Park Authority

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work to revert the existing racquet courts at Kendale Woods Park to tennis-only courts. The move comes in response to concerns raised by the surrounding community pertaining to noise and as the site does not meet the court guidelines established with national best practices established with the Fairfax County Pickleball Study Report issued in December 2021.

The popularity of pickleball has grown significantly in recent years. The Park Authority has taken an aggressive approach in recent years to adding both courts dedicated solely for pickleball and dual-lined courts for tennis and pickleball in an effort to create more opportunities for athletes to play. The Park Authority currently maintains 84 pickleball facilities countywide, 16 of which have dedicated pickleball courts.

The dual-lined courts at Kendale Woods Park were installed prior to the completion of the Pickleball Study, which outlined several criteria for the placement of courts within residential areas – including proximity guidelines to mitigate noise intrusion for surrounding residences and parking availability. FCPA has determined that Kendale Woods Park does not meet the preferred criteria in either of these areas.

Beginning in early June, the Park Authority will begin the process of repainting and striping the court for tennis only. Work is expected to commence on Monday, June 3, with anticipated completion on Monday, June 17, weather permitting.

The Park Authority remains committed to providing diverse recreational opportunities for residents of all ages and interests. The process of identifying alternative locations to install new pickleball courts in place of those at Kendale Woods Park has begun. Until a new location can be identified, there are alternative locations for pickleball play located nearby at Annandale Park and Roundtree Park. Additional pickleball courts can be identified using the Park Amenity Locator tool.

For more information about pickleball in Fairfax County, visit the Pickleball website.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Washington Capitals will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Capitals Try Ball Hockey for Free clinic in honor of the completion of a Capitals outdoor ball/inline hockey rink at Lake Fairfax Park in Fairfax. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and rink dedication will begin at 10 a.m. and include remarks by representatives with the Washington Capitals, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Park Authority Board.

The Capitals will host a Try Ball Hockey for Free clinic following the ceremony at 11 a.m. The clinic will feature stations on stickhandling, passing, shooting and small games. The Try Ball Hockey for Free program provides free access to the sport for children and families across the region, who have never participated in the game before. Skates, gear and previous hockey experience are not required for this free event, but registration is required as spaces are limited. 

Register for Ball Hockey Clinic

When: Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to noon.
Where: Capitals Outdoor Ball/Inline Hockey Rink at Lake Fairfax Park
1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston, VA 20190
The skate rink is located adjacent to the campground, athletic fields and the skate park.

The inline skate rink at Lake Fairfax Park boasts an 85-foot-by-185-foot rink with player boxes, penalty boxes, hockey goals and bleachers. The rink, constructed with sport floor tiles on an asphalt pad, is ideal for roller hockey and skating, with easy maintenance and modular tile replacement.

With ample lighting, the inline skate rink is great for daytime or evening events. The rink will be open from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and is available for general use when not reserved. For more information about the rink, visit the Lake Fairfax Park Skate Park webpage and select the “Inline Skate Rink” tab.

Media interested in attending are asked to contact Megan Eichenberg in the Capitals communications department at meichenberg@washcaps.com and Benjamin Boxer in the Fairfax County Park Authority communications department at benjamin.boxer@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Capitals are committed to providing access to hockey across the region and to date have refurbished or built 14 rinks across Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and West Virginia.

To further encourage the growth of the game, the Capitals Youth Hockey Development staff holds clinics in conjunction with the refurbishment of each rink. A complete list of rinks can be found on the team’s Street Rinks website.

The Capitals also offer a robust lineup of on- and off-ice youth hockey programming, including a Future Caps Learn to Play program, Hockey Schools, Try Ball Hockey for Free and more. For additional information, visit the Capitals’ Youth Development website.

Are you looking for the perfect summer activities to keep your children busy? Don’t miss out on a world of adventure with the Fairfax County Park Authority’s wide range of summer camps. Whether they’re interested in sports, the arts, cooking, nature, animals, games, science, technology, engineering or business, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Park Authority summer camps.

FCPA offers award-winning camps that help youth develop their talents and discover new skills. Explore the numerous opportunities to secure your child’s spot that’s sure to provide them with memories they can look back on fondly for many years to come.

Previous camp participants shared rave reviews about FCPA’s summer camps:

• "My kids absolutely love this camp. They came home excited to share what they did."
• "The variety of the activities was wonderful. The counselors were very engaging, kind and communicative. We really enjoyed this camp."
• "I loved that my daughter got to meet the animals, engage with friends and be in a structured environment this summer."

Don’t wait to seize the opportunity to create your own memorable experience this summer and register today. Space is available and we have a variety of resources and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right camp for your child.

• Download the Camp Spreadsheet to sort camps by age, week, type of camp and location.
• Browse offerings by keyword and location — Camp Search tool to browse.
• Explore the 2024 Camp Guide.

Learn more by visiting the Camps website. For assistance, please email camps@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Join a community on wheels at Franconia Rec Center’s Family Skate and Dance Nights! Break out the quad skates, inline skates or dancing shoes (bring your own skates/footwear) and enjoy a fun atmosphere filled with friends, food, music and fun with themed skate nights coming up throughout the summer. Each of the following events are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franconia Rec Center:

• May 4: May the Fourth Be With You (Star Wars-themed)
• May 18: One-Year Anniversary
• June 15: Juneteenth Celebration
• July 20: Hawaiian Luau and Caribbean Night
• Aug. 17: Back To School Flashback to the 90s and 00s
• Nov. 16: Franconia Hold ‘Em Skate and Dance Night (Country Night)
• Dec. 21: Holiday and Ugly Sweater Skate and Dance Night

Tickets cost $10 for everyone (skaters, dancers, spectators and chaperones) and may be purchased online in advance, or at the door for $15. Pizza, snacks and drinks are available for purchase.

Patrons can find Skate and Dance Night parking in the lower parking lot by driving past the front of the Rec Center and parking in the lot to the right. Enter the event by the gym doors located near to the parking lot.

Register for Family Skate Night

Franconia Rec Center is located at 6601 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. Visit the Franconia Rec Center website for more information.

Love skate nights? Book the Franconia Rec Center gym for a private party and make it your very own skate night. Call 703-922-9841 to inquire.

Are you looking to enhance your physical activity, improve your health and connect with the Park Authority’s fitness community this summer? Get started today by opening or renewing your Rec Center Membership and save 15% on the membership fee. There are no initiation fees or annual dues. Memberships can be purchased in person at any of the Rec Centers or on the Rec Center membership website.

Rec Center memberships offer access to the Park Authority’s entire network of Rec Centers with a variety of amenities, including fitness rooms; pools, saunas and spas; gyms, courts and tracks; and drop-in exercise classes.

Give us a try on FREE Admission Day!

Are you interested in a Park Authority Rec Center membership but want to learn more before buying in? Everyone is invited to stop by the Open House event on Wednesday, May 22. Rec Centers will offer free admission all day and special open house programming from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Find your nearest Rec Center and learn about their open house plans by visiting the Rec Center website.

View the membership sale flyer

The Fairfax County Park Authority will join with ServiceSource, a national nonprofit organization serving individuals with disabilities, to host a ribbon cutting at the Ellmore Farmhouse located at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. The event will mark the completion of renovations to the historic site and the opening of a ServiceSource Long-Term Community Integration Services (LTCIS) program for adults with disabilities.  

ServiceSource was awarded a sublease in February 2022 to restore and convert the Ellmore Farmhouse through the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Resident Curator Program. The farmhouse will provide opportunities for participants in ServiceSource’s LTCIS program to tend a garden, interact with farm animals, serve as guides for tours of the historic house and participate in a variety of other therapeutic and recreational activities. In addition, the Blossom Café and Bloom Gift Shop located in the building will provide opportunities for employment.

The Fairfax County Resident Curator Program allows the county to address underutilized publicly owned historic properties by entering into long-term leases with qualified tenants who agree to rehabilitate the property per the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and provide ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the property for the duration of the contract. For more information about the Resident Curator Program, visit the Resident Curator Program website. 

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About ServiceSource: ServiceSource is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to build more inclusive communities by facilitating services, resources, and partnerships to support people with disabilities and others we serve, along with their families, caregivers, and community members. The ServiceSource organization is made up of five regional affiliates with programs and operations in more than 10 states and the District of Columbia. ServiceSource Virginia is headquartered in Oakton, VA. To learn more about ServiceSource, visit the ServiceSource website. 
 

There is no better way to celebrate Wetlands Awareness Day than by visiting the Fairfax County Park Authority’s premier wetland sanctuary at Huntley Meadows Park on Sunday, May 5, from 12-4 p.m. Come explore the wonders of the park including a nationally significant historic house, majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and a vast wetland bursting with all forms of life. There is no cost for admission.

Some of the best wildlife watching in the Washington metropolitan area is here. Bring your friends and family to stroll the forested paths and immersive boardwalk trails. Appreciate the plants and animals that live in the park and find out why they play an important role at the park. This exciting event will feature live raptors, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy an up-close view of our creatures and interactive displays and activities. 

On-site parking is limited. Shuttle rides are available from nearby Groveton Elementary School, 6900 Harrison Ln., Alexandria. Shuttles run every 30 minutes with the last shuttle ride to Huntley Meadows Park at 3:30 p.m. The last return shuttle ride to Groveton Elementary School is at 4:15 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.

To register for this free event, visit Wetlands Awareness Day. Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. For more information visit Huntley Meadows.
 

As the flowers bloom and the birds sing, the Fairfax County Park Authority is delighted to announce the launch of the Verses in Bloom Series, a celebration of poetry in our parks. Teaming up with ArtsFairfax and the Fairfax Poet Laureate, we invite you to join us in several enchanting experiences through the power of language and verse presented by distinguished poets from our area.

• Poetry in the Parks 
  April 27 (1-2:30 p.m.)
  Green Spring Gardens (4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria)
• Poetry Beneath the Stars
  Saturday, May 4 and August 17 (7:30-8:30 p.m.)
  Turner Farm Park (925 Springvale Road, Great Falls)
• Pride Month Poetry
  Saturday, June 1, 1-2:30 p.m.
  Green Spring Gardens (4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria)

All poetry events are free, but registration is required.

Register today!

Come join us as we celebrate the harmony of nature and verse, where every blossom tells a story and every word dances with the wind. Let your spirit soar with Verses in Bloom!
 

Calling all adults! Are you looking for a way to reconnect with nature and rediscover your sense of adventure? Look no further than the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Adult Summer Camps at Riverbend Park! Embark on an unforgettable journey filled with kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, and more, all nestled within the breathtaking scenery of the Potomac Gorge. 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to make lasting memories and forge new friendships this summer. Choose from among the following options available July 1-3:

• Adult Potomac Adventures Camp 
  Step into the wilderness and experience the thrill of outdoor exploration with our Adult Potomac Adventures Camp. Participants will delve into the heart of nature with rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, and white-water rafting down the Potomac Gorge. No prior experience is necessary – just bring your enthusiasm and sense of adventure! Learn More 
• Art in Nature Camp 
  Indulge your creative side while immersing yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors at our Art in Nature Camp. Join us for a unique blend of artistic expression and natural exploration. Discover new mediums such as sketching, watercolor, acrylic, and collage, all while kayaking the Potomac and hiking along scenic trails. Beginners are welcome, so come ready to unleash your creativity! Learn More
• Women in the Woods Camp 
  Empower yourself and connect with nature at our Women in the Woods Camp. Join a community of like-minded adventurers for a transformative experience in the wilderness. Learn outdoor skills such as fire building, outdoor cooking, and archery, all while discovering the inspiring stories of influential women trailblazers. Leave with a newfound confidence and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Learn More

For more information and to register, visit Riverbend Park or call 703-759-9018. Riverbend Park is located at 8700 Potomac Hills Street in Great Falls.
 

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s (FCPA) Spring Hill Rec Center is turning over a new leaf during Earth month 2024 with the activation of a brand-new 307-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array installed on the natatorium and gymnasium roofs as part of a multi-faceted project to enhance the energy efficiency of the popular rec center. The new solar array, the largest to date in the Park Authority, generates enough energy to power 33 homes annually, and is expected to reduce the center’s electricity needs by 13 percent.

The installation of the rooftop solar panels is part of several ongoing improvements to the center that will significantly reduce the building’s electrical and natural gas consumption. Additional improvements include the replacement of pool dehumidification units, the installation of a geothermal HVAC system, LED lighting upgrades and improvements to the building’s automation system.

“Being responsible stewards of the environment comes down to our simple everyday choices — our decision to recycle, to plant native plants, not to litter, to take care of our water supply, and so forth” said Park Authority Executive Director, Jai Cole. “We decided, when it was time to make improvements to the rec center, that we would be intentional about installing fixtures and infrastructure that would minimize the impact on our environment, enhance user experience, and save money in the long run. This is doable, and it’s the right thing to do.”

The project, a partnership with the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), is a significant step toward meeting the county’s goals for carbon neutrality in its facilities, fleet vehicles and operations, including obtaining 50 percent of county electricity from renewable sources by 2040.

“Turning the switch at this solar project represents another step in our journey away from fossil fuels and toward a more sustainable future,” said John Morrill, director of the OEEC. “Not only will this solar array save money in electricity costs over time, it confirms the county’s commitment to meeting the goals in our Operational Energy Strategy.”

Total completion of all related improvements is expected in summer 2024. The Spring Hill Rec Center is located at 1239 Spring Hill Road, in McLean. For more information about the project, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.
 

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The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination leads the cross-organizational development and implementation of the county’s environmental and energy plans, policies and programs, including the Operational Energy Strategy.