Park Authority

Lee District community leaders recently honored Transurban, operators of the 495 and 95 express lanes, for significant enrichment of Fairfax County parks through contributions to the Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF). 

Officials thanked Transurban for its support at a ceremony on December 10, 2019, at the accessible carousel at the Lee District Family Recreation Area. Transurban was granted naming rights to one of the horses because of a donation to the Park Foundation. The sponsors fittingly named the Chessie’s Carousel horse “Elane.”

“Transurban is honored to support the Park Foundation’s many programs that help make our community a great place to live,” said Brent McKenzie, Transurban Government Relations & Community Outreach Manager.

Since 2011, Transurban has donated a cumulative total $182,700 to FCPF for parks and programs located near the express lanes. Grants and charitable contributions enable the Park Authority to provide the popular Lee Nights Summer Entertainment Series, Chessie’s Big Backyard playground and programs at other parks.

A $10,000 gift to the Fairfax County Park Foundation enables the donor to name one of a limited number of Chesapeake Bay-themed Carousel features. To learn more, visit Chessie’s BIG Backyard at Lee District Park.

Pictured standing from left to right are: Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter, Park Authority Board Lee District representative; Margaret Thaxton, FCPF Director of Development; Dr. Abena A. Aidoo, At-Large Park Authority Board representative; Rodney L. Lusk, Lee District Supervisor-elect; Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman-elect; Brent McKenzie, Transurban Government Relations & Community Outreach Manager; Bruce D. McLeod, FCPF Board Emeritus; Bobbi Longworth, FCPF Executive Director; Michael Gailliot, Vice Chair, FCPF Board of Directors.

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Put down your golf clubs and loosen up your legs for the “Amateur FootGolf Tournament” at Pine Golf Course on Saturday, October 19, 2019.

Pinecrest will hold its first Amateur FootGolf Tournament as part of the Virginia Commonwealth Games. This fun and friendly competition welcomes seasoned (non-tour) players as well as beginners with categories for Juniors (ages 12-17), Women (ages 18+), Men (ages 18-45) and Senior Men (ages 46+). Rules will be self-enforced with guidance from tour players. If you can kick a ball you can compete in this FootGolf fiesta. All participants will also qualify for the State Games FootGolf Amateur competition to be held in Lynchburg, Virginia this year.

The cost to compete is $25 per player. That includes 18 holes of FootGolf, goody bags and medals for the top three players in each category. Register at Pinecrest Footgolf.

Pinecrest Golf Course is located at 6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA. For more information, call 703-941-1061 or visit Pinecrest Golf Course.

Members of the community, local elected officials, and representatives from the Park Authority gathered in celebration this past Saturday at Azalea Park in Falls Church.  This small, neighborhood park has been fully redesigned and, with the collaboration and cooperation of neighbors, has become a wonderful place to play, spend time with family and friends and enjoy being outdoors.  The park now features new play equipment for all age groups, adult exercise equipment, seating areas, picnic tables, and landscaping featuring the parks’ namesake azaleas.

The Park Authority worked closely with the Greater Hillwood Citizens Association to plan the improvements for the park, and the planning and construction process was completed within one year.  As part of the process, residents formed a volunteer group to provide enhanced maintenance of the park’s landscaping. 

Cunningham Recreation, Custom Park Solutions and Denison Landscaping provided services for the project, which had a total cost of $176,500, funded via proffers. 

Pictured are members of the community and the Park Authority project team as well as Alex Strong, President of the Greater Hillwood Citizens Association; Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Kirk Kincannon, Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Authority; Ken Quincy, Providence Representative, Park Authority Board; Adam Wynn, project manager, Park Authority; Julie Guzzo, co-chair, Azalea Park Steering Committee; Paul Shirey, Park Planning Division and David Bowden, director, Park Planning Division.

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Five members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors who are not returning to their current positions after the fall recently were honored by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation for their contributions to the popular Summer Entertainment Series.

For more than 25 years, the Fairfax County Park Authority in partnership with the Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County Park Foundation has offered free summer entertainment for residents of all ages and backgrounds. The Summer Entertainment Series carries on the American tradition of summer concerts by offering musical performances, children's shows, international cultural performances, and drive-in movies through 11 local series featuring 170 free performances at 16 venues with more than 40,000 people in attendance.

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Thirteen employees from Environmental Quality Resources (EQR), LLC turned out on Friday, April 19, 2019, to provide volunteer cleanup services at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Fordson Road in Alexandria, Virginia and Wickford Park on Wickford Drive, also in Alexandria. In cooperation with the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), the EQR workers donated 65 hours of service and collected piles of trash and tires from the park.

“The Park Authority is very fortunate to have a good partner in DPWES-UDCD and exposure to a talented and generous contractor like EQR,” said Yudhie Brownson, the Park Authority’s project manager for the cleanup. “We are certainly appreciative of all the volunteers’ time and efforts, truly awesome work out there!”

EQR’s annual day of service is dedicated to friend and colleague Will Bunn. EQR describes Bunn as “a valuable employee whose passion and dedication for the environment runs through the 18 stream restoration projects he worked on so hard during his time at EQR.”

For more information about the Park Authority, visit online at Parks.

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The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday, February 21, 2019, to help guide the group’s efforts at the farm in Herndon, Virginia. The signing took place in the park’s visitors’ center.

The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park is a non-profit organization that provides significant financial and volunteer support for programs and activities at Frying Pan Farm Park. The group has held and supported numerous events, such as Spring Farm Day, Farm Harvest Day, the concert series and the annual 4-H Fair. The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park financially support the park in many ways, providing veterinary care and feed for the animals, crops for interpretation and supporting equestrian activities through fundraising horse shows and programs.

An MOU establishes a framework for a productive working relationship between organizations in order for mutual support to continue and prosper. Friends group MOUs cover issues ranging from services offered to finances, governance and administration.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Friends of Frying Pan continue to work together to preserve this community landmark and allow neighbors to enjoy activities at the site. Pictured at the recent signing are, seated at the table from left to right: Jack Pitzer, President, Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park; Ann Marlow, Vice-President; Yvonne Johnson, Frying Pan Farm Park Manager; and Sara Baldwin, Deputy Director, FCPA. Back row from left to right are: David Walters, Board Member; Nicole Stroud, Treasurer; Betty Holman, Board Member; Margaret Wergley, Board Member; Marion Scaffidi, Secretary; Anne Pearson, Board Member; Dick Hoffmann, Board Member; and Mary Olien, Park Management Specialist, Resource Management Division, FCPA.

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Diane Willen’s sunrise photo of Burke Lake Park was named the People’s Choice Winner in the 2019 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest. More than 1,250 people voted on the 15 finalists in the People’s Choice category. Willen’s photo received 209 votes, earning her 16 percent of the total vote.  

Fairfax County Park Authority also named Brian W. Knight the Judges’ Choice Winner. Judges felt that his photo of fiancée Christy Wahle striking a pose at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve perfectly captured the spirit of the annual First Hike initiative.  

Hundreds of people rang in the new year by taking a hike on Fairfax County Park Authority trails  and nearly 280 of them submitted photos for this year’s contest – more than triple that of last year. This year’s contest was expanded to encourage more park-goers to get outside and explore Fairfax County parks and trails.  Photo eligibility was expanded from five trails to the entire Park Authority trail system and voting was expanded to include more than just Facebook users. Both winners will receive a four-month RECenter pass valued at up to $300. For more info on First Hike Fairfax, visit First Hike.

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See more photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157704058540691

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the Friends of Colvin Run Mill (FOCRM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, to govern the group’s efforts at the historic mill in Great Falls, Virginia. The document was signed with a quill at the 1810 miller's house.

FOCRM is a non-profit organization that provides financial and volunteer support for programs and activities at Colvin Run Mill. Among its many activities, the group has paid for and developed new interactive tour tablets, purchased barrels for the mill and funded popular programs such as Santa at the Mill.

An MOU establishes a framework for a productive working relationship between organizations in order for mutual support to continue and prosper. Friends Group MOUs cover issues ranging from services offered to finances to governance and administration.

Pictured are (left to right): Colvin Run Mill Manager Mike Henry, Fairfax County Park Authority Director Kirk Kincannon, and Friends of Colvin Run Mill President Gene Bacher.

For more information about the Park Authority, visit online at Parks.

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The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the Friends of Green Spring (FROGS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday, January 4, 2019, at Green Spring Gardens.

FROGS was established in 1993 with the sole mission of supporting Green Spring Gardens. Over the last 25 years, it has provided more than $2 million in funding for the public garden and historic site in Alexandria, Virginia.

An MOU establishes a framework for a productive working relationship between organizations in order for mutual support to continue and prosper. Friends group MOUs cover issues ranging from services offered to finances to governance and administration.

Pictured are (left to right): FCPA Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer Sara Baldwin, FROGS President Sarah Munroe, and Green Spring Gardens Site Manager Nicole Conners. Susan Voss, who was not present in the photo, was instrumental in the MOU process for FROGS and the Federation of Friends Groups that support FCPA.

For more information about the Park Authority, visit online at Parks.

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Twenty-one volunteers offered their time and energy to the Fairfax County Park Authority on Thursday, January 3, 2019, to provide much-needed help restoring trails at Riverbend Park.

The park’s trails took a beating in late 2018 from heavy rains that caused flooding and forced some closures. Riverbend scheduled a two-hour Trail Work Day on January 3, and volunteers worked with park staff to help clear away debris, move dirt and restore hard-hit trails. The popular Potomac Heritage Trail is still muddy, but the upriver section is now open.

Pictured are some of the volunteers who provided trail work at Riverbend Park.

For more information about the Park Authority, visit online at Parks.

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