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Chessie Joins Lee District Park Family Recreation Area

Beginning Saturday, June 16 at 3 p.m., Fairfax County will feature another accessible playground, just in time for summer fun! Chessie's BIG Backyard will open to the public as part of the Lee District Family Recreation Area. This Chesapeake Bay-themed playground brings specially-designed, fully-accessible slides, swings and, in the future, a carousel to Lee District Park. The Tiki Village section is the first of three play areas to open.

It’s going to be a great afternoon! The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board and the Park Foundation Board of Directors invite the public to join in the celebration. Stephanie Copeland, the reigning Ms. Wheelchair Virginia, will be on hand at the ribbon cutting as well as Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay. Other local officials and VIPs are on the list of community leaders planning to attend the ceremony.

Lowe’s Charitable Foundation, a project donor, will also provide kid-friendly activities during the event. Store associates from the Alexandria Lowe’s will be on hand to help with the children’s projects and to serve up refreshing popsicles! Lowe’s joins the other notable playground donors including Craig and Belinda Stevens, the Sundial Foundation and the Kelley Syron Sunshine Fund, all helping to make Chessie's BIG Backyard a reality.

Nautical Cove and Treetop Haven, the two other planned play areas, will be constructed as funding becomes available. Funding is being provided through the Fairfax County Park Foundation's Chessie's BIG Backyard campaign, chaired by former Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman.

In addition, the second season of Our Special Harbor, the outdoor sprayground at the Family Recreation Area, begins fulltime this Saturday! It’s free and a great way to keep cool! Remember, aqua shoes must be worn by everyone who enters the spray pad. Limited shoes are available for purchase in a variety of sizes at the park.

Lee District Park is located at 6601 Telegraph Road in Franconia, VA. Due to limited parking, guests are invited to take a shuttle bus from Rose Hill Elementary School located at 6301 Rose Hill Drive in Alexandria, VA. Shuttle bus service will run from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

For more information about the ribbon cutting event, contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662. Find out how you can help support Chessie’s BIG Backyard Capital Campaign, at Fairfax Park Foundation, or call 703-324-8582.