This NoVA Park Is Rated Among Top 10 Most Endangered Public Lands in U.S.

Outside magazine has designated Manassas National Battlefield Park in Northern Virginia as the fifth most endangered public land in the U.S. for 2026, primarily due to the proposed Prince William Digital Gateway data center complex. This massive project, which would include 37 data centers bordering the park, was approved by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors in 2023 and is slated to be the world's largest data center complex if completed. The project faces significant legal hurdles, with two separate lawsuits filed in opposition. In one case, 12 Oak Valley residents successfully challenged the county's rezoning approval, arguing procedural non-compliance with hearing notices. Prince William County Judge Kimberly Irving ruled in the plaintiffs' favor in August 2025. The second lawsuit, which initially saw a ruling allowing the project to advance, has been appealed by the plaintiffs. Due to similarities, Virginia's Court of Appeals combined oral arguments for both cases, with a verdict currently pending. Environmental concerns are also central to the opposition. Kyle Hart, mid-Atlantic senior program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, expressed hope that projects like the Digital Gateway "do not get built" and emphasized the need for states to reform policies, improve transparency, and account for environmental impacts related to power plants, power lines, and water usage when considering data center development.