Park Authority

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

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.
 

Children of all ages are excited to try out their new gadgets, gizmos and toys at their favorite local park. Just remember, our parks are places for everyone to have an enjoyable time in nature. Park rules are designed to ensure a pleasant experience for our guests, as well as the protection of wildlife that call parks their home. Here are some Fairfax County Park Authority rules to consider when visiting the parks with your new gifts this season:

E-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and other electric conveyances are allowed in parks, but to protect environmental and cultural resources, you should only use them in areas where traditional (human pedal-powered) bicycles are allowed. Do not disturb wildlife, livestock or domesticated animals on park property. For your safety and the safety of others, maintain speeds under 20 mph. For details, visit the Electrically Assisted Bicycles and Other Conveyances webpage.

Drones may be used in some parks, but only if you remain in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration directives. Many parks are in no-fly zones due to their proximity to airports, etc. Get details for safe and responsible use of drones in parks at the Model Aircrafts and Drones webpage.

Marvel at how much distance you get with your new golf clubs at a county golf course or driving range, but projectiles (such as soaring golf balls) are prohibited elsewhere. Find a place to take your game to the next level by visiting the Golf website.

Unless you’re in a special archery program, bows and arrows should be left at home. That goes for stun guns, spears, slingshots, dart devices and other high-speed missile projectiles, too.

Camping overnight in your new tent? Make plans to register and stay in designated campgrounds by visiting the Campgrounds website first.

If you’re camping and preparing food, knives are permitted in parks; however, knives with a blade more than 4 inches in length should remain at home.

Got a new puppy? Remember to keep your furry friend on a leash and wait until they are at least 4 months old (and not in heat) before visiting a dog park. Bone up on the rules and find your nearest off-leash dog park.

New pony? There are plenty of equestrian trails and riding areas designated for equestrian use. Ride off into the sunset with information from the Park Authority’s Equestrian page.

Get ready to brag when you try out your new fishing rod at a waterfront park, but stay in compliance with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ laws and park rules. Find tips on the best fishing spots and all the rules at the Fishing website.

Give your new ice skates a twirl at one of the Park Authority’s ice skating classes or at a local ice rink. It’s been pretty mild so far, but when it gets colder, remember to stay off seemingly frozen lakes, ponds and streams, which pose a drowning danger.

We’re expecting some good snow this year. This is a reminder that golf courses are made for golfing, not for sleds, tubes and skis.

Enjoy your new ear buds, but if you want to blast music loud enough for everyone to hear, you need to obtain written permission from the Park Authority.

Finally, if you are on a post-holiday treasure hunt, keep in mind that metal detectors may only be used with the FCPA’s express written permission.

With so many ways to have fun in Fairfax County parks, it’s easy to have a great experience without putting yourself and others at risk and ensuring that everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy themselves, as well.

Despite a few early raindrops, the sun broke through the clouds as the Fairfax County Park Authority, Board of Supervisors and hundreds of local little leaguers and their families celebrated the historic opening of the county’s new state-of-the-art baseball/softball sportsplex at Patriot Park North on Saturday, April 15. The event signaled the completion of a “game-changing” facility that offers a fantastic competitive experience and provides a significant economic benefit to the community.

“Patriot Park North provides a winning combination of community use and economic benefit that really knocks it out of the park,” said FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole. “This project is a wonderful example of what we can do together with the community and a host of partners in creating and executing a shared vision for amazing park facilities like this. This is a project we can all truly be proud of.”

Originally, the park was home to three grass diamond fields. In 2014, the FCPA acquired adjacent land, which expanded the site to 67 acres and opened the possibility for the redevelopment of the property to accommodate expanded use and create a prime destination for baseball and softball tournament play throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

The redevelopment of the park included the installation of six synthetic turf diamond fields (two 60-foot and four 90-foot diamonds), batting cages, warm-up areas, lighting, a 360-degree press box and deck, live streaming capability, concession stands, stormwater management, trails, playground, parking lot and other site amenities. The $22.7 million facility was funded through developer proffers and voter-approved 2016 and 2020 Park Bonds.

The FCPA anticipates significant returns on investment, with 26 committed tournaments already in process. The economic impact for the county is estimated between $162,000 to more than $1 million per tournament, depending on attendance and the duration of the event. The total estimated impact for all 26 tournaments is approximately $18.3 million in 2023.

Patriot Park North is located at 5425 Willow Springs School Road, in Fairfax. For additional information, visit the Patriot Park North website or call 703-324-5308.

Watch a video of the Patriot Park opening and ribbon-cutting. 

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is seeking teenagers looking to develop their leadership and communication skills to become Counselors in Training (C.I.T.). The C.I.T. program is open to teens ages 14 and older and provides real-world experience in planning and leading activities for elementary-aged children participating in FCPA camps and Rec-PAC. Participants often return year after year, eventually accepting paid staff positions when they turn 18.

Serving alongside adult leaders, participating C.I.T.s assist counselors with programming, gain experience working as part of a team, develop new communication and leadership skills, and have fun helping elementary school-age children. Each participant receives a T-shirt and will receive an assignment for a specific Rec Center, park or school site.

To participate, applicants must submit the C.I.T. application and complete an interview. Once selected to the program, there is an application fee and initial online training that must be completed before the start of the summer program. Specific instructions for summer camp and Rec-PAC C.I.T.s are included below:

Summer Camp C.I.T.s: Applicants must submit their application to the camp program directors at the location they are interested in being assigned to. Camp C.I.T. training will be held virtually on Tuesday, June. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Become a Camp C.I.T.

Learn more about FCPA’s camps by visiting the Camps website.

Rec-PAC C.I.T.s: Applicants must note their preferred location and submit applications by Friday, June 9 and attend an in-person training event on June 17. Accepted applicants will be assigned to a site and work daily on weekdays from June 26 through Aug. 3, from 8:15 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Become a Rec-PAC C.I.T.

Learn more about the FCPA Rec-PAC program by visiting the Rec-PAC website.

Don’t wait, submit a C.I.T. application today!

Explore a thriving wetland sanctuary during Wetlands Awareness Day! Join us in celebrating the significance of Huntley Meadows Park and get connected with the treasured homes and habitats of the wildlife throughout the park on Sunday, May 7, from noon to 4 p.m.

Huntley Meadows Park is home to a nationally significant historic house, majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and vast wetlands bursting with life. Some of the best wildlife watching in the Washington Metropolitan Area is here.

Enjoy an up-close view of live raptors, reptiles and amphibians and interactive displays and activities. Bring the whole family, and your neighbors too, to stroll the forested paths and immersive boardwalk trails throughout the park. See the plants and animals that live in the park and learn how they play vital roles in the ecosystem. Grab a discovery guide when you check in and visit different activity stations, receiving a stamp at each station to earn a prize.

This free, family-friendly event will be held rain or shine. Come discover the importance and value of our local wetlands.

Register for Wetlands Awareness Day

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, Virginia. For more information, please call 703-768-2525 or visit Huntley Meadows Park.

It’s National Poetry Month and Arab American Heritage Month. Celebrate both at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park with the first in a series of Poetry in the Parks events.

Enjoy poetry from the Fairfax Poet Laureate featuring local Arab American poets Zeina Azzam, Rayan Afif and Danielle Badra. Poetry in the Parks is a partnership between ArtsFairfax and the Fairfax County Park Authority, highlighting the relationship between nature and poetry. Experience the serenity of the Ellanor C. Lawrence wooded amphitheater, while experiencing the natural surroundings.

The event will be held on April 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but please register for the program.

Register for Fairfax Poet Laureate

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located at 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, please call 703-631-0013 or visit Ellanor C. Lawrence Park.

Meet Kimeshia!

Name: Kimeshia Junkins 
Position: Operations Branch Manager, Park Services Division, Fairfax County Park Authority

Growing up I stayed in the Rec Center learning all the different sports there were because at the time I was the only girl with two brothers, and I had to beat them. I also remember countless practices being coached by my dad as the only girl on the boys’ basketball team. As a military kid it was hard moving every few years, but one thing that was constant was I always had a Rec Center to go to! The Rec Center was the perfect outlet for my two brothers, sister, and I to compete and see who was the best! From those long days spent in the Rec Center I was able to achieve a full ride scholarship to play division 1 basketball. Without knowing it my class choice choose my major of Health Promotion. I was truly inspired by all my years spent in a Rec Center to find a career that would help me give back to the community and give an outlet for others to experience activities that they love. Fairfax County truly has an environment and workplace that is fun and wholistic for any and everyone. I am honored to be a part of #teamFCPA and look forward to all the fun times ahead and growing a team of inspirational community leaders. 

#joinFCPA