Dale City, Virginia is moving to open one of its remaining preserved wetlands to the public, planning a boardwalk through the Julie J. Mets Wetlands that would give residents and school groups a place to walk among ecosystems that once defined this stretch of Northern Virginia before postwar development transformed it.
Prince William County, where Dale City sits as an unincorporated community of roughly 75,000 people, has seen dramatic land use pressure in recent years. Data center development is pushing westward along what the industry calls "Data Center Alley," and the county's denser communities along the I-95 corridor have comparatively little preserved green space left. That scarcity makes the Julie J. Mets Wetlands, named for a local conservationist, a particularly valued piece of ground.
The boardwalk project follows a model that Prince William County has been refining for over a decade. The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk in nearby Woodbridge, a 3,000-foot structure that opened in 2019, became a regional destination and helped establish the county's approach of turning preserved wetland areas into accessible public amenities rather than letting them sit behind fences. A similar boardwalk project is underway in Woodbridge at another wetland preserve squeezed by suburban growth.
Beyond recreation, wetlands have gained new relevance in the climate era. They absorb floodwater, store carbon and filter runoff, functions that carry real value in a county where impervious surface has expanded rapidly. Virginia's K-12 science standards also require hands-on outdoor instruction, making sites like the Mets Wetlands natural field-trip destinations for local schools.
The county has posted a solicitation for contractors to design and build the boardwalk, though key details including total budget, boardwalk length and a construction timeline are not yet public. The project would be a notable addition to Dale City's green infrastructure at a moment when the county is also tackling congestion and development pressures across the community.
The procurement is listed on Prince William County's e-procurement portal;return false;). Residents or contractors seeking details can follow the project there as design specifications are released.
