Park Authority

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
703-324-8700 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy.
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
Jai Cole
Executive Director
Fairfax County Park Authority

What We Do

The Park Authority Mission is to enrich quality of life for all members of the community through an enduring park system that provides a healthy environment, preserves natural and cultural heritage, offers inspiring recreational experiences, and promotes healthy lifestyles.

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National Public Lands Day

Volunteer Opportunities Abound on National Public Lands Day
The Fairfax County Park Authority will be hosting a variety of volunteer service opportunities throughout the park system in commemoration of National Public Lands Day on Sept. 23. Join in the fun and in giving back to our parks by protecting and preserving the precious resources we have in our community. For 30 years, National Public Lands Day has been the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. Over the years, volunteer activities have mobilized residents of all ages and abilities to celebrate our collective responsibility to care for the natural, cultural and recreational resources available to our diverse communities through the county’s park system. This year, with the help of many partners and community organizers, the Park Authority is pleased to host volunteer opportunities in every magisterial district. 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. View the National Public Lands Day flyer “Maintaining a world-class park system of that magnitude can only be done with a strong sense of responsibility to be stewards of our environment among the community that we serve,” said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “Our residents love the parks and one of the ways they demonstrate it is through the thousands of hours of service contributed each year toward preserving, restoring and protecting the treasured resources of our parks.” Fairfax County is home to 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, more than 3,700 volunteers contributed more than 111,044 service hours to support a wide variety of service activities from 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 on volunteering in Fairfax County parks, visit the Volunteer webpage. For additional details pertaining to National Public Lands Day, visit the National Public Lands Day webpage; or contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

fall festivals

Top 5 Festivals to 'Fall' in Love with Fairfax County Parks
Celebrate the fall season with Fairfax County Park Authority. As the weather cools and the leaves change color, head outside to enjoy events big and small. Family Fall Festival Saturday, Sept. 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Green Spring Gardens Come enjoy the gardens among friends! This annual festival includes a wide variety of family activities, plant sales, silent auction, music and more! Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Visit the Green Spring Gardens website for more information or call 703-642-5173. View the Family Fall Festival flyer Parktober Fest Saturday, Oct. 7, noon to 5 p.m., at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park The whole family is invited to a celebration at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park that is becoming a community tradition. Join friends to shop local from artists and artisans, makers and bakers. Enjoy delicious food and drink from Ono Brewing Co. and DC Steakholders. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located at 5049 Walney Road, Chantilly. Visit the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park website for more information or call 703-631-0013. Farm Harvest Days and Carnival Oct. 13 - 15, at Frying Pan Farm Park Have fun on the farm and bring the whole family to Frying Pan Farm Park for the Farm Harvest Days and Carnival. Enjoy Big Truck Night on Oct. 13; watch the cider press in action, milk a cow, shell corn, peel apples and play old-fashion games on Oct. 14-15; and enjoy food, games and rides at the carnival all weekend long! Admission is free; carnival ride tickets are available for purchase. Purchase carnival ride tickets Frying Pan Farm Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon. Visit the Frying Pan Farm Park website or call 703-437-9101 for more information. Solar Eclipse Extravaganza Saturday, Oct. 14, at multiple locations Join our experts to view the partial annular solar eclipse. At noon, watch as the moon partially eclipses the sun as they both travel across the sky. A limited number of eclipse viewing glasses and sun spotting scopes will be available to view the eclipse. As we await the eclipse and after it has passed, enjoy various themed games, activities and demonstrations. Partial Solar Eclipse Celebration, noon to 2 p.m., at Burke Lake Park Partial Solar Eclipse Celebration, noon to 2 p.m., at Sully Historic Site Safely See the Partial Eclipse, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Historic Huntley Visit the Astronomy website for more information.  Register for eclipse viewing programs Skate the Wake Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Wakefield Skate Park Enjoy a day filled with skating, music and all-around fun at Skate the Wake. Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and enjoy food, music, vendors, and fun activities. Skateboarders are invited to bring their gear to learn new tricks from the professionals in the Learning Zone and compete in the Best Trick Contest. Visit Skate the Wake webpage for more information. Wakefied Skate Park is located at 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale. For more information, visit the Wakefield Skate Park website. Whatever your event "flavor," the Park Authority has you covered this season!

Rec Center Open House

Explore Park Authority Rec Centers for Free on Sept. 27
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers will be opening their doors to everyone for free. Attend this Open House event to explore the wonderful world of Rec Centers — tour facilities, meet staff and walk away with either a 7-day trial membership or a 30 day for $30 membership. Enjoy free Rec Center admission all day, but visit between 4 and 7 p.m. to participate in special programming and fun events. In addition to a membership booth, Rec Centers will hold fitness demonstrations for specific health and wellness programs, provide snacks and host activities for children, such as arts and crafts and a scavenger hunt. Rec Centers will be offering: Sample classes and demonstrations Giveaways Family-friendly activities and games Membership information And more! Learn more about each Rec Center’s Open House by visiting the Rec Center webpage. Below are the Rec Centers and their addresses: Audrey Moore, 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, 703-321-7081 Cub Run, 4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, 703-817-9407 Franconia, 6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, 703-922-9841 George Washington, 8426 Old Mt. Vernon Road, Alexandria, 703-780-8894 Oak Marr, 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton, 703-281-6501 Providence, 7525 Marc Drive, Falls Church, 703-698-1351 Spring Hill,1239 Spring Hill Road, McLean, 703-827-0989 South Run,7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield, 703-866-0566 For specific details about what to expect at the open house, please contact each center directly. View the Rec Center Open House flyer In addition, purchase or renew annual membership to access the Park Authority’s entire network of Rec Centers by Sept. 30 to receive a 15% discount. Purchase today at the Parks passes webpage. 

North Hill Park Opening

Park Authority Celebrates Official Opening of North Hill Park
On Saturday, Sept. 16, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck joined with the Fairfax County Park Authority in celebrating the official opening of the 12-acre North Hill Park. The opening marks a significant milestone in the transformation of North Hill from an underutilized parcel to a vibrant residential community. “From the very beginning, North Hill Park has been a critical component of what was envisioned for this community as a space that ties the surrounding neighborhoods together and adds to the quality of life enjoyed by all,” said Park Authority Deputy Director Sara Baldwin. “We all need space to recreate, exercise and recharge within our communities; and North Hill Park offers so many ways for residents to find physical, social and emotional well-being within just a few minutes’ walk from their homes.” “I remember riding through this area as a boy, and when it closed, there was this promise that was coming of more affordable housing and we’ve certainly done that,” added Chairman McKay. “Not only have we built high-quality affordable housing, but with this park, we’ve connected several surrounding neighborhoods with a space for all residents to recreate in a safe way in a public park that is accessible to all.” North Hill’s hilly topography made for quite a challenge in constructing an accessible and complete park experience, but in the end, the result proved worth the effort. The park incorporates a variety of community amenities, including a large community playground, outdoor fitness area, basketball and pickleball courts and a large open lawn and pavilion. All are connected by a winding trail system perfect for walking, jogging and biking. “Residents are already making great use of the trails and amenities and have really embraced it as an important feature within the community by giving of their time to take care of it,” said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck. “The path, park and amenities provide much needed open space for residents of North Hill, Cherry Arms, Dart Drive and other communities to connect and come together.” See a video of the ribbon-cutting below. To see more photos of the official opening, visit the Park Authority's Flickr page. The park was initially opened for public use earlier this summer. The total project cost was $3 million, with funding provided by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Redevelopment and Housing Authority. North Hill Park is located at 7900 Nightingale Hill Lane in Alexandria. For more information, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Franconia Park Courts

Franconia Park Court Resurfacing, Improvements To Begin Early October
The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work to resurface the racquet and basketball courts at Franconia Park. The contactor, ATC Corp, is expected to start construction on or about Wednesday, Oct. 4 and is estimated to run through mid-November, weather permitting. The project will include the removal and replacement of asphalt surfaces, goals, fencing and related court amenities. The project will also include the conversion of one of the existing tennis courts to four permanent pickleball courts and a second tennis court dually lined for use as a tennis court or two pickleball courts. These added pickleball courts are among several courts under development or recently completed, which were outlined in the 2020 Comprehensive Pickleball Study. The courts will be closed for the duration of the project. During the closure, guests are invited to utilize the new online Park Amenity Locator to identify alternate courts to use during this temporary closure. To access this resource, visit the Park Amenity Locator website. The project will cost approximately $473,413. Franconia Park is located at 6601 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. For more information about the project, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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