Park Authority

Kids and teens can get ready for the upcoming golf season with classes and discounts from Golf Fairfax. Golf Fairfax is committed to the development of young golfers in a game that encourages good manners, builds friendships and can make for a lifetime of enjoyment. Junior golfers can enjoy Golf Fairfax discounts and instruction programs all year long:

At the Range: Junior golfers can buy any-sized bucket and get one small bucket free at Burke Lake and Oakmont Golf Centers (limit one per day).

On the Green: Junior golfers ages 5 to 17 can enjoy 35% off regular weekday greens fees (holidays excluded) at Burke Lake, Greendale, Jefferson, Oakmont, Pinecrest and Twin Lakes; and at Laurel Hill after 12 p.m. every day.

Golf Instruction: Golf Fairfax offers a variety of ways for junior golfers of varying ages to learn and improve. Group classes or private lessons are available at Burke Lake, Laurel Hill, Oakmont, Pinecrest and Twin Lakes. Starting New at Golf (SNAG) course teaches junior golfers ages 5 to 8 the basics of the game in a modified form using larger and colorful clubs to increase confidence and coordination. Junior Get Golf Ready and Get Golf Ready Parent/Child are perfect for new and learning juniors and families, who want to get into the game.

Register for spring golf classes

First Tee Experience: Golf Fairfax partners with The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC, to offer The First Tee Life Skills Experience classes and camps at Laurel Hill Golf Club, Oakmont Golf Center and Twin Lakes Golf Course. Registration closes on March 1 for spring session. Classes are held March 14 through April 18. This six-week program teaches kids and teens golf mechanics through engaging drills and fun games. For more information, visit the First Tee Experience webpage.

Youth On Course: Golf Fairfax’s partnership with Youth on Course and the Virginia State Golf Association provides access to life-changing opportunities for junior golfers ages 6 to 18. Burke Lake and Oakmont Golf centers now offer Youth on Course members a round of golf (nine holes at Oakmont, nine or 18 at Burke Lake) for $5, Monday-Thursday after 12 p.m. and Friday-Sunday after 2 p.m. For more information, visit the Youth on Course webpage.

To learn more about all of the Junior Golf classes, discount and programs Golf Fairfax has to offer, visit the Junior Golf webpage.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is hiring several part-time seasonal and year-round positions at park locations across the county. Pay is competitive and ranges from $12 to $18 per hour depending on position and experience. Additionally, new employees hired to support summer operations may be eligible for a $500 sign-on bonus. Join our team to share your passion for nature, history, farming or gardening as an employee in the Resource Management and Interpretation Division (RMD).

Positions are available at the following Park Authority sites: Lake Accotink Park, Burke Lake Park, Colvin Run Mill, Frying Pan Farm Park, Green Spring Gardens, Lake Fairfax Park, Riverbend Park, Sully Historic Site and Natural Resource Branch (Herrity Building). 

For a full list of open roles and detailed job descriptions, visit the Nature and History Jobs webpage.

The Park Authority will be hosting two open hire events for positions at these locations. Job seekers are welcome to attend one of the following events to meet staff from the sites, apply, interview and potentially walk away with a job.

• Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Herrity Building (12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax)
• Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Park Office at Lake Accotink Park (7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield)

If you are unable to attend one of RMD’s open hire events, you can submit an application online at the Nature and Jobs webpage.

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

Start Your Application

Spring is on the way and that means Earth Day is right around the corner! Mark your calendar and make your plans to join Fairfax County’s largest, family-friendly Earth Day extravaganza at Sully Historic Site on Saturday, April 20. Celebrate Earth Day with a fantastic time filled with games, entertainment, food and a variety of hands-on crafts, exhibits and activities. Activities will take place all day long from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. There is a parking fee of $10 per vehicle.

There’s more than enough fun to go around! Meet WUSA-9 meteorologist Topper Shutt and his team, see the Eco9 hybrid production truck and learn how to report your own weather forecast. See our farmland friends from Frying Pan Farm Park and learn about local plant and wildlife. Enjoy fun experiments that will increase your understanding of the water cycle and other natural processes going on all around us. Challenge yourself with the popular Earth Day obstacle course or test your inner-outdoorsman with Nerf archery, ax throwing, fishing and camping skills. You can also participate in a wide variety of outdoor fitness demonstrations from yoga to bootcamps, and even try our outdoor synthetic ice skating rink. Earth Day will also have a full slate of live entertainment, a touch-a-truck exhibit, food trucks and a craft beer garden.

For those who may need to find a calmer and more relaxed way of celebrating the day, or who may just need to take a break from the excitement, there will also be a sensory tent with toys, fidgets and crafts.

That’s just for starters! With so much to do, learn and experience, it’s an event you’re not going to want to miss. Keep up-to-date with the latest event details at the Earth Day website. See you at Earth Day on April 20!

Download Flyer

Sully Historic Site is located at 3650 Historic Sully Way, in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The 2024 Earth Day Festival is made possible in partnership with 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. Visit the Park Foundation website for more information or call 703-324-8582.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin revitalization work at McLean Central Park in early March. The project scope includes the removal and replacement of the existing walkways and playgrounds, and the addition of a new pavilion.

Contractor Imperio will mobilize on site over the next week, and active construction activities are slated to begin the first week of March. FCPA anticipates that active construction will conclude by the end of 2024.

Residents should expect occasional construction traffic entering and exiting Dolley Madison Road. While portions of the park will be closed throughout the duration of the construction, access for tennis court and basketball court usage will remain open.

McLean Central Park is located at 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd. in McLean. For more information, please contact project manager Heather Lynch at heather.lynch@fairfaxcounty.gov; or contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

This project was made possible in part by contributions made through the Fairfax County Park Foundation in partnership with the McLean Central Park Playground Team. The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the Fairfax County Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships. For more information about the Park Foundation, visit its website or call 703-324-8582.

Tired of searching through tee time cancellations to see whether your desired spot has opened up? Get “No-Tee-Fied” with Golf Fairfax’s new virtual tee time waitlist and assistant, powered by Noteefy.

This new system allows golfers to receive real-time notifications when their desired tee time becomes available. Notifications are personalized for each golfer and are fully integrated with the tee sheet. The new virtual tee time waitlist and assistant eliminate looking for cancellations, calling the pro shop and constantly refreshing the online tee sheet.

"We know that looking for cancellations, or calling over and over to find a desired tee time isn’t fun. With our new virtual waitlist and assistant, golfers will know immediately when the time they want has become available. We hope that this new tool enhances our customer experience," said Ryan Carmen, division director for Golf Fairfax.

Customers can set their desired playing preferences at any Golf Fairfax course (days of the week, time of day and number of players) for as far in advance as they’d like. Then, based on those preferences, the virtual waitlist and assistant will text and email them as soon as any applicable tee times are available, with a link directly to the booking page. Tee times are still first come, first served and are not guaranteed, so booking when notified is key. Customers can easily stop notifications after obtaining a tee time.

Signing up for the virtual tee time waitlist and assistant is quick and easy and takes less than 30 seconds. For more information and to sign up, visit the Virtual Tee Time Waitlist and Assistant website.

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we must deliver the news that Charlie, our beloved Belgian Draft horse passed away peacefully in his sleep February 15 at the age of 20. 

Charlie was more than just a farm animal; he was a part of our Park Authority, Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park and Frying Pan Farm Park family. Our staff had the pleasure of caring for and bonding with him for over 7 years. Many staff attended draft horse driving school to better care for Charlie. Everyone loved him and understood his personality. He didn’t like to be tied to something but would stand there all day if you asked him. He was fearful of the stripes on the crosswalk and the Ferris wheel gave him the chills, but once he got to know something, he was great with it. 
 
Charlie lived a life filled with love and brought great joy to the lives of others. He warmed the hearts of our staff and community with his gentle nature and affectionate personality. Charlie and his fellow horse Jeff were the main attraction for almost every visitor to the park. He was often seen posing for a group of folks that wanted a picture with the giant work horse. 

Charlie took ill on Monday, February 12, and staff and veterinarians worked with him all week to provide around-the-clock care and comfort while awaiting blood test results. Once the results were received, he was given antibiotics to fight the infection in his abdomen, but in the end, he passed away on the evening of Thursday, February 15. Charlie’s remains will be sent to pathology for a better understanding of his cause of death. 

Charlie will be very missed, but his legacy will live on with the lasting impact he made and fond memories he shaped.

Those who would like to pay their respects and honor Charlie are welcome to drop off letters or items to his stall at the Kidwell Barn at Frying Pan Farm Park.
 

This summer, you can get paid to play! The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking creative, high-energy, motivated candidates for full-time seasonal positions in its Rec-PAC summer camp program. Several positions across the county are open, including Site Directors, Camp Leaders and Inclusion Leaders. Pay is competitive and ranges from $16.87 to $23.75 per hour depending on experience, education and certifications. The Park Authority will also be offering a $500 gross sign-on bonus for summer employees!

The Park Authority will host a number of open hiring events, where job seekers can learn about Rec-PAC employment opportunities, interview and potentially receive an offer on the spot. Interested individuals are welcome to attend one of the following in-person hiring events:

• Wednesday, March 6, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fairfax County Herrity Building
• Wednesday, March 13, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fairfax County Herrity Building
• Wednesday, May 8, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fairfax County Herrity Building
• Friday, May 31, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fairfax County Herrity Building
• Monday, June 3, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fairfax County Herrity Building
• Wednesday, June 5, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fairfax County Herrity Building

If you can’t make it to an in-person open hiring event, job seekers are also welcome to attend one of the following virtual interview sessions:

• Thursday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Virtual 
• Wednesday, Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Virtual 

For more information about open positions, hiring qualifications and requirements and to submit an application, please visit the Rec-PAC Program Counselor Jobs webpage. For additional questions, please contact the Park Authority via email at FCPAJOBS@fairfaxcounty.gov or by phone at 703-324-5933.

In 2020, the Fairfax County Sports Tourism Task Force issued a report that highlighted the need for athletic field and court complexes that can better facilitate tournament play in order to help the county better compete in the sports tourism marketplace. The report proposed a set of recommended actions related to the development of sports tourism complexes in Fairfax County.

In response to the task force recommendations, the Park Authority advertised a Request for Interest (RFI) to identify expressions of interest in the development of multisports tournament complexes at potential FCPA sites. The Park Authority received four submissions in response. After an evaluation of the proposals received, it has been determined that none of the submissions are viable options to move forward as proposed.

While there is no official Request for Interest posted at this time, interested parties may submit unsolicited proposals through the Public-Private Educational Facilities and Infrastructures Act (PPEA) process. Guidelines outlining the PPEA process and the submission of unsolicited proposals are available at the Procurement and Material Management website. 

For questions or additional information, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Groove to the music, grab a bite to eat and get festive at an upcoming Family Skate and Dance Night hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority at the Franconia Rec Center!

Take a lap around Franconia Rec Center’s gym floor on your roller skates, inline skates or in your walking shoes (Bring your own skates/footwear). Events feature music by a DJ and festive themes. Pizza; snacks such as popcorn, chips, cookies and ice cream; and drinks are available for purchase. Tickets cost $10 for everyone, including skaters, dancers, spectators and chaperones. 

Grab your friends and family and head out for a fun evening at one of the following events:

• Valentine’s Disco (Saturday, Feb. 17, 6-9 p.m.): Wear your Valentine’s Day finest or disco outfit.
• St. Patrick’s Day (Saturday, March 16, 6-9 p.m.): Come decked out in green to celebrate the holiday.
• Glow Party (Saturday, April 20, 6-9 p.m.): Light up the night in neon or anything that glows for this event, held in partnership with Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services.
• Star Wars Night (Saturday, May 4, 6-9 p.m.): Come decked out in the galaxy’s finest Star Wars outfit.
• Skate and Dance Night One Year Anniversary (Saturday, May 18, 6-9 p.m.)
• Juneteenth Celebration (Saturday, June 15, 6-9 p.m.): Wear red, black, green and yellow to celebrate freedom, resilience and the perseverance and spirit of Black people in this nation)

Register for Skate Night

Skate nights now can be booked for private parties to celebrate birthdays or other events. Call 703-922-9841 to inquire.

The Franconia Rec Center is located at 6601 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. For more information, visit the Franconia Rec Center website or call 703-922-9841.

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.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is reaching out to the countywide community seeking a better understanding of residents’ experience with the park system and to identify potential barriers that may be limiting their ability to more fully take advantage of the programs and amenities offered. The survey, offered in nine languages through the county’s community engagement platform Public Input, will be open through Monday, April 1.

"The Park Authority has intentionally been applying an equity lens to our park system in order to ensure that the accessibility and variety of our program offerings align with the present-day values and interests of our community,” said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “This latest outreach effort is important to help us identify the barriers that yet need to be overcome such as economic, cultural, transportation and others so that we can continue to make the benefits of parks accessible to everyone."

In 2022, the Fairfax County Park Authority began a comprehensive review of its fee-based revenue model with the objective of identifying a new path forward toward increasing the equity of access to county park and recreation programming. The initial findings of the Park Authority Equity Study, coupled with a History of the Park Authority, were presented to both the Park Authority Board and Board of Supervisors in late January.

The results of this latest survey, combined with further analysis of the recommendations presented are anticipated to be presented to the Park Authority Board and Board of Supervisors in fall 2024.

Take the Equity Survey

Please contact the Public Information Office with any questions by emailing Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.