The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce that the commencement for National Public Lands Day has been scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Ossian Hall Park located at 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale.
Join Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, members of the Park Authority Board and community volunteers as we begin a day dedicated to service and stewardship of our public lands. Following opening remarks, volunteers will be helping with a park cleanup service activity.
For 30 years, National Public Lands Day has been the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort to preserve, restore, improve and enjoy America’s public lands. This year the Park Authority, with the help of many community organizers and partners, is hosting nearly 30 volunteer service activities at parks within every magisterial district in Fairfax County. A variety of service activities are available, including mulching, gardening, invasive species removal, and trash cleanups along trails, waterways, parks, rec centers and golf courses. For a complete listing of volunteer opportunities, please visit the National Public Lands Day webpage.
Ossian Hall Park’s 22.75 acres contain a mix of recreational opportunities that include two diamond fields, a multi-use rectangular field, two full-size basketball courts, playground, paved trails and an amphitheater. The park also hosts the Spotlight by Starlight’s international-themed concerts, part of the Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series sponsored in partnership with Supervisor Gross.
The Fairfax County Park Authority manages 420 parks, more than 334 miles of trails, nature centers, rec centers, golf courses, and athletic fields across more than 23,000 acres of public land and open space throughout Fairfax County. In fiscal year 2023, 9,645 volunteers contributed more than 111,782 service hours to support a wide variety of service activities from park cleanups and plantings to supporting events and programs within the park system. The service hour contribution equates to a financial investment of approximately $3.6 million in in-kind support for the park system.
For more information about this opening event, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.