Park Authority

National Park and Recreation Month, observed during the month of July, was established in 1985 for the purpose of promoting strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. This year’s theme – “Where Community Grows” – was established by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to celebrate the vital role that parks and recreation plays in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities.

“I’ve had the privilege to see, firsthand, this amazing reality, as our residents engage with one another through play, exercise, service, special events and any number of shared interests,” said Fairfax County Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “That’s what makes parks magical. There is literally something for everyone, and often times, the experiences we have teach us something about ourselves, as well as help us forge connections we may have otherwise never known were possible.”

Parks sit at the center of so many experiences and memories we cherish, such as the first experiences in nature or our introduction to a favorite hobby or physical activity. They are places to gather with friends and family, spaces to celebrate life’s special moments, spots of respite and healing, sites that connect us with essential community services, and so much more.

This year, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, once again, passed a resolution declaring July Park and Recreation Month. Throughout the month, we invite you to expand your community of friends and acquaintances by enjoying the many different experiences available at Fairfax County parks, rec centers, golf courses, trails and more! Visit the Park Authority’s Park and Recreation Month webpage to see a variety of ways you can get connected!

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Board approved two Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant applications totaling $39,995 to support improvements to Linway Terrace Park and Frying Pan Farm Park. The total estimated project cost for the improvements at both sites is approximately $1.24 million.

Linway Terrace Park ($20,000)

The McLean Little League has proposed replacing Linway Terrace Park’s diamond baseball field with a synthetic turf field to provide an even and consistent playing surface that is more forgiving of wet conditions. The total cost of the project is estimated between $1.2 and $1.3 million. The project is to be fully funded by the McLean Little League except for the $20,000 in grant funding provided by the Fairfax County Park Authority. The project is anticipated for completion in fall 2025.

Frying Pan Farm Park ($19,995)

The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park has proposed replacing sections of degraded fencing with 2,666 linear feet of new oak board fencing around several of the farm’s pastures. The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park will be contributing matching funds in the amount of $19,995 to complete the funding needed for the project. Project completion is anticipated for early 2024.

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 volunteer, community and user groups in improving park facilities by matching funds and in-kind services.

Since 1999, the program has awarded approximately $2.08 million in grants for projects valued at more than $15.8 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.

For more information or to apply for a matching grant, visit the Mastenbrook Grants website or call 703-324-8470. Applications can be found at http://bit.ly/mastenbrook.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) received a $40,000 three-year grant as part of the Society for Ecological Restoration’s (SER) Standards-based Ecological Restoration in Action program to support the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area (IMA) projects at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, Virginia.

“These grant funds will help support the healthy wildlife habitat at Lake Accotink Park with invasive plant treatment focused on protecting mature trees and increasing the urban forest with more native tree plantings,” said Jai Cole, executive director of the Fairfax County Park Authority. “It will particularly help with some of the harder to reach, more difficult to control invasive plants and get to areas that volunteers haven’t been able to reach.”

"The Fairfax County Park Foundation is grateful for this grant to fund projects that improve natural resources at Lake Accotink Park.," said Bobbi Longworth, FCPF executive director.

The grant will help treat three sites totaling approximately 7.2 acres of invasive plants at Lake Accotink. This IMA project will target vines that are threatening trees and other invasive plants that need to be kept from spreading into healthier sections of the park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s IMA is a community-based program designed to reduce invasive plants on our parklands. This program engages volunteers and builds a community focused on taking care of natural resources. Since 2006, more than 150 acres have come under IMA management with 65 sites currently active.

“Microsoft is proud to collaborate with the Society for Ecological Restoration to deliver standards-based ecological restoration with the Fairfax County Park Authority in Fairfax County. We are excited to help implement restoration solutions on the ground that benefit both nature and people. This project aims to eliminate invasive plants, plant native trees and shrubs and encourage volunteer stewardship in support of our commitment to support the environmental health of the communities we work in.” said Holly Beale, Senior Program Manager for Microsoft.

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 Park Foundation or call 703-324-8582.

The Society for Ecological Restoration works to ensure that ecological restoration is recognized and utilized as a fundamental component of global conservation, biodiversity and sustainable development programs, and that ecological restoration projects are designed and implemented in a way that provides people with the opportunity to not only repair ecological damage, but also improve the human condition. Learn more about the work and get involved in the network by visiting the Society for Ecological Restoration website. 

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on the development of the new Ruckstuhl Park in the Providence District. Contractor TMG will soon be mobilizing on the site with active construction activity beginning by early July. During construction, neighbors may experience occasional construction traffic entering and exiting the park via Idylwood Road.

The 7.2-acre park will include a picnic pavilion, open play area, fitness cluster, a nature-themed playground, trail loop and parking lot. Total project costs are estimated at $2.5 million and will be funded with monies from the 2020 voter-approved park bond. Construction is projected to be completed by summer 2024.

The estate of the former resident-owner, Dr. Lily Ruckstuhl, donated the property to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust in 2009. The property was then acquired by the Park Authority in 2011, with a conservation easement prescribing certain conditions for its future use.

The Ruckstuhl Park Master Plan was developed with extensive community engagement and was approved by the Park Authority Board in 2015. The board later approved the final project scope in December 2022.

Ruckstuhl Park is located at 2445 Idylwood Road in Falls Church, Virginia. For more information, contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Are you ready to embark on a gardening journey and experience the joys of cultivating your own green space? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for a garden plot rental at Hogge Park, the newest Garden Plot Rental in the Fairfax County Park Authority’s community garden rental program.

Rental garden plots are available for one growing season that runs from February to November. Plot rentals include a 6-feet-by-9-feet raised garden bed, soil, a community hose, shed access for tool storage and waste collection. All plots are wheelchair accessible.

Take the first step toward growing your own fresh produce, connecting with nature and joining a vibrant community of fellow gardeners. Don’t wait, spaces are limited so secure your spot today! Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park is located at 3139 Glen Carlyn Road in Falls Church.

For more information, please visit the Community Garden Plot Rental Program website.

There is still time to nominate an individual or organization for the Elly Doyle Park Service Awards. The Fairfax County Park Authority is extending the nomination period for honoring volunteers who work in our parks and support park programs and events. The new deadline will be extended until Friday, June 30.

With thousands of volunteers who give generously of their time and talent, it’s vital that we say thank you and acknowledge that work. Parks could not operate without these dedicated individuals and organizations.

There are a wide variety of categories that honor those who create partnerships, as well as awards for youth, individuals and groups that support equity and increased park access. There are also awards that acknowledge the service of those who honor history and those who support the environment. All award recipients will be honored at an in-person ceremony this fall.

The applications are online and easy to fill out. Check out the applications at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ellys2023. You can find additional information about all the awards at the Elly Doyle awards webpage.

The Elly Doyle Awards honor Ellamae “Elly” Doyle’s many years of service and accomplishment as a member and chair of the Park Authority Board. For more information or for alternative formats for applications, please contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority invites members of the community and prospective curators to visit the historic house and grounds of Mount Gilead during an open house on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The property is located at 5634 Mount Gilead Road in Centreville, Virginia.

The historic home is under consideration as a candidate property for the Park Authority’s Resident Curator Program. Staff will be on hand during the open house to provide information about both the curator program, the house itself and the grounds.

Mount Gilead is an 18th-century vernacular-style house that was originally built as a combined residence and tavern. Several restorative changes were made to the property to preserve and rebuild the home in the mid-1930s and again during the 1950s and 1960s. The house was recorded as part of the Virginia Landmarks Survey, as well as in the 1969 Historic American Buildings Survey. The 6-acre property and historic house was purchased by the Park Authority in 1996.

The Resident Curator Program is designed to preserve Fairfax County’s historic buildings by offering long-term leases, without charge, to private citizens or organizations in exchange for their financial commitment to rehabilitate and maintain the property in accordance with established preservation standards.

For additional information about the Mount Gilead property and historic house, including access to public meetings and supplementary information and materials, please visit the Resident Curator Program website. Questions may also be directed to the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Looking for an opportunity to get the whole family out of the house this summer? The Fairfax County Park Authority has your solution—Arts in the Parks! Experience free, fun, family-oriented alternatives to cartoons and video games with performances in parks this summer. Part of the Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series, Arts in the Parks entertains children, teaches the importance of protecting our natural resources, introduces them to live entertainment in an informal, kid-friendly atmosphere, and forges a connection between kids and parks.

Don’t miss memorable shows starring The Great Zucchini, Marsha and the Positrons, Mr. Lilo Gonzalez, 123 Andres, Groovy Nate, Uncle Devin and Geoff Marsh! Free performances featuring comedy, children’s songs, magic, puppets and juggling are hosted at the following locations:

• Burke Lake Park Amphitheater (7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station), Saturdays at 10 a.m.
• Frying Pan Park Visitor Center Pavilion (2739 West Ox Road, Herndon), Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
• E.C. Lawrence Park Amphitheater (5040 Walney Road, Chantilly), Saturdays at 10 a.m.
• Mason District Park Amphitheater (6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale), Saturdays at 10 a.m.
• Trinity Centre (5860 Trinity Parkway, Centreville), Saturdays in August at 7 p.m. (followed by outdoor movies)
• Wakefield Park, in front of the Rec Center, (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale), Saturdays at 10 a.m.

For a complete calendar of summer performances for Arts in the Parks, visit the Summer Entertainment Series Arts in the Parks webpage.

The Summer Entertainment Series free performances and movies are possible thanks to a strong partnership between Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Park Authority volunteers, business sponsors, individual donors and the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

Concerts are held outdoors and are canceled in case of inclement weather. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) before leaving home for weather updates. Cancellations are recorded an hour before showtime. Search for all performances at the Summer Entertainment Series website.
 
The Summer Entertainment Series 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. 

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has issued a Request for Interest (RFI) from interested entities to explore the development and operation of a new multi-sport tournament complex in Fairfax County. The FCPA is seeking information that could potentially lead to a future Request for Proposal or partnership solicitation under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act for a new facility to be developed as early as spring 2028.

“Fairfax County is well-positioned geographically to be a prime destination for major athletic tournaments and events across the mid-Atlantic region,” said FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole. “Earlier this year, we officially opened Patriot Park North – our first diamond field sportsplex – with 26 committed tournaments, which are anticipated to net between $162,000 and $1 million in revenues to Fairfax County and local businesses – even before it opened. We are very keen to continue the conversation to not only continue to provide phenomenal athletic facilities for our local teams and leagues, but also to tap into that capacity for further economic growth.”

Complete details of the RFI, as well as a submission package overview and requirements, are available at the Design and Construction webpage. Submissions are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19. This RFI represents the first step in information-gathering and no contract will be awarded as a result.

A virtual Pre-Submission Meeting has been scheduled for 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3. Attendance is highly recommended but not required. This meeting will include a briefing from Park Authority staff on the RFI parameters and an opportunity to ask questions. A meeting link will be provided to registered participants. To register, please contact Heather.Lynch@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin construction work on the Lake Fairfax Inline Skate Rink. The project, constructed through a partnership with the Washington Capitals, will deliver an outdoor inline skate rink adjacent to the existing skate park. Work is expected to begin in late June and is not anticipated to impact park operations or accessibility.

Through the partnership, the Park Authority will be responsible for the site preparation and supporting infrastructure. The Capitals will donate the inline skating rink via turnkey installation on the prepared site. Site work will include clearing and grading, paved rink surface, a new gravel parking area, LED rink lighting, and supporting infrastructure to include stormwater management facilities.

The total estimated cost of the project to the county will be $1.9 million and is funded through 2020 Park Bond funds. Completion is anticipated for spring 2024.

Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, in Reston. For more information about the project, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.