Fairfax County Park Authority

Take 12 Steps for Health

Battle of the Bulge

Your Fitness Scorecard

Your Fitness Scorecard in Two Minutes

RECenter Expansion Projects

RECenter Expansion Projects Shaping Up

Tournaments for Turf

Announcing the Turkey Bowl Tournament

Old-Fashioned Holiday Celebration!

Park Videos

Calendar of Events

New Park Director Announced

Ask Me About CAPRA

Park Authority Meets
National Standards of Excellence

Seasonal Light Show

Stone Mansion features Seasonal Show

Upcoming Nature Classes

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Leads to Better Services and Lower Costs

PLEASE NOTE: This is an update for Sunday, December 8, 2013. In weather-related emergencies, Park Authority programs, events, classes and events at park facilities and schools will be canceled based upon the closing decision of Fairfax County Public Schools. Since Fairfax County schools has cancelled all afternoon activities and closed facilities:

FCPA events, scheduled classes and Drop-in Group Fitness classes held at RECenters or other FCPA facilities are canceled from noon for the remainder of the day.
FCPA classes held at school locations, senior centers or community centers are canceled from noon, for the remainder of the day.

Park Authority facilities remain open. For information regarding specific programs contact the site directly.

Winter Registration Begins December 3
Winter Listings Online Now!

Browse on-line listings, check class enrollment and register with a few clicks of your mouse.

Internet registration offered daily, 5am to 11pm

The Take 12 program is free and anyone can participate at any time. This program is designed to:

Help you accomplish healthy goals each month, with tips to keep you going for the duration
Give you access to information - free workshops are available each month on different healthy topics

Regular exercise and a weight loss program at South Run RECenter proved to be a winning combination in Ray Miles’ quest for fitness.

Jason Jamula is no stranger to fitness rooms. As the starting pitcher for the Moravian College baseball team, it’s important for the Alexandria, Va. native to make fitness a priority year-round.

Two, much-anticipated renovation and expansion projects are well underway and on schedule at Oak Marr RECenter in Oakton and at Spring Hill RECenter in McLean. When they are complete, Fairfax County residents will enjoy updated facilities and more recreational options.

Make the Fairfax County Park Authority Turkey Bowl a part of your Thanksgiving weekend tradition. This new flag football tournament for adult men and adult coed teams provides fun for the whole family.

Stroll the 1930s working farm enjoying live music and a visit to the farm house. Bring the family to Children’s Holiday Shopping at the Country Store; enjoy a wagon ride, warming fire, carolers, and holiday photo opportunities with Santa.

Click a date from the calendar(s) below
to see what's happening on that day.

Weekend Highlights

Kirk W. Kincannon Appointed Park Authority Director

It’s official! The Fairfax County Park Authority has been re-accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). For the second consecutive time, the Park Authority met all 144 performance criteria in CAPRA’s rigorous process of assessment and review, putting it in an elite group of park systems to attain the national standards of excellence.

If you like seasonal light shows, you'll love what the night sky and the Park Authority have to offer Dec. 13 and 14: meteor shower and a comet.

[<a href="http://parktakes.fairfaxcounty.gov/rev1_quickresult.asp?category2=STEW-N&subject=&facility2=&age=9999&day=9999&Submit2=Search" target="_blank">View Classes</a>]

PARK NEWS

Park News

PARK PLANNING NEWS

Park Board Approves Plan for McLean Central Park (11/15/13)
Update: Master Plan Revision for Langley Fork Park (10/23/13)
Turf Field Conversion Project Completed at Lewinsville Park (10/10/13)
CCT Renovations Begin in Pohick Stream Valley (10/10/13)
CCT Improvements in Wakefield Park to Begin (10/3/13)
Update: Westgrove Park Master Plan Approved (10/2/13)
Blackjack Dog Park Construction to Begin at Lenclair (9/18/13)
Canterbury Woods Bridge Replacement Construction to Begin (9/11/13)
Park Planning Division Works on Acquisitions, Site Improvements (9/05/13)
Luria Park Boardwalk Renovations Construction to Begin (9/05/13)
Creating a Comprehensive Park System Master Plan for Tysons (8/21/13)
Developing a Plan for Resident Curator Program to Save Historic Properties (8/01/13)
Park Authority Begins Franconia Park Master Plan Revision (6/19/13)

PARK BLOG

GROUNDBREAKINGS & OPENINGS

Past Events Photo Gallery

December 2013

As an agency charged with protecting natural resources, the Fairfax County Park Authority is always striving to fulfill its mission. Since the Park Authority Board adopted the agency’s energy management policy in 2008, the agency has significantly reduced energy consumption and costs at many of its sites, and more energy conservation projects are on the horizon.

To date, the Park Authority has seen the greatest energy savings through conservation efforts at seven RECenters. Lighting and control upgrades around swimming pools, racquetball courts and gymnasiums significantly reduced energy consumption while improving light levels and light consistency. As a result, gymnasium energy use was reduced by 74 percent, swimming pool energy consumption was reduced by 40 to 70 percent at each site and racquetball court energy use dropped by 65 to 75 percent. In addition, LED lights and sensors installed around RECenter parking lots reduced energy usage by more than 70 percent while significantly improving illumination.

Park Authority lighting projects are not limited to just RECenters. A daylight harvesting control system installed at Frying Pan Farm Park’s activity center regulates the amount of artificial lighting based on the level of available natural light streaming in from windows and skylights. On sunny days the activity center reduces energy consumption from excessive lighting by 80 percent. Parking lot and exterior lights at the farm’s visitor center were also upgraded. Energy-efficient lighting upgrades at Huntley Meadows Park have better illuminated pathways and parking lots and reduced unwanted light pollution, which is one goal of the Park Authority’s Dark Skies wildlife awareness campaign. Light pollution interferes with wildlife migration and sleep cycles.

Other energy-efficient lighting projects include those at Park Authority athletic fields, basketball and tennis courts and other outdoor recreational facilities. Funding has come from capital bonds, the Park Authority revenue fund, the Fairfax County Environment Improvement Program (EIP) and federal grants.

Moving forward, the Park Authority’s plan will continue to rely on careful monitoring and cooperation from all sites. If the past few years are any indication, Park Authority facilities will continue to reduce carbon emissions and see dramatic decreases in energy usage and utility costs for years to come.

Davood Majidian, PE, CEM
Energy Manager, Fairfax County Park Authority