named for. The National Park Service also calls the Battle of Ball's Bluff the Battle of Harrison's Island, because Union troops crossed the Potomac there to reach the bluff.
Paddlers should plan to go around the island and come back without landing. The only ownership record in our research is a 1986 National Park Service plan, which described the island as private farmland. We didn't find any current official source that allows the public to land there.
On land, the park's new trails connect to the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and to NOVA Parks trails. The park borders the 223-acre Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, and trails cross between the two. NOVA Parks keeps the battlefield open for walking, hiking and self-guided tours from dawn to dusk. The battle was fought on October 21, 1861, so this month marks its 165th anniversary. This October you can launch a canoe, look across at the island the Union troops crossed from, and then walk up to the bluff they climbed.
The Calendar Running Against You
Park hours change four times a year:
| Months | Veterans Park hours |
|---|---|
| May–August | 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| September–October | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| November–March | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| April | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
On November 1, closing time moves two hours earlier and stays there through March. The Town doesn't allow trespassing or loitering after hours. October's evening light is the last late paddling window of the year.
The park will also add features over time. The Town's opening announcement says the picnic pavilion will open in the spring, while its project page lists a pavilion as part of phase two, so the timing may change. Phase two is scheduled for Fall 2029. It includes road upgrades, more parking, a picnic pavilion, upgrades to the existing silos and trail improvements. The Town's longer list of future features includes storage for non-motorized boats, a visitors center, a mountain bike trail, a disc golf course, an open meadow and new wetlands. Boat storage is the feature that would make the park easier for people without a roof rack. It's on the list, and the Town hasn't given it a date.
For now, you need to bring your own boat. None of the outfitters we reviewed delivers boats to the new ramp. The closest guided options run farther upriver. River & Trail Outfitters, near Harpers Ferry and Brunswick, has a "Boat and Brew" paddle on October 18. Its unguided Potomac rentals cover about six miles with a shuttle back to your car and are offered April through November. If you'd rather paddle with a group, the Canoe Cruisers Association invites newcomers on its organized trips. Potomac Conservancy's river access map shows the other public ramps along this stretch.
At the ribbon cutting, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair Brody McCray said, "To say we are merely excited is a huge understatement." For anyone in Leesburg with a kayak and a free weekday evening, the launch is open until 7 p.m. every day through October 31.
For other recent changes in town, see our look at what's new in downtown Leesburg in 2026 and our Leesburg neighborhood guide.
If quick access to the Potomac, a trailhead or a carry-in launch matters for your next home, I'm glad to talk through which parts of Leesburg get you to Balls Bluff Road fastest. Diana Geremia has lived in Loudoun since 1998 and is happy to help. Let's Connect.
