James S. Long
James S. Long Park
Acquired: July 1,1980

James S. Long was born in North Carolina, but moved to this area with his family in 1934.  As a boy he worked for his step-father Luther High, founder of High's Dairy Stores, as well as various construction companies. 

After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School Mr. Long served as a navigator with the Army Air Forces in the South Pacific during WWII.  When he returned home, 'Jimmy" as he was known to friends, learned his trade working for S. D. Moses building the Pentagon. Not long after his boyhood friend, John "Jack" Miller returned home, they founded the Miller & Long Concrete Construction Company.  The company pioneered the use of electric climbing and track-mounted tower cranes, high speed conveyors to place concrete in high-rise buildings, along with training contractors and advising on many projects that are now the skyline of Washington, D.C.  Mr. Long served at the national level on a number of industry associations, as well as at the community level for various charitable organizations for which he received numerous accolades for his leadership abilities.  James Long passed away in April of 1977. 

In a resolution dated July 1, 1980, the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors approved the appropriation of fund for the Park Authority {now Department of Parks & Recreation} to purchase the 167.5 acres of parkland from the James S. Long Trust.  The deed specifies "for the purpose of developing and maintaining in perpetuity a public outdoor recreation park in consonant with provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965" and "when developed as a park, will be named: James S. Long Park."   This park is a fine example of public/private partnerships for the enrichment of the lives and  well-being  of the citizens of Prince William County.

James S. Long Park is 167-acres with seven soccer fields, one baseball field, two Little League fields, one T-Ball field.  There are three pavilions an open play area, a comfort station and a very active Equestrian Ring.

July is National Parks & Recreation Month.  We are celebrating those people who have made significant and positive change in our community, parks and recreation. The work of these community Park Heroes often goes unnoticed. #SuperJuly