During a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the development of trails in the Barbara Gulch area, with significant input from local residents and board members. A representative from the Loudoun Rock Metropolitan District expressed support for the proposed trails but clarified that the district lacks the capacity to plan, fund, or maintain them due to limited resources. The representative emphasized that while they are open to collaborating on engineering connections and intersections, the responsibility for the trails should lie with the Trails Coalition and other involved parties.

The meeting also featured testimony from a resident, Ron Hill, who criticized the Leiden Rock board for its handling of community input regarding trail development. Hill highlighted a $4.7 million capital budget surplus that the board received three years ago, which he claimed was not used to address community concerns. He recounted a neighborhood petition against development in the Yuleucca green space, which garnered 61 signatures from 85% of local homeowners. Hill accused the board of threatening to use eminent domain and of conducting biased surveys that disregarded residents' preferences for wildlife habitat preservation.

The tensions between the board and residents were palpable, with Hill alleging that board members had reacted negatively to community feedback and had refused to engage in further discussions about alternative trail routes. He concluded by asserting that the board is moving forward with plans to construct a trail through the contested green space, despite significant opposition from the community. The meeting underscored the ongoing conflict between local governance and resident interests in the development of public spaces.