Park Authority

The Fairfax County Park Authority invites you to be a part of our 2024 Farmers Market season. If you are a local farmer or food producer, we want to hear from you!

The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 10 farmers markets across the county from late April through mid-December to provide residents access to locally grown products and create market opportunities for area farmers and food producers.

All participating farmers and producers must come from within a 125-mile radius of Fairfax County, with a few exceptions for hard-to-find products, such as dairy and organic produce. Our markets are strictly producer-only, meaning that all farmers and producers may only sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch. We highly encourage vendors to source ingredients from local farmers and producers as much as possible. We do not accept craft vendors or food trucks at our markets.

Interested in learning more? Join us virtually on Jan. 9, 2024, from 10 a.m. – noon, for a New Vendor Interest Meeting. Discover the ins and outs of the application process, market fees and vendor requirements. 

Register to attend New Vendor Interest Meeting

If you are unsure if you can make it to the meeting, register anyway. That way we can continue to keep you in the loop as we proceed through the 2024 application process.

For more information, market locations or vendor inquiries, please visit the Farmers Market website or email FCPAFarmMarkets@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has begun trail restoration work along a 3,086-foot section of the South Run Stream Valley Trail between the Burke Lake Dam on Laketree Drive and South Run District Park. Weather permitting, the work is expected to be completed within approximately two to three weeks.

Work crews with contractor Tibbs Paving are already on site making preparations for work that will involve riprapping culverts, milling existing asphalt trail, laying the new asphalt trail and performing shoulder restoration. The work will address the poor conditions, including root pops, cracks, and improve drainage in low-lying areas of the trail. The total project costs are approximately $108,000, with funds provided by the Board of Supervisors Transportation Improvement Fund.

The trail will remain open to the public; however, there will be some trail disruptions as the contractor moves through the repairs. In most cases, trail users should be able to navigate around the work being done along the trail. Signs will be posted along the route as the project progresses.

For questions or concerns, please contact the Construction Maintenance Project Manager Karen Devor via email at Karen.Devor@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Fairfax County Public School high school teams are headed back to Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers this winter. Swim and dive teams will be using Rec Center pools through February.

This marks a long-standing partnership between the county’s high schools and Rec Centers. The Park Authority’s Rec Centers owe their very existence to this partnership. As swimming became an increasingly popular sport, Fairfax County Public Schools began to look for pool facilities. The county proposed building Rec Centers with pools on Park Authority land as a more accessible and efficient option — opening Audrey Moore Rec Center in 1977.

“The Park Authority is proud to serve the county’s high school teams, and we are thankful that by doing so, these life-enhancing pools and aquatic programs are made available to everyone throughout the year,” said Marcus Barton, Fairfax County Park Authority Aquatics Section manager.

The Park Authority welcomes high school swim and dive teams back for the 2023-24 season and applaud their success. Physical activity and teamwork have long been recognized as vital parts of the high school experience, and swimming can involve more students with less risk of serious injury than any other sport.

As students take to the pools, this results in changes to the availability of the pools for the public through February. Be sure to check the pool calendar of your favorite Rec Center for the most up-to-date pool availability.

Enjoy the spirit of the holidays with Santa at Fairfax County Parks beginning this weekend. For years, Santa has made the rounds in our parks, creating cherished moments for families of all ages. Don’t miss out on a fantastic experience at the park with a special appearance by our favorite “jolly old elf.”

A Visit with Santa at Sully Historic Site

On Saturday, Dec. 2, from noon to 4 p.m., Sully Historic Site welcomes families for a special encounter with Santa Claus. Capture the magic with a photo by an open-hearth fire, share your Christmas wishes, and craft a festive ornament. Register now for this joyful event for $9 per person!

Register for A Visit with Santa

Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park

Fridays and Saturdays (Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16) from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 4:30-7:45 p.m. on Saturdays, Frying Pan Farm Park offers wagon rides, indoor activities, food, animal interactions, campfires and visits with Santa. Secure your $15 pass during presale or $20 at the gate for a festive experience!

Register for Holiday on the Farm

Winter Wonderland Event at Burke Lake

Saturdays and Sundays (Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Burke Lake promise holiday fun with train rides, Gingerbread Man Golf, and s'mores by the fire. Get your $15 pass by Wednesday before the event, or purchase day-of for $20. All passes include a visit with Santa, hot chocolate and candy canes.

Register for Winter Wonderland

Join Fairfax County Parks for holiday magic! For more information or to register, visit the Seasonal Events in the Parks webpage.

View the Holidays Events in the Parks flyer

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board honored dozens of outstanding volunteers and philanthropists for their service and valuable contributions to parks at the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Ceremony on Nov. 17. The evening’s event, emceed by NBC4 anchor and Fairfax County native Jummy Olabanji, was made especially meaningful with the attendance of former Park Board Chairman Elly Doyle.

“The Fairfax County Park Authority established these awards to honor and celebrate the individuals and organizations that help our park system thrive,” said Park Authority Board Chairman Kiel Stone. "Each award recognizes a distinct set of standards and characteristics – inspired by the legacy of service demonstrated by our former Chairman Elly Doyle – "that are vital to the success of our park system and all those who enjoy it." 

The 2023 Elly Park Service Awards honor remarkable stories of meaningful service with deep and lasting positive impact to the community, as well as on the lives of those directly affected by the contributions of each honoree. These individual stories and video tributes can be found on the Elly Doyle Park Service Awards website. The recipients of this year’s awards are:

Chairman’s Choice Award

This award recognizes recognize outstanding long-term service to and advocacy on behalf of the Park Authority and honors those whose efforts have provided a critical contribution to the agency and helped sustain and expand its nationally accredited facilities and programs. Recipients include:

• Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust
• Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross
• William Bouie, Former Chairman, Fairfax County Park Authority Board

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards

This award recognizes significant, tangible contributions made by individuals, organizations or businesses that help accomplish the Park Authority’s strategic priority to enhance diversity systemwide and foster a culture of inclusion in parks and/or within the surrounding community. Recipients are:

• Colleen Cannon
• Larry Newman

Harold L. Strickland Partnership and Collaboration Award

This award honors significant long-term accomplishments that provide the residents of Fairfax County with tangible examples of the benefits of partnerships and collaborations that help to sustain or grow service to the community, while reducing the need for Fairfax County Park Authority financial resources to accomplish the service delivery. This year’s recipient is The Analemma Society.

Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Awards

This award recognizes individuals and organizations whose actions embody the spirit and values of stewardship and result in tangible environmental benefits. Recipients are:

• The Fairfax Parks Coalition
• The Fair Parks Initiative

Fairfax County Park Foundation Eakin Philanthropy Awards

The annual award recognizes individuals’ and organizations’ financial or in-kind contributions, which have significantly enhanced Fairfax County parks through the Foundation. This year’s recipients are:

• Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry
• The Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature Center
• The Morrisette Family and Interstate Moving, Relocation and Logistics

The 2023 Outstanding Volunteer Awards

More than 9,645 volunteers powered our parks in Fiscal Year 2023. They contributed 112,000 hours of volunteer service, taking on tasks FCPA is not staffed to do. They are a critical component in the success of the park system. Based on national statistics and measures, the tangible value of this manpower service is $3.5 million. This year’s recipients include: Harold Adams, Charles "Chuck" Basham, Diane Bierwirth, Celia Boertlein, Carol Burns, Robert Coblenz, Josefina "Jo" Doumbia, Kitisia "Kit" Grandin-Parker, Laura Handle, Junko "JK" Klimek, Erick Lermo, Eva Novak, Chris Reynolds, Sharon Sellers, Jamie Ogden, Stephanie Smith, Gene Sullivan, Bryan Tucillo, Sophie Wehmueller, Henry Wells, Christina Wenks and William "Bill" White.

Elly Doyle Park Service Awards

The Elly Doyle Park Service Awards are among the highest and distinguished honors bestowed by the Fairfax County Park Authority. Awardees in the following categories have exemplified, through their service and support of park programs, the very best attributes and qualities that help the Fairfax County park system thrive. This year’s recipients include:

• Youth Award: Hiking Heroes
• Special Recognition Award: Patrick Evans
• Service Award: Early Detection Response Team

The annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards program was instituted in 1988. Each year, the event is hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority in partnership with the Fairfax County Park Foundation. For additional information about the awards program or this year’s awards recipients, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

See photos of the ceremony

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 website or call them at 703-324-8582.

The Turner Farmhouse Foundation will host its annual pancake breakfast and open house on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Parking is available on site, with volunteers able to assist. This free event is open to the community.

The Turner Farmhouse Foundation serves as the resident curator for the historic Turner Farmhouse and several other outbuildings on the property, located at 10609 Georgetown Pike in Great Falls. Through the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Resident Curator Program, the Foundation is using the other structures on site to create and operate a retreat center, partnering with Becky Love Foundation, Comfort Zone Camps and other organizations to host bereavement programs.

The Resident Curator Program provides a unique opportunity for individuals, nonprofit and for-profit organizations to secure long-term lease agreements for historic properties in beautiful public park settings. The curator leases are without charge in exchange for a financial commitment toward approved rehabilitation of the Park Authority’s underutilized historic properties. The program requires reasonable public access to these historic resources, which often occurs in the form of an annual open house.

The Turner Farmhouse, built in 1905 by the Turner family, is in a 52-acre community park at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Springvale Road in the Dranesville District. The Mark Turner Dairy Farm is an example of the type of farm that predominated in this community during the early years of the 20th century, and the Turners were hailed as model farmers in a 1948 article in the "National Grange Monthly."

The 3,216-square-foot Queen Anne style farmhouse exemplifies the cultural, economic and historic heritage of the Springvale and Forestville/Great Falls agricultural communities in Northern Virginia. Many of the original details, formal parlor, hardwood flooring and fireplaces remain. Several outbuildings on the property reflect its rural history, as well.

For additional information about Turner Farm or the Resident Curator Program, visit the Resident Curator Program website. You may also contact the manager of the Resident Curator Program Stephanie Langton at 703-324-8791.

Are you looking for opportunities to keep the kids active and engaged during the winter school holidays? Look no further! Children of all ages can find exciting ways to pass the time with the Fairfax County Park Authority’s winter camps.

Choose from a variety of fun topics to help kids learn and grow, including cooking; crafting; performing arts; sports; dance; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

On the Camps website, search for numerous camp options and register your child for an exciting opportunity to have fun, meet new friends and create lifelong memories.

Winter Break camps will be held Dec. 18-22 and Dec. 26-29.

Winter Teacher Workdays camps will be held on Monday, Jan. 15; Friday, Jan. 26; and Monday, Feb. 19.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is home to award-winning programs and camps that help young people grow and develop. All camps are open on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information or assistance, please email camps@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority celebrated the completion of the new Woodlands Stewardship Education Center with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Nov. 18. 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 experimentation with simple machines and natural observation spaces, this stewardship education center provides an incredible teaching platform for demonstrating technologies and processes that can reshape our individual relationship with the environment around us.

See more photos of the ribbon-cutting on the Park Authority's Flickr page.

County leaders, project benefactors and residents from the surrounding community participated in the inaugural event followed by tours of the amazing features of the site, which was designed to meet the rigorous standards of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) – an achievement attained by only a small number of projects worldwide.

“When looking at the concept for this project, we knew we wanted to raise the bar to a whole new level,” said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “Every aspect of this facility is an exhibit that illustrates our connection to the natural world and creates an experience that will ignite the imaginations and creativity of young people through hands-on experiences and play.”

The standards of the LBC 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 – including the building materials, energy and water usage and production, learning and recreational features and landscaping - 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.

General project features include an interpretive center with multipurpose spaces, kitchen and restroom; an educational kiosk and plumbing room; outdoor amphitheater and observation deck; a large STREAM (science, technology, recreation, engineering, arts and math) activity play space with connecting trails; native plantings; and related site improvements.

Watch a video of the new stewardship center below:

The total project cost was $8.8 million and included $7.2 million in park bond funding, $1.1 million in proffers, and $500,000 in financial contributions through the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

The Woodlands Stewardship Education Center is located within Ellanor C. Lawrence Park at 5301 Walney Road in Chantilly.

For more information, visit the Woodlands Stewardship Education Center webpage.

This project was made possible thanks in part to numerous donations contributed through 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 Park Foundation website or call 703-324-8582 for more information.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved matching grant funding in the amount of $13,000 to supplement community contributions toward installing swings at the playground within Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park located in the Mount Vernon District. Funds were awarded through the Park Authority’s Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program. The applicant, the Villamay Community Association, will also contribute $13,000 to complete this project.

The existing playground, developed in partnership with the community in 2004, did not include swings in the project scope due to limited funding. The proposed project will include the purchase and installation of a two-bay swing set with four swings serving all ages and abilities.

The project will be managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority and is expected to be completed in spring 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 $2.1 million in grants for projects valued at more than $16.3 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 about the Mastenbrook Matching Funds Grant Program, visit the Mastenbrook Grants website.

As the holiday season approaches, give that someone special the gift of fun and adventure with a Fairfax County Park Authority Gift Card or Golf Fairfax Gift Card. Gift cards can help adults and children of all ages and abilities to choose their own adventures from among the thousands of activities and events that the Park Authority offers around Fairfax County.

A Fairfax County Park Authority Gift Card can be used to purchase entry to Rec Centers, registration for classes and camps, tours of historic properties and tickets to numerous fun amusements, events and activities. Purchase gift cards at any value between $20 and $999 with ease online, or purchase them in person at Rec Centers, nature centers and historic sites.

Purchase a Park Authority gift card

Get your loved ones onto the greens with a Golf Fairfax Gift Card. These cards can be used at all seven Fairfax County Park Authority golf courses. Use the Golf Fairfax Gift Card to purchase greens fees, range balls, food and beverages and merchandise in pro shops. They also can be used to purchase lessons at Burke, Greendale and Pinecrest courses. Purchase these gift cards for amounts as low as $25 at any golf course pro shop.

Learn more and purchase a gift card today by visiting the Park Authority’s Gift Card website.