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Spooktacular Halloween Fun in Fairfax County Parks!

Get ready for a spooky, fun-filled Halloween season in Fairfax County parks! The Park Authority is presenting a fantastic lineup of Halloween programs and events are designed to delight all ages. Whether you’re looking for ghostly mini golf, tricks and treats or family-friendly ways to show off your favorite costume, we have events planned for all ghosts and goblins! Goblin Golf Burke Lake Park; Oct. 5-6, 12-13-19-20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grab your Halloween costume (not required) and join us at Burke Lake Park for Halloween-themed mini golf, treats and spooky fun! Cost is $10 per person. Farm Harvest Festival -- Big Trucks, Carnival Rides and Fall Fun! Frying Pan Farm Park; Oct. 18 – 20 Join us at Frying Pan Farm Park for the Farm Harvest Festival, featuring Big Truck Night, carnival rides, games and tasty fair food! Enjoy unlimited ride specials on Friday night or Sunday for $25, or grab individual tickets on Saturday for even more fall fun. Parking is just $10 per day, so bring the family and celebrate the season with us! Halloween on the Farm Frying Pan Farm Park; Oct. 25, from 5-7:30 p.m. Trick-or-treat at Halloween on the Farm! Enjoy trick-or-treating on the farm, visit with farm animals, make spooky crafts, play Halloween game and take a tour of the decorated farmhouse. Cost is $10 per person. Haunted Mini Golf Oakmont Rec Center; Oct. 25 and 26, from 4-9 p.m. All werewolves, vampires and goblins (and their families) are invited for a fun night of mini golf. Trick-or-treat and win various goodies at Oakmont Mini Golf. Enjoy food trucks, face painting, popcorn and games. Come dressed in your best costume! Cost is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Ghost Town Burke Lake Park; Oct. 26 and 27, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Get ready for a full day of fun at Burke Lake Park’s Ghost Town! Enjoy themed activities, a train ride, carousel, crafts, mini golf and a bounce house—all with no scares, just treats. Join the fun and make it a Halloween to remember! Cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Family Skate Night - Halloween Costume Skate and Dance Night Franconia Rec Center; Oct. 26, from 6 – 10 p.m. Wear your favorite Halloween costume. Party to the sounds of our DJ while showing your costume. Ghouls and Goblins be aware. Cost is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Halloween Bash South Run Rec Center; Oct. 26, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Hustle down to the South Run Rec Center to join in some Halloween fitness fun featuring the Monter Mash 5K Dash, Halloween Fun Run 1-Mile, and Spooktacular Tiny Tot Trot with moon bounce and obstacle course for ages 2-4. Cost varies by event.

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Park Authority Seeks Input in Evaluating Resident Curator Application for Historic Ash Grove House

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin evaluating an application for curatorship of the historic Ash Grove house located in the Hunter Mill District at 8881 Ashgrove House Lane, Vienna. The evaluation will include multiple livestreamed work sessions, a public meeting and a public comment period to receive public input and questions for consideration of the applicant. Details pertaining to the proposed curator application and opportunities for submitting public comments are now available online at https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/ash-grove. Public comments will be accepted online and via mail starting Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. The Park Authority will also host an in-person public meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 at the Patrick Henry Library (101 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). The meeting will include an overview of the Resident Curator Program, the curator application for the Ash Grove house and an opportunity for community members to ask questions. The Evaluation Team will convene at its initial work session on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/ash-grove, and a recording will be made available following the meeting. Subsequent sessions have been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 (as needed) and Tuesday, Nov. 19. While the work sessions will be viewable by the public, they will not include a public comment period. Ash Grove is one of the few standing 18th-century Virginia houses and was built by the Fairfax family. Thomas Fairfax built the original portion of the house in 1790, and the family inhabited the house until 1847. The house sits on approximately one acre of land between the densely wooded Old Courthouse Spring Branch stream valley and the Westwood Village townhouse subdivision. The property’s grounds have several historic structures, including the house and restored 18th-century brick kitchen, and smokehouse. The Resident Curator Program offers long-term lease agreements to qualified tenants in beautiful public park settings. The curator leases are without charge in exchange for financial commitment and approved rehabilitation of the Park Authority’s underutilized historic properties. Learn more at by visiting the Resident Curator Program website. For additional questions, contact Stephanie Langton, manager of the Resident Curator Program, at 703-324-8791.

Mastenbrook Grant Approved for Field Fencing at Lake Fairfax Park

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved matching funds in the total amount of $20,000 to support the installation of fencing at fields 1 and 4 at Lake Fairfax Park. The fencing will assist with containing balls within the field of play and will achieve the Park Authority’s preferred standard for athletic field fencing where needed. The applicant, Great Falls Reston Soccer Club (GFRSC), has committed to providing the majority of funding needed for the fencing project. The project budget totals $66,024 with GFRSC contributing $46,024 toward the improvement. The project will be undertaken by an approved county contractor and managed by the GFRSC. Weather pending, the project is scheduled to be completed this fall. The Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program encourages public-private ventures that improve Fairfax County parks and park facilities. It is designed to fill a gap between limited bond funding and the community’s desire for new or improved park facilities by assisting volunteers, community and user groups in improving park facilities by matching funds and in-kind services. Since 1999, the program has awarded approximately $2.2 million in grants for projects valued at more than $16.5 million. Grants ranging from a few hundred dollars to the maximum of $20,000 have funded such projects as trail improvements, construction of gazebos and shelters and athletic field improvements. To learn more about the Mastenbrook Matching Funds Grant Program and to submit an application, visit the Mastenbrook Grants website.

Woodlands Stewardship Education Center Honored for Design Excellence

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s new Woodlands Stewardship Education Center was announced as a recipient of the 2024 James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards administered by the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development. The facility was recognized as an exemplary model of environmentally sensitive design that creates a seamless connection between built and natural environments. Designed to wow adults and children alike, this interpretive facility demonstrates principles of environmental stewardship that make a world of difference in the way we interact with and affect our natural environment. From the use of reclaimed construction materials and sustainable energy and water sources to interactive learning activities and natural observation spaces, the center provides an incredible teaching platform for demonstrating technologies and processes that can reshape our individual relationship with the environment around us. The building was designed to meet the rigorous standards of the Living Building Challenge – an achievement attained by only a small number of projects worldwide. These standards require meticulous attention to the development of a project in seven performance categories including Place, Water, Energy, Health and Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Every aspect of the project involved intentional decision-making to preserve and protect the natural environment and provide a unique user experience for all who visit. The Park Authority will be eligible to apply for LBC certification after one full year of operation. "Surgically and sensitively inserted into its setting," wrote the jury panel in its citation, "the center provides an inspiring and educational experience that harmonizes with nature earning it top honors for its design excellence." The Woodlands Stewardship Education Center is located within Ellanor C. Lawrence Park at 5301 Walney Road in Chantilly. For more information about the facility, visit the Woodlands Stewardship Education Center website.

Community Comes Together To Celebrate, Preserve Parkland

Dozens of community volunteers came together to celebrate National Public Lands Day in the parks by helping clean up trash, remove invasive plants, clear trails and assist with landscape projects to beautify parks in every district of the county. Volunteers logged more than 200 hours of service dedicated to preserving and beautifying Fairfax County parkland. Since 1994, National Public Lands Day has mobilized volunteers of all ages to engage in a celebration of service and stewardship of America’s public lands. The event is the largest single-day national volunteer effort to preserve, restore, improve and enjoy the nation’s public lands and open spaces. “The Fairfax County Park Authority stewards more than 23,000 acres of parkland and 334 miles of trails throughout the county and we cannot understate the impact that we see across our park system as a result of our community volunteers,” said Jai Cole, executive director of the Fairfax County Park Authority at a commemoration event at Franconia Rec Center. “Just last year, the Park Authority had 9,727 volunteers contribute 110,777 hours of volunteer service in our parks – that’s more than 12 years’ worth of service.” Participation at this year’s National Public Lands Day events demonstrated that Fairfax County residents love their parks. With the growth and development across the country and in Fairfax County, communities are turning to public parks and open spaces to be centers of recreation, social engagement, the arts, and for connectivity to nature and local history. The Park Authority expresses its gratitude to those who joined us on National Public Lands Day and to the thousands of volunteers who contribute their time, talents and energy in service to our park system. Their efforts have a tremendous impact on the experience enjoyed by the more than 18 million people who visit parks each year. See the 2024 National Public Lands Day Photo Album

Adapted Recreation programs ensure fun for everyone.

Buddy up for learning and fun in Park Authority swim classes.

Fun, friends and adventures await in Park Authority camps!

Little ones learn best through play in programs tailored to their interests.

From the classics to modern moves, Park Authority dance classes are always in style.

From equestrian lessons to old-fashioned fun, there's something for everyone at Frying Pan Farm Park.

Park Authority events are entertaining, educational and fun!

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or have limited mobility, there's a fitness option for you in Park Authority exercise classes.

Spark your creativity in Park Authority fine arts and crafts classes.

Cultivate your love of nature with Park Authority gardening classes.

Enjoy comprehensive classes and practice facilities year-round at Park Authority golf courses.

Yesterday’s innovation is still full of fascination at Park Authority historic sites.

Learn to glide, swizzle and stop like a pro in ice skating classes.

Learn self-defense and build confidence in Park Authority martial arts classes.

Explore the great outdoors in Park Authority nature classes.

Whether you take a hike, cast a line or guide a boat, nature's perspective always changes in outdoor recreation classes.

Retire your air guitar and learn to make some real music in performing arts classes.

Your canine companion can bone up on everything from agility to obedience in Park Authority classes.

Explore new places and ideas in Park Authority merit badge programs.

Team up for fun and learn a new sport.

Budding engineers and computer programmers have fun learning in Park Authority technology classes.

Learn strategic games, investigate your family history, brush up on social graces and more!

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