Park Authority

The Eisman Golf Academy, located at Laurel Hill Golf Club, is proud to announce the opening of the new high-tech Performance Lab. The new Performance Lab provides a fantastic proving ground for seasoned golfers looking to advance their game and beginners looking to get their start under the tutelage of experienced instructors.

The 2,600-square-foot Performance Lab includes two indoor/outdoor bays designated for one-on-one instruction. Each bay is fully equipped with launch monitors and state-of-the-art force plates. Trackman golf simulator, GASP Systems, Smart to Move, and IOS cameras capture, track and monitor each session for golfers to experience a data-driven golf lesson. The Performance Lab also includes a conference room for video analysis and a large gathering room for students to relax and unwind during the hot and cold months.

Come tour and test out the new lab on June 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our opening day event! Try out new clubs, meet Eisman Academy instructors and check out the new technology. Enjoy day-of special deals on lessons and fitting, as well as chances to win fantastic prizes!

Laurel Hill Golf Club was ranked as the No. 11 best golf course in Virginia, according to the annual Golfers' Choice lists generated by the GolfPass community ratings and reviews. The club is located at 8701 Laurel Hill Crest Drive; Lorton, VA 22079. It is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. For more information, visit Laurel Hill Golf Club.  

Summer concerts are an American tradition. In the not-so-distant past, towns and villages across the nation boasted town bands and bandstands in the village square or the park at the center of town. Music was a catalyst, drawing young and old alike to come together as a community. Outdoors, in the long twilight of warm summer nights, the concerts marked a time to relax, share a picnic supper and catch up with friends and neighbors.

The Park Authority has adopted this summer staple from small-town America to orchestrate a renewed sense of community in Fairfax County through the Summer Entertainment Series. The lineup for the Park Authority Summer Entertainment Series includes a wide array of performances from classical to bluegrass and everything in between. Some series offer wine tasting and sales, as well as food trucks.

Get ready to enjoy exciting, free performances from such acts as:

• Earth Wind & Fire tribute band at 7:30 p.m. on June 9 at Grist Mill Park (4710 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria)
• Tom Paxton and The Don Juans at 7:30 p.m. on June 18 at Mason District Park Amphitheater (6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale)
• Groovalicious at 6 p.m. on June 24 at Mosaic Live at Mosaic District (Strawberry Lane, Fairfax)
• Bill Kirchen at 7:30 p.m. on July 6 at Nottoway Park (9537 Courthouse Road, Vienna)

Search the entire lineup by performer name, style, location and date and find specific details regarding each series on the Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series website.

These 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.

This event 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 at for more information or call 703-324-8582.

Spaces are open for Fairfax County Park Authority’s award-winning summer camps. Register today and give your child or teen the opportunity to take part in unique, hands-on experiences they will remember for a lifetime. Whether it’s refining skills in sports, going on daily adventures, or discovering a new hobby — summer camps have something for everyone to enjoy. All summer camp spaces will remain open on a first-come, first-serve basis through the end of the season.

Are you looking for a quick listing of all camps with enrollment availability? Check out our recently updated Camp Spreadsheet. You can sort available camps by date, location or camp category. Once you find the camp you’re interested in, use the Catalog ID to register online.

Register for Camps

Camps are available for children of all ages and abilities at multiple locations across Fairfax County. Learn more and explore the variety of summer camp offerings on the Camps website. Questions about summer camps can be sent via email to camps@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority, joined by Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and dozens from surrounding communities celebrated National Trails Day in a big way at Lake Accotink Park. The occasion marked the completion of the Accotink Creek Crossing, a 325-foot elevated concrete pedestrian crossing over the dam outfall in Lake Accotink Park and the reopening of a nearly 4-mile-long trail loop around Lake Accotink in Springfield.

The Lake Accotink Trail Loop is one of the most heavily used trail facilities owned and maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority, serving park visitors from the surrounding community and from throughout the region as it is interconnected with the Gerry Connolly Cross-County Trail. The original trail, crossing the outfall at water level, was often susceptible to sudden and damaging flooding during major storm events. On two occasions within the past five years, the trail was out of commission for extended periods for extensive reconstruction work. This project not only moves the trail above the threat of flooding, it provides an accessible connection to the entire trail loop for hikers and bikers of all ages and abilities and provides a new elevated vantagepoint from which to view the waterfront park.

“It’s in our nature to be in nature,” remarked Park Authority Director Jai Cole. “Hiking and biking along are some of the most convenient and best ways to do that, which makes it all the more fitting that we celebrate the completion of this project on National Trails Day. The Park Authority is steward for more than 335 miles of trails within our system that traverse all kinds of landscapes – forests, creeks, rivers, ponds, rocks, hills, and suburban and urban communities. We’re fortunate to live in a community where there is such diversity to enjoy along the trail, and the Accotink Trail Loop is one such gem.”

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, trail-goers enjoyed a day filled with self-guided geocaching, a guided bike tour, and guided hikes focusing on the rich natural resources and history along the trail. The event was made possible with support from the Friends of Lake Accotink Park, Trails For Youth and the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

For more information about trails in Fairfax County, visit the Trails website.

Why settle for an office gig when you can enjoy the great outdoors and get paid for it! The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking to fill several seasonal and part-time positions at a variety of park locations surrounded by trees, sunlight, water, history, animals and fun! With so many opportunities to choose from, applicants can literally choose their own adventure!

Some available positions include:

Colvin Run Mill

• Summer Camp Leader

Frying Pan Farm Park

• Farm Hand
• Maintenance Worker
• Store Operation Staff
• Historic Educator
• Equestrian Assistant

Green Spring Gardens

• Horticulture/Nature Programming Coordinator (Adult Programs)

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

• Birthday Party Program Leader
• Visitor Services Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator

Sully Historic Site

• Visitor Center Associate
• Maintenance (Landscape and Gardening)

Work in a fun, upbeat atmosphere, surrounded by nature and scenic views. Summer employees also have access to use any FCPA Rec Center. Additional benefits include opportunities for advancement and a competitive salary ranging from $12 to over $18 per hour, depending on position and experience.

Job seekers are invited to an Open Hire on Tuesday, June 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center located at 2739 West Ox Road in Herndon. Meet staff from the sites, apply, interview on site, and potentially walk away with a job! If you can’t make the open hire session, you can still apply online at the Nature and History Jobs webpage.

For more information, contact the Park Authority at FCPAJOBS@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-8792.

Flying a kite may seem like a simple, easy and fun way to spend a breezy day at the park, but the activity does come with strings attached! Generally, kite flying is a welcomed activity and fairly benign; however, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has received an increasing number of reports of kite string filament and other kite debris as a potential injury risk, as well as causing damage to plants, wildlife and maintenance equipment.

Kite string filament is being found in trees and on the ground. Park patrons, wildlife managers and Park Authority staff are regularly documenting harm to birds, reptiles and other wildlife caught in kite line. FCPA site maintenance expenditures are rising due to kite string being wrapped up in mowers and other site-specific vehicles. Animal Control has been called on occasion to free animals trapped by the line and tend to their injuries. Even parkgoers can be at risk of injury while pulling the string out of trees or running into kite filament dangling from trees.

To help address this problem, the FCPA has established and posted signs with safe kite flying rules for Fairfax County parks, provided additional trash cans in popular kite flying locations to dispose of unwanted kites and string, and will be on the lookout to engage kite flyers who may be in violation of the rules to encourage safe and considerate behavior, so that all can enjoy the day at the park. Kite flying rules include:

1. Only fly kites in open field space away from park guests and trees.
2. Kite fighting is prohibited.
3. Monofilament or wire/metal kite string is prohibited. 
4. Do not fly kites within 75 feet of trees, power lines, light poles, parking, people or facilities.
5. Dispose of all kite string. String can be a danger to wildlife, maintenance equipment and other park users.

Individuals observing violations of these rules or any unsafe activity at the park may contact the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131.

For more information, visit the Kite Flying Rules webpage, or contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Board voted to approve two Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program grants totaling $7,517 to support improvements at the Turner Farm Observatory and Lewinsville Park. The total estimated cost for these improvements is estimated at $15,034. The approved projects include:

Turner Farm Park Observatory ($5,135)

The Analemma Society has been conducting astronomy and science educational programs for more than a decade at Turner Farm Park Observatory. This project aims to reduce light pollution and provide more authentic views of the night sky for participants in astronomy programs at the observatory. The project will include the retrofitting of 26 trail light bollards to replace current fixtures with LED lights that meet standards of kelvins, warmth and color to align with dark sky lighting standards. The retrofit project will position Turner Farm Park to apply for designation as one of seven Urban Night Sky places by the International Dark Sky Association. The Analemma Society will be contributing $5,135 toward the retrofit.

Turner Farm Park is located at 925 Springvale Road in Great Falls. For more information, visit the Turner Farm Park website or call 703-324-8750. 

Lewinsville Park ($2,382)

The increasing popularity of pickleball has been driving high demand for the athletic courts at Lewinsville Park; however, wind often interferes with play and hinders player performance and safety. This project will include the installation of 230 linear feet of black privacy slats on the existing pickleball court fencing to provide a wind screen for players. These funds will match those contributed by Baroody Camps to support the installation.

Lewinsville Park is located at 1659 Chain Bridge Road. 

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 county 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 $15.5 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.

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 the Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grants Program webpage.  

June is National Pollinator Month and the Fairfax County Park Authority is encouraging residents to celebrate and raise awareness about the significant impacts that bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and even bats have on our surroundings and what we can do to protect them.

These and many other pollinators are the unsung heroes of our natural environment. They ensure the reproduction of countless and diverse plant species, support food production and enhance the beauty of our communities. As important as pollination is, these creatures face numerous challenges. Habitat loss, pesticide exposure, climate change, and the spread of invasive species threaten their populations and the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

The Park Authority has compiled several activities and resources for individuals and families of all ages to participate in learning more about pollinators in our community and how to create welcoming environments to promote their survival and prosperity. Some examples include creating pollinator gardens, reducing pesticide use and providing nesting sites in your yard. Every action counts.

For a complete list of resources and ideas, visit the National Pollinator Month webpage.

Preventing the spread of invasive species is crucial for preserving the health and balance of ecosystems. Invasive species include nonnative plants, animals or microorganisms that are introduced to an ecosystem outside of their natural range. These species often have no natural predators, which allow them to spread rapidly and outcompete native species for resources essential to survival.

June 3 to June 10 is PlayCleanGo Awareness Week in North America. The week’s goal is to show outdoor enthusiasts how they can stop invasive plants and pests from spreading, while enjoying the outdoors. It’s not as difficult as one might think. Here are a few simple and practical steps individuals can take to stop the spread:

• Clean your shoes, clothes, packs and pets before and after exploring; and stay on designated trails.
• Clean your horse’s hooves and feed them weed-free certified hay before your adventure.
• Clean, drain and dry your watercraft and angling equipment to stop aquatic hitchhikers.
• Don’t move firewood! Buy it where you burn it. Buy certified heat-treated firewood or gather on site when permitted.
• Before traveling to new areas, inspect and clean trailers, off-road vehicles and recreational vehicles with water or compressed air to remove mud, plant parts and hidden pests. 

To learn more about invasive species and ways to help, visit the Invasive Management Area Program website.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, holds immense historical and cultural significance as a celebration of African American freedom and achievement. As communities come together to honor this important milestone in American history, the Park Authority invites members of the community to celebrate and join in a variety of activities on and around Juneteenth that commemorate the past, celebrate the present and look forward to a future of unity and progress.

Paths of Freedom Seekers (June 11, 22): At Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, listen to stories of African Americans who were forced to live and work on this farm. Reflect on individuals’ stories of resistance and survival. Learn how enslaved communities and freedom seekers have forged a path of resiliency throughout American history. The program is available on Sunday, June 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and on Thursday, June 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. The cost is $8. 

Register for Paths of Freedom Seekers

Forgotten Road Tour (June 15 - 17): The tour at Sully Historic Site includes a walk into the original outbuildings and representative slave quarter cabin. Learn the history of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Sully more than 200 years ago. Sully is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Tour is held weather-permitting. The programs are held from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Free. 

Register for Forgotten Road Tour

Juneteenth Celebration (June 17): Celebrate African American stories, food traditions, music, and contributions to American spiritual life at Frying Pan Farm Park. Activities will include a special guest storyteller, live music, crafts, history, and food trucks offering African American cuisine. You can register for a slot in this free event that takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Register for Juneteenth at Frying Pan Park

Sully Car Show (June 18): The annual car show at Sully Historic Site blends the future with the past. While enjoying more than 200 antique cars on display and learning about African American inventors and patent holders in the automotive industry, families can also enjoy tours of the first floor of the historic house and learn about the lives of the enslaved people who worked on the farm more than a century ago. The car show is from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors; and $8 for children. 

Register for Sully Car Show

Underground Railroad Quilt Codes (June 18): According to legend, fabric quilts were stitched with coded patterns to assist escaped enslaved people moving along the historic Underground Railroad to find safety. While historians debate this legend, local quilter, Sharon Tindall supports this theory of quilt codes through her specialization in African American quilt patterns. View her handmade quilts, created with fabrics and patterns typically used in the mid-1800s and learn more about these storied quilts and what they mean to our American history. The program at Green Spring Gardens is from 1 to 2 p.m. The cost is $15. 

Register for Quilt Codes

To learn more about the Park Authority’s Juneteenth celebrations or to register for programs, please visit the Juneteenth webpage.