Park Authority

Don’t let the summer pass you by, sign up your elementary school-age child for summer Rec-PAC (Pretty Awesome Children)! Register by June 14 to receive a discounted rate and seize the opportunity to participate in this affordable Fairfax County Park Authority program.

From June 24 through Aug. 1, Rec-PAC will be hosted at elementary schools across Fairfax County. Rec-PAC is partnering with Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services and Fairfax County Public Schools to provide daily breakfast and lunch at all locations this summer. The program also features numerous inclusion sites supported by staff with experience working with kids with special needs.

The six-week structured recreation program engages children in grades 1-6 in fun weekly, themed sessions. Themes range from superheroes to the patriotic red, white and blue to sports to sea life to community service. Find out more by visiting the Rec-PAC Theme Sessions webpage.

Don’t miss this opportunity for your children to build lifelong memories — playing games, getting active and making friends.

Registration for the program is now open. Scholarships are available for qualified individuals — submit scholarship applications for the program by June 14 by visiting the Scholarships website.

Visit the Rec-PAC website for program details, scholarship applications and more.

Are you looking to get into composting with the Fairfax County Park Authority Farmers Markets? If so, don’t miss out on our free countertop compost bin giveaway June 12-16! During this time, farmers market customers who dispose of food scraps at any of our 10 Farmers Markets may receive a free compost bin. Supplies are limited and open to shoppers who have not received a bin in previous years.

Follow these easy steps below and you may have the opportunity to receive a free countertop compost bin:

1. Learn what kind of food scraps you can drop-off at the Farmers Markets by visiting the Compost Drop-Off webpage.
2. After meals, collect your food scraps in a reusable container, old coffee can, or even a freezer bag!
3. From June 12-16, bring your food scraps to any of our 10 Farmers Markets and drop them off at the compost tent.

Composting is a natural process in which organic waste is broken down into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. A wide variety of organic waste can be successfully composted, including food scraps, yard waste, paper products and more. By dropping off your weeks’ worth of scraps at a local Fairfax County Farmers Market, you are helping reduce landfill waste, while also contributing to richer, more nutrient dense soil for agricultural and landscaping purposes.

Want to learn more about composting at Farmer’s Markets and at home? Visit the Compost Drop-Off webpage.

Join the Fairfax County Park Authority at Lake Fairfax Park for our annual Independence Day celebration – this year on June 29! The event begins at noon, allowing viewers the opportunity to find the perfect spot in the park to enjoy the daylong activities. Both bicyclists and pedestrians are free. Parking fees are $15 per vehicle if purchased before the event or $20 per vehicle at the gate.

Register below today and save $5 on parking. Parking charges will be in effect beginning at 10 a.m. on June 29. The park will close to any new arrivals at approximately 8:45 p.m.

Register for Lake Fairfax fireworks

Once inside the park, enjoy food trucks, live performances and the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole water park, where guests can embrace one of the county’s most exhilarating water attractions filled with slides, sprays and interactive structures. Tickets for the Water Mine are sold separately, and the attraction will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the Water Mine or to purchase tickets, visit the Water Mine website.

Food trucks will open for business from noon until 9 p.m. All picnic areas will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis, and visitors are encouraged to arrive no later than 8 p.m. to find a good place to sit and enjoy the show. The fireworks show will begin shortly after 9 p.m., capping off the holiday festivities in true patriotic fashion.

Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, in Reston. For additional information, visit the Lake Fairfax Park website or call 703-471-5415. You may also contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fourth of July fireworks show is sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the Fairfax County Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet our community’s needs for park land, facilities, and services. Visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation website for more information or call 703-324-8582.

Enjoy a day packed with fun and farm animals at the annual 4-H Fair and Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park from Aug. 1-4.

Check out livestock displays and 4-H exhibits, treat yourself to classic fair food, enjoy live entertainment, tractor demos, carnival rides and get up close and personal with adorable farm animals. For a special Friday night out, join us at Big Truck Night on Aug. 2.

Carnival Hours

• Thursday, Aug.1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Big Truck Night from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 3, the Carnival is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Do you want the best deals on tickets for carnival rides? Purchase Unlimited Ride Wristbands for Thursday and Friday only. If purchased in advance online, wristbands are only $20 per person. Onsite wristbands are available for purchase at $25 per person between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. You can purchase regular ride tickets on site after 3 p.m. Wristbands are for one day only.

On Saturday and Sunday, purchase regular carnival ride tickets onsite from 10 a.m. to10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Regular ride ticket prices are:

• $1.25 each
• 24 for $25
• 72 for $60

Admission to the event is free; however, there is a $10 parking fee per car that applies on Friday (after 3 p.m.) and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Cash and credit are accepted. For a full schedule of activities and more information on buying ride specials, visit the 4-H Fair and Carnival webpage.

Frying Pan Farm Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road in Herndon. For more information, visit the Frying Pan Farm Park website or call 703-437-9101. 

Fairfax County’s Annual 4-H Fair and Carnival is provided each year through a partnership between the Fairfax County Park Authority, Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, the Fairfax County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Fairfax County Park Foundation, and the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park.

The transition from spring to summer brings the enchanting light show of fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, to the evening skies. These fascinating insects use bioluminescence to attract mates, with males emitting a distinctive green flash. Firefly eggs and larvae also glow. However, despite their beauty, fireflies are declining due to light pollution, pesticide use and habitat loss.

The good news is that you can attract fireflies to your yard by following these tips:

• Plant Native Plants: These help retain soil moisture and provide food and shelter for fireflies.
• Eliminate Invasive Plants: Replacing invasive plants with native species helps attract insects that fireflies eat, such as slugs and snails.
• Retain Leaf Litter: Fireflies need moist leaf litter to breed. Leave sections of fallen leaves in your yard to support their lifecycle.
• Reduce Outdoor Illumination: Fireflies are attracted to darker areas for finding mates. Even small amounts of light can negatively impact their ability to reproduce.

Learn more by visiting the Park Authority blog website.

After making your yard firefly-friendly, contribute to citizen science by reporting your sightings at the Firefly Atlas website. 

Are you ready to witness fireflies in the parks? Experience the magical dance of fireflies illuminating Fairfax County Parks with these upcoming programs:

Fireflies in the Meadow: Saturdays, June 22, 29, and July 5, 8:30-9:30 p.m., $8

Register for Fireflies in the Meadow

Firefly Walks:

• Lake Fairfax Park: Saturday, June 1, 8:30-9:30 p.m., $8
• Burke Lake Park: Friday, June 28, 8:30-9:30 p.m., $8
• Huntley Meadows Park: Friday, June 28, Saturday, June 29, Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6, 8-10 p.m., $10

Register for Firefly Walk

The Fairfax County Park Authority was awarded a Blue Pencil and Golden Screen Award by the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) for excellence in government communications. The Park Authority was awarded third place in the educational/instructional video category for a tutorial video highlighting the use of the new Park Amenity Locator.

With more than 420 parks and a widely diverse list of amenities throughout the park system, the Fairfax County Park Authority launched a new Park Amenity Locator to assist residents in finding parks and amenities throughout the county that appeal to their individual interests. Along with the new application, the Park Authority created a 99-second tutorial video to assist users in navigating the capabilities of the new tool.

The NAGC’s Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards is an annual international awards program that recognizes superior government communication products and those who produce them.

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin Phase 1 of the renovation at Mount Vernon Woods Park. The Phase 1 contractor, DeBorn Construction, will mobilize on site with active construction activities beginning in June 2024. Weather pending, Phase 1 construction is expected to conclude by early 2025.

Phase 1 of this project includes a new parking lot, shelter, playground, fitness area, multi-sport court and soccer field. Phase 2 is tentatively scheduled for 2025-2026 and includes the construction of a new skate park.

Mount Vernon Woods Park is located at 4014 Fielding St. in Alexandria. During construction, residents should expect occasional traffic along Fielding Street.

For more information about this project, please contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work to construct new Americans with Disabilities Act accessible trails at Jefferson Manor Park. The contractor, TMG Construction, is expected to mobilize on site with active construction activities beginning in mid-July. Weather permitting, construction is anticipated to conclude in early fall 2024.

The construction at Jefferson Manor Park will ensure general accessibility improvements comply with the Department of Justice federal mandate to meet the 2010 ADA Standards for public facilities.

The project scope includes providing ADA trail access to existing park amenities, creating an ADA parking space, updating the restrooms and shelter structure for ADA compliance, and providing ADA access to the existing entrance serving the adjoining community.

This project does not include any changes to the existing amenities and facilities at the park and will have minimal impact on the existing trees and surrounding environment.

The park will remain open during construction. However, visitors are reminded not to enter designated construction areas. Residents should expect occasional construction traffic entering and exiting the park via Farmington Drive. Construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Jefferson Manor Park is located at 2909 Farmington Drive, Alexandria. For more information, please contact the Project Manager, Sayonara Aguilera at sayonara.aguilera@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved matching funds in the total amount of $12,945 to support the renovation of the diamond infield at Parklawn Park through the Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program.

The applicant, Mason District Little League, has committed to providing half of the funding needed to install a new infield area, regrade the field following the existing grade scheme and add sod at the first and third base foul lines and third base coach’s box. The project budget totals $25,891 with the Mason District Little League contributing $12,946 toward the renovation. The construction of this project will be managed by the Mason District Little League in coordination with the Park Authority. A timetable for the project is in the process of being developed.

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.

Join the Fairfax County Park Authority for a special Juneteenth commemoration event at the Sully Historic Site on Wednesday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event will honor the significant contributions of people, originally under enslavement and continuing after emancipation, to the operation of Sully as a home and farmstead. The event will pay tribute to their lives and those of their descendants.

Join in a commemoration of emancipation at this special event. Take a tour to better understand the daily life of people enslaved at Sully. Visit the dairy, smokehouse, kitchen and laundry, first floor of the main house, and a reproduction home for enslaved people. Interact with history interpreters, listen to storytellers, participate in activities and see the special exhibits.

HealthWorks will be there for you to receive a free health screening and information. Food trucks will be on site.

For more information or to learn more about Juneteenth in Fairfax County Parks, visit the Juneteenth webpage.

View the Juneteenth celebration flyer

Register for Juneteenth Celebration at Sully Historic Site

Juneteenth is sponsored by the Sully Foundation and the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the Fairfax County Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet our community’s needs for park land, facilities, and services. Visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation website for more information or call 703-324-8582.