Prince William Forest Park - Triangle, VA

Prince William Forest Park - Triangle, VA

In May of 1935, the young men of the CCC and the older skilled workers of the WPA began work on the fourth largest RDA in the United States – what was then known as Chopawamsic Recreation Demonstration Area. The job of the CCC was to build five rustic cabin camps within the 11,000 acre area, thus providing urban social and welfare organizations of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C a place to experience the simpler ways of camp life, while also building self-esteem and strong character values. The close proximity to National Park Service in Washington, D.C. and the other invested government agencies made Chopawamsic a closely watched, highly critical project.

Breanna Cox

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/prince-william-forest-park-triangle-va/

1935

Creative Commons, https://livingnewdeal.org/map/

October 14, 2019

Photograph and Video

At Prince William Forest Park I was able to go on a hike through the woods and see many interesting things along the trail. Although there are a few dirt paths and clearings for campsites, the majority of the park remains untouched, showing us what the area likely looked like around the 1930s. This park was the site for many historical events, including a project conducted by the CCC to not only conserve the land, but create a recreational area for Americans. This project also provided many jobs to young men in the area during a time where unemployment was above 20%. I was able to document this site using a smartphone, which not only allowed me to take high quality images of the site at ease, but also record video and sound of the environment and the creatures within it. Many of the documentation of this site from the 1930s are simply grainy, black and white photos, which cannot completely capture the beauty of the park.