Park Authority

The Fairfax County Park Authority invites thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts to unlock the mysteries of geocaching in a winter wonderland! Park Authority parks offer numerous ways to geocache all year long.

Whether you're a seasoned geocacher or a novice ready to embark on a new adventure, the Park Authority’s Geocaching Adventures provides experienced instructors and expeditions to satisfy your geocaching cravings. All you need is weather-appropriate attire and an adventurous spirit! All equipment is provided, and our instructors are primed to lead you on a fantastic exploration of two of our largest parks: Burke Lake Park and Lake Fairfax Park.

Geocaching Adventures Class Sessions

• Lake Fairfax Park (Jan. 27; 1 to 3 p.m.). Cost $23.

To learn more about geocaching on your own in Fairfax County Parks or to register for a class, visit the Geocaching website.

Burke Lake Park is located at 7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. For more information, visit the Burke Lake Park website or call 703-323-6600.

Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston. For more information, visit the Lake Fairfax Park website or call 703-471-5415.

Check out your neighborhood Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Center for free on Wednesday, Jan. 24. If you are a current Rec Center member, bring family and friends along to check out these community wellness hubs. Visitors will receive a free, 7-day trial membership or be able to purchase a 30-day for $30 pass to the Park Authority's Rec Centers.

Everyone is invited to explore the Rec Centers, use gym equipment, take a lap in the pool and try out drop-in fitness classes (space permitting) all day long. Each Rec Center will offer special programs and activities from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 24. Come by in the evening to visit the membership table, grab some giveaways, take part in arts and crafts, and enjoy other special offerings.

Additional information for the Open House programming at each individual Rec Center is available online for the following locations:

• Audrey Moore, 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale
• Cub Run, 4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly
• Franconia, 6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria
• George Washington, 8426 Old Mt. Vernon Road, Alexandria
• Oakmont, 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton
• Providence, 7525 Marc Drive, Falls Church
• South Run, 7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield
• Spring Hill, 1239 Spring Hill Road, McLean

Interested in becoming a member? During January, join or renew annual memberships at a 15% discount. There are no initiation fees or annual dues. Memberships can be purchased in person at any of the Rec Centers or on the Rec Center membership website.

Learn more about what Rec Centers have to offer, the Open Houses and the January membership sale by visiting the Rec Center website.

View the Rec Center Open House flyer

Play through the winter and warm up your golf game with heated, covered and indoor practice and play opportunities with Golf Fairfax.

Keep your swing in prime condition with heated and covered bays at one of our top-notch driving ranges, voted top 50 Public Ranges in the U.S. by the Golf Range Association of America. The double-decker ranges at Burke Lake and Oakmont feature heated and covered bays, with LED lighting, a variety of food and beverage options, and a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere.

Keep your game strong at the indoor studio at Pinecrest Golf Course's Valis Family Golf Learning Center. Try one of the three indoor hitting bays or bring the crew out for a private reservation of the Trackman Indoor Simulator Suite, both reserved by the hour. Play with up to four players while enjoying food and beverage options from Pinecrest Grill. The 300-square-foot room is equipped with modern sofas and a 55-inch TV for entertainment. Play tournament courses, such as St. Andrews, PGA National, The Grove or 20 more, including par-3 options. Use the range feature to capture more than 30 pieces of data analytics to understand and improve your swing.

Burke Lake Golf Center is located at 6915 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, Virginia. For more information, visit the Burke Lake Golf Center webpage.

Oakmont Golf Center is located at 3136 Jermantown Road, Oakton, Virginia. For more information, visit the Oakmont Golf Center Practice Facilities webpage.

Pinecrest Golf Course is located at 6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, Virginia. To learn more or make a reservation, visit the Pinecrest Golf Course Indoor Golf Practice Facility webpage. 

Despite some patchy rain, clouds and chilly weather, thousands of faithful Fairfax County park-goers enjoyed the tradition of First Hike along trails and within local parks on New Year’s Day. Several hundred visitors participated in the Fairfax County Park Authority’s annual First Hike Photo Contest by submitting their best photos of their visit. A panel of judges has reviewed the entries and selected a group of finalists for the 2024 People’s Choice Award – to be selected by popular vote among the community.

Cast your vote this weekend at https://bit.ly/2024-first-hike-peoples-choice! Voting is open through 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 8. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a $100 Park Authority gift card.

“The Park Authority would like to thank the thousands of visitors who decided to spend their New Year’s Day in the parks and along the trails,” said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “Not only does our park system offer great opportunities to promote healthy, active living for individuals of all ages and abilities, but these experiences also serve to bring communities together. We appreciate the strong support of our countywide community as we provide a vastly diverse range of amenities, programs, special events and activities to enhance the quality of life we enjoy here.”

A complete gallery of photos submitted as part of the 2024 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest are available on the Park Authority’s Flickr page. Winners will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 11.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is gearing up for another Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sully Historic Site. Applications are now being accepted for vendors and exhibitors to participate in this the largest Earth Day celebration in Fairfax County.

Every year, thousands of individuals and families gather to celebrate our connection with the outdoors with fun-filled, family-friendly activities, exhibits, entertainment and food. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary event.

Applications are being accepted online at the Earth Day Festival Vendor/Exhibitor Information webpage. Vendors, exhibitors with direct product sales can save $50 on the registration fee by applying before Jan. 20. Exhibitors with no direct sales (educational, civic organizations, nonprofit organizations, etc.) can apply to participate for as little as $50. All applications must be received by Feb. 12. Acceptance notifications will be sent by Feb. 20. All applicable booth fees must be paid by March 20.

For more information and about the event, hosting a booth and to submit your application, visit Earth Day Festival Vendor/Exhibitor Information webpage. 

For additional information, please contact FCPAParkPermits@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

The Fairfax County Park Authority is beginning the evaluation of a new curator application for the Mount Gilead historic property located in the Sully District at 5634 Mount Gilead Road, Centreville. The evaluation will include multiple livestreamed work sessions, a public meeting and an extended public comment period to receive public input and questions for consideration of the application. Details pertaining to the proposed curator application and opportunities for submitting public comment are now available at the Mount Gilead Historic House Resident Curatorship website. 

Public comments are being accepted online and via mail through Monday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. The Park Authority will also host an in-person public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Centreville Regional Library (14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville). The meeting will include an overview of the Resident Curator Program, the curator application, and opportunity for questions and answers from the community.

The Evaluation Team will convene at its initial work session on Monday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be livestreamed and a recording will be made available following the meeting. Subsequent sessions have been scheduled at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29 (if needed), and Thursday, Feb. 8. While the work sessions will be viewable by the public, they will not include a public comment period.

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 offers long-term lease agreements to qualified tenants in beautiful public park settings. The curator leases are without charge in exchange for a financial commitment and approved rehabilitation of the Park Authority’s underutilized historic properties.

Learn more by visiting the Resident Curator Program website. For additional questions, contact Stephanie Langton, manager of the Resident Curator Program, at 703-324-8791.

Start the new year off on the right track by becoming a member of Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Rec Centers. January offers the perfect opportunity to start a new fitness routine with Rec Center annual memberships on sale throughout the month.

Annual memberships provide access to all Rec Centers and all the fitness opportunities they offer, including strength training and cardio equipment, drop-in fitness classes, pools, saunas and other spaces for fitness, such as sports courts/rooms, gyms and even indoor walking/running tracks at two locations. Find your fitness community at FCPA Rec Centers.

During January, join or renew annual memberships at a 15% discount. There are no initiation fees or annual dues. Memberships can be purchased in person at any of the Rec Centers or on the Rec Center membership website.

Are you interested in learning more about what Rec Centers have to offer? Everyone is invited to stop in for free at any Rec Center for an Open House event on Wednesday, Jan. 24. See our Rec Center amenities firsthand, take part in fitness demonstrations, enjoy family-friendly activities, and learn more about membership. Entry is free all day but stop by between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. to enjoy special programming, such as fitness class demonstrations, facility tours, games, snacks and giveaways.

If annual membership doesn’t fit your needs, speak with a staff member about other membership and pass options, including a month-to-month plan. New members can also begin a trial membership with our 30 days for $30 offer. Learn more about these options by visiting the Rec Center membership website or by calling 703-222-4664.

For more information about Rec Center amenities, offerings, locations and contact information, visit the Rec Center website.

View the Membership Sale flyer

Dive into the spirit of community and discover the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service and Learning Event on Monday, Jan. 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Enjoy a dynamic and engaging activity that will have participants rotating through different stations to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, participate in a community service project and reflect on the power of community cooperation. This event is not just educational, it’s an opportunity for families to come together and make a positive impact in our community.

The program is $8 per person; all participants must be registered.

Register for MLK Jr. Service and Learning Day

Frying Pan Farm Park Visitors Center is located at 2709 West Ox Road in Herndon. For additional details, please visit the Frying Pan Farm Park website.

Brace yourselves for an out-of-this-world experience. The Fairfax County Park Authority invites you to be a part of some captivating astronomy events!

Stargazing Spectacular

Jan. 13 (5:30 – 7:45 p.m.) at Burke Lake Park

Join fellow stargazers for an evening filled with awe-inspiring sights packed with family activities, a campfire and celestial lore. Burke Lake Park is located at 7315 Ox Road, in Fairfax Station.

Register for Stargazing Spectacular

Astronomy Festival

Jan. 20 (5 to 7:30 p.m.) and Feb. 17 (5:30 to 8 p.m.) at Turner Farm Park Observatory

Prepare to be mesmerized as the night sky transforms into a cosmic canvas, showcasing the wonders of the universe. Enjoy stargazing though telescopes, hear ancient stories of constellations while staying warm by the campfire. The Turner Farm Park Observatory is located at 925 Springvale Road, in Great Falls.

Register for Astronomy Festival

Whether you're an amateur astronomer or just someone looking to be enchanted by the beauty of the cosmos, these events promise an unforgettable journey into the vastness of space. So, pack your curiosity and a sense of wonder, and join us for an astronomical extravaganza like no other!

For more information or to register for these events, visit the Astronomy webpage.

For the fourth-consecutive year, Jon Eisman has been rated one of Virginia’s Top 10 Best Teachers by Golf Digest magazine. Eisman is the director of instruction and owner of the Eisman Golf Academy at Laurel Hill Golf Club and Twin Lakes Golf Course.

For nearly two decades, Eisman has been in high demand for his expertise and guidance in the golf instruction industry. This year, the Eisman Golf Academy, located at Laurel Hill Golf Club, opened a 2,600-square-foot Performance Lab that includes two indoor-outdoor bays designated for one-on-one instruction. The new Performance Lab serves as an excellent proving ground for seasoned golfers aiming to enhance their skills and beginners looking to learn from experienced instructors, contributing to the continued growth and success of the game.

"I am very thankful and grateful to once again be nominated by my peers as one of the best instructors in Virginia. There are so many instructors, professionals, educators and students who have helped shape my career path, and I thank each of you for your constant support. Thank you to all my students out there who have put their trust in my hands over the years," Eisman said.

The Eisman Academy’s team of professionals offer golf expertise and personality, blended with science-specific research. The Eisman Golf Performance Center at Laurel Hill features the latest in golf technology and allows for year-round instruction, featuring state-of the-art Swing Catalyst and Trackman technology. In addition to swing analysis, the Eisman Golf Academy also offers camps, private lessons, 9-hole on course lessons and junior programs at Laurel Hill and Twin Lakes golf courses.

Laurel Hill Golf Club is located at 8701 Laurel Hill Crest Drive in Lorton and is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. For more information or to view tee times, visit the Laurel Hill Golf Club’s webpage.

Twin Lakes Golf Course is located at 6201 Union Mill Road in Clifton. For more information, visit the Twin Lakes Golf Course webpage.

Both golf facilities are operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority.