Groundbreaking ceremonies were held this past Sunday at Spring Hill Park in McLean. Officials from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Authority and McLean Youth Soccer (MYS) joined with players and coaches to celebrate the conversion of two existing athletic fields to synthetic turf.

Rectangular fields #2 and #3 will be converted from grass, a change that will increase field capacity and provide an improved playing surface. This $1.8 million project is funded by McLean Youth Soccer. Project completion is anticipated in October 2008.

Pictured from left to right are MYS players, Park Authority Director John W. Dargle, Jr.; Lance Hackett, Director of Field Development, MYS; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly; Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust; Athletic Council Member for Dranesville Michael Champness; another player, Deb Garris, Manager, Synthetic Turf Program, Park Authority and Mason District Representative Frank Vajda, Fairfax County Park Authority Board.

Providence District's Nottoway Park will be home to the first synthetic turf diamond field in Fairfax County. Players, coaches, elected officials, representatives of youth sports and the Park Authority gathered this weekend for ribbon cutting ceremonies. The Stephen Paul Black Field in Vienna will be converted to turf in a project funded by the 2006 park bond as well as development proffers from the Providence District. Project completion is anticipated this September.

Pictured (from left to right) with players in the Vienna Little League are U.S. Navy Captain Don Black (Retired); Providence District Park Authority Board Member Ken Quincy; Acting Park Authority Director Tim White; Mark Meana, Chairman, Fairfax County Athletic Council; Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly; Park Authority Board Chairman Hal Strickland; Frank Blackstone, Vienna Little League; Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, Park Authority Director John Dargle Jr.; and At Large Member of the Park Authority Board George Lovelace.

Last March skies were grey and winds blew cold, but this past weekend the skies were clear and sunny as celebrants gathered to cut the ribbon on the newly converted synthetic turf field at Braddock Park in Clifton. Players, coaches, officials and Park officials were in high spirits even as temperatures climbed into the high 80's. The field will provide much needed capacity for Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) sports programs as well as general community use. Funding for the $850,000 project was provided by the Department of Community and Recreation Services, the Fairfax County Athletic Council, the Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Pictured with SYA players (from left to right) are Park Authority Board Member Frank Vajda; SYA President Gary Flathers; Acting Park Authority Director Tim White; Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova; Soccer Commissioner Jeff Stein; Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity; Athletic Council Chairman Mark Meana; Pat Franckewitz, Director, Department of Community and Recreation Services; Chairman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Ralph Wills, Athletic Council; Park Authority Board Chairman Hal Strickland; Braddock District Park Authority Board Members Winnie Shapiro; Lee District Park Authority Board Member Edward Batten; Springfield District Park Authority Board Member Harold Pyon; At Large Member of the Park Authority Board George Lovelace and Park Authority Director John Dargle, Jr.

The Fairfax County Park Authority named a portion of Lake Royal and its surrounds in honor of John McAnaw, a citizen steward who is well-known for his efforts to improve lakeside trails, protect natural resources and educate neighbors about the importance of caring for natural resources. The 46-acre lakefront park is located near Gainsborough Drive in Fairfax and offers fitness trails, hiking, picnic areas, as well as lovely views. Pictured from left to right are At-Large Representative Marie Reinsdorf, Fairfax County Park Authority Board; Braddock District Representative Winnie Shapiro, Fairfax County Park Authority Board; President Anthony Vellucci, Kings Park West Civic Association; Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova; John McAnaw; and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly.

Construction at Ox Hill Battlefield Park on West Ox Road in Fairfax will be getting underway as the Fairfax County Park Authority begins a $700,000 project to construct new trails, historic kiosks and signage as well as landscape restoration and parking improvements. The improvements will help to interpret the park, the site of a memorable Civil War era battle in Fairfax County that took place in a driving rainstorm and resulted in the lose of two Union Generals and thousands of casualties. Recent groundbreaking ceremonies, held in the rain brought out (from left to right) Chairman Hal Strickland, Fairfax County Park Authority Board; Branch Manager Michael Rierson, Fairfax County Park Authority; Acting Director Tim White, Fairfax County Park Authority; Edward Wenzel, Trustee, Kearny and Stevens Monuments Trust; Chairman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Former Park Authority Board Member Ken Feng; Cricket Bauer Pohanka, Trustee, Kearny and Stevens Monuments Trust; and George Rogers, Southern Asphalt, Inc.

Youth sports enthusiasts joined local officials and dignitaries for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of a turf field conversion project at Bryant Alternative High School (AHS). Pictured (from left to right) are George Graves, Bucknell Youth Football Commissioner; Chairman Hal Strickland, Fairfax County Park Authority Board; Rick Hubbard, Bryant Alternative High School (AHS) physical education instructor; Assistant Principal Hector Mujica, Bryant AHS; Jonathan Willmott, Mt. Vernon Representative, Fairfax County Athletic Council; Mt. Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Chairman Daniel Storck, Fairfax County School Board; John Stamos, Ft. Hunt Youth Athletic Association; Brian Robertson, Top Football; Branch Manager Deb Garris, Fairfax County Park Authority; and David Zatt, Gunston Soccer Club.

This joint project supported by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County School Board was funded by the 2006 Park Authority Bond program. The new lights were funded by the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services. Converting rectangular fields to synthetic turf surfaces is part of a countywide effort to increase the number of fields and playing capacity.

Local youth football and soccer players and coaches joined Fairfax County Park Authority officials and county dignitaries for a groundbreaking ceremony at Franconia District Park. Construction was slated to begin on a new synthetic turf field conversion project, a countywide effort aimed at reducing the shortage of rectangular fields in the community. Pictured (from left to right) are David Fletcher, Lee Franconia Football; Acting Director Tim White, Fairfax County Park Authority; Hunter Mill District Representative Bill Bouie, Fairfax County Park Authority Board; Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Chairman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Lee District Representative Ed Batten, Park Authority Board; and Lula Bauer, Director, Lee Mt. Vernon Soccer Club.

This $1 million project is part of ongoing efforts by Fairfax County to meet the growing need for rectangular multi-use fields. Project funding is provided in part by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Community and Recreation Services and the Park Authority.

Even a parking lot can be beautiful when the parking lot is a low impact development project that protects the watershed and emulates nature. Local officials, children and other participants in last Saturday's Children's Day activities gathered at Hidden Oaks Nature Center to cut the ribbon. Performers joined (from left to right) Area Manager Richard Maple, Acting Park Authority Director Tim White, Hidden Oaks Manager Michael McDonnell, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, Park Authority Board Member Frank Vajda, Planning Division Director David Bowden, Resource Management Division Director Cindy Walsh, Eagle Scout Bruce Ayliff, Scott Birdwell, President of the Friends of Hidden Oaks and area children in the celebration.

LID is an innovative storm water management approach with a basic principal that is modeled after nature: manage rainfall at the source using uniformly distributed, decentralized microscale controls. LID's goal is to mimic a site's predevelopment hydrology by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate and detail runoff close to its source.

Officials and players gathered Saturday, April 12 to officially open the new synthetic turf field at Hutchison Elementary School in Herndon. The ribbon cutting drew players and cheerleaders as well as Dranesville Supervisor John Foust pictured in the center. To his left are School Board Members Janie Strauss, Park Authority Board Member Kevin Fay, Park Authority Acting Director Tim White, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, Park Authority Board Chairman Hal Strickland, Jerry Carter, President of the Herndon Optimist Youth Sports, Bill Bouie, Vice Chairman of the Park Authority Board, Davie Bekenstein, President of Herndon Youth Soccer and Eric Brunner, Project Manager for the Park Authority.

The property is owned by the Fairfax County Public Schools and the Park Authority has an interim use agreement for the field. The $2.7 million project completes the second phase of improvements at this site. For more information call the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662.

March winds blew fiercely but that did not deter those who braved the cold to break ground on the latest synthetic turf field conversion project in Fairfax County last Saturday. The $850,000 project is part of the ongoing efforts by Fairfax County to meet the growing need for rectangular fields and to address the current field shortage. Project funding and support has been provided by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Community and Recreation Services, the Athletic Council and the Fairfax County Park Authority. The field will open in June.

Pictured in the front are youngsters from Southwestern Youth Association who will be among the many to use this field. Behind them (left to right) are Park Authority Board Member at large George Lovelace, Jenifer Beausoliel, Athletic Council Member, Chairman of the Athletic Council Mark Meana, Deb Garris, Manager, Synthetic Turf Projects, Park Authority, Chairman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, Harold Pyon, Park Authority Board, Eric Brunner, Park Planning Division, Director Pat Frankewitz, Department of Community and Recreation Services, Acting Director Tim White, Park Authority, Gary Flather, President SYA and an unidentified coach.

Patriot Park, located adjacent to the Mott Community Center at the intersection of Braddock Road and the Fairfax County Parkway, was opened on Saturday, November 3, 2007 by the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). Officials, players and members of the community gathered to mark the occasion with a ribbon cutting as well as to name the new field in honor of retiring Springfield District Supervisor Elaine McConnell.

Patriot Park West, as the first phase is called, is a $3.8 million project that features a new lighted, multi-sport, multi-use synthetic turf field -- the largest field in the county measuring 420 feet by 230 feet. Unveiling a replica of the field sign are (left to right, center) Frank Vajda, vice chairman, Fairfax County Park Authority Board, Georgette Kohler, at-large Member, Park Authority Board; Ken Feng, Springfield District Representative for the Park Authority Board, Supervisor Elaine McConnell, Eric Brunner Project Manager, FCPA; Pete Murphy, chairman, Fairfax County Planning Commission; Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Gerry Connolly, Ed Batten, Lee District Representative, Park Authority Board and Bill Bouie, Secretary/Treasurer, Park Authority Board.

There was football, as well as soccer under the lights as officials and players gathered recently to mark the opening of two synthetic turf fields at Lake Fairfax Park in Herndon, VA. This $2 million dollar bond project is part of the countywide effort to address a rectangular field shortage of approximately 90 fields.

Players, coaches, and parents are pictured, as well as several officials in the center including Stuart Gibson of the Fairfax County Public Schools, Bill Bouie, Secretary/Treasurer, Fairfax County Park Authority Board, Hunter’s Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, Park Authority Board Chairman Hal Strickland and Vice Chairman Frank Vajda.

Baseballs were in the air as players and officials joined together for the opening of Dulles Corner Field in Herndon, VA on Saturday, November 3, 2007. This state-of-the-art project features a lighted, irrigated, 90-foot diamond field and associated parking area. The field was proferred by the Bethesda, MD-based firm Fairfield Development which provided this new recreational amenity to offset the impact of new residential development on the community.

Pictured in the center is Hunter’s Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins standing next to Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Gerry Connolly. Others in the photo are members and staff of the Fairfax County Park Authority, members of the development team, players and other interested members of the community. The first symbolic pitch was thrown by more than 30 participants.

An enthusiastic crowd gathered for ribbon cutting ceremonies at Giles Run Meadow Park in Laurel Hill on Saturday, October 20, 2007. The event marked the opening of a 153-acre recreational area, open space and new amenities at the southern end of the sprawling 1,200-acre Laurel Hill Park complex in Lorton, VA. Pictured in the center is Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland. To his right are Park Authority Acting Director Tim White, Park Board Chairman Hal Strickland, Board Member Winnie Shapiro, Chairman Gerry Connolly, and Park Authority Board Members Georgette Kohler and Ken Feng. Others in the picture include Park Authority Board Vice Chairman Frank Vajda, members of the project team as well as park users.

This area has not been accessible to the public for more than 100 years. Site improvements include the completion of a pedestrian and mountain biking trail, improvements to the Laurel Hill Greenway/Cross County Trail; renovations/stabilization at the historic Barrett House; a new disc golf course; picnic areas; a small play areas; a pond side trail and platform; installation of more than 2000 feet of fencing and parking lot improvements; installation of interpretive signage, as well as improvements to this historic barrel bridge and invasive exotic plant removal.

Local officials, members of the Park Authority Board and field users gathered last weekend to celebrate the completion of the latest synthetic turf field conversion project, this one at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Mount Vernon District. The project was completed in approximately three months at a cost of $735,000. Synthetic turf fields increase field capacity as well as providing limitless play time in all weather.

Attending the festivities were (left to right) community families, Jay McConville, President Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association, Project Manager Deb Garris, Acting Park Authority Director Tim White, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly, Mark Meana, Chairman of the Athletic Council, Hal Strickland, Chairman of the Park Authority Board, Keither Carney, Fort Hunt Youth, School Board Member Ilryong Moon, Gilbert McCutcheon, Mount Vernon District Representative on the Park Authority Board, Dan Storck, Chairman of the School Board, Frank Vajda, Vice Chairman of the Park Authority Board, School Principal Wendy Eaton and other members of the community.

Several dozen members of the Springfield community came out for ribbon cutting ceremonies recently held at Danbury Forest in Lake Accotink Stream Valley. The ceremony marked the completion of a new trail section and pedestrian bridge that makes a once steep, perilous trip into the park, a safer, more aesthetically attractive trek into the woods. Project improvements included construction of an asphalt trail with a boardwalk, a pedestrian bridge, and related site improvements at a cost $312, 600. The project was funded by the 2004 Park Bond.

Marking the occasion were (from left to right) John Kormos, project manager for the Park Authority, Julie Tahan, assistant manager at Lake Accotink Park, Mike Salehi from Cube Construction Company, Winnie Shapiro, Braddock District rep on the Park Authority; Tessie Wilson, Braddock District rep, Fairfax County School Board; Supervisor Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Virginia Delegate Vivian Watts, 39th District; Chairman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Steve Woodbury, a neighbor and trail commuter and Acting Park Authority Director Tim White.

Schoolchildren from Siena Academy, the parish school of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Great Falls, VA gather around Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly and British artist Tony Moss, and Dranesville District Supervisor Joan Dubois at the recent unveiling and dedication of a unique sundial. This sundial, designed and donated by the artist to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown settlement, is the first of several sundials to grace the newly established International Sundial Garden located in Observatory Park at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls. The park is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Pictured behind Chairman Connolly and Moss (from the left) are Acting Park Authority Director Tim White, Park Authority Board Member Kevin Fay, members of the North American Sundial Society as well as representatives from Mclean and Great Falls Celebrate Virginia.