Park Authority

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin evaluating an application for curatorship of the historic Ash Grove house located in the Hunter Mill District at 8881 Ashgrove House Lane, Vienna. The evaluation will include multiple livestreamed work sessions, a public meeting and a public comment period to receive public input and questions for consideration of the applicant. Details pertaining to the proposed curator application and opportunities for submitting public comments are now available online at https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/ash-grove.

Public comments will be accepted online and via mail starting Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. The Park Authority will also host an in-person public meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 at the Patrick Henry Library (101 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). The meeting will include an overview of the Resident Curator Program, the curator application for the Ash Grove house and an opportunity for community members to ask questions.

The Evaluation Team will convene at its initial work session on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/ash-grove, and a recording will be made available following the meeting. Subsequent sessions have been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 (as needed) and Tuesday, Nov. 19. While the work sessions will be viewable by the public, they will not include a public comment period.

Ash Grove is one of the few standing 18th-century Virginia houses and was built by the Fairfax family. Thomas Fairfax built the original portion of the house in 1790, and the family inhabited the house until 1847. The house sits on approximately one acre of land between the densely wooded Old Courthouse Spring Branch stream valley and the Westwood Village townhouse subdivision. The property’s grounds have several historic structures, including the house and restored 18th-century brick kitchen, and smokehouse.

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 financial commitment and approved rehabilitation of the Park Authority’s underutilized historic properties.

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

The Fairfax County Park Authority earned awards for outstanding, innovative programs to build community in the parks at the annual conference of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) held in Norfolk, Virginia. The VRPS Awards honor exemplary members, volunteers and agencies of the parks and recreation community for achievements during the previous calendar year. The Park Authority was recognized for the Most Creative Marketing Strategy and the Best New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative in 2023.

Most Creative Marketing Strategy: Skate the Wake

In October 2023, a community on wheels gathered to attend a unique new event to celebrate the opening of the newly redesigned Wakefield Skate Park. The family-friendly event brought out skateboarders of all levels for an amazing day and provide a remarkable community connection. Reaching the skating community required an innovative marketing strategy featuring a branded suite of custom-designed materials; promotional video; extensive partnerships locally and nationally; celebrity guests; and robust outreach over email, news outlets, publications and social media. Despite the need to be rescheduled twice due to weather conditions, the event drew more than 250 skaters and spectators, and word of the amazing new facility reached tens of thousands across the metropolitan area, making the Wakefield Skate Park the new buzz throughout the skating community.

Best New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative: Parks on Ice

In the summer of 2023, the Park Authority launched an innovative approach to bring ice skating to new areas where many children had not experienced the sport before. The program, supported by a diverse team of professionals introduced synthetic ice rinks to Earth Day and the 2023 Rec-PAC Summer Camps, which serve children in opportunity areas throughout the county. Through partnerships and scholarships, Parks on Ice eliminated barriers to participation and created a supportive environment for children to explore this new activity in a welcoming community environment.

“The Fairfax County Park Authority is made up of some of the most dynamic and talented park and recreation professionals in the country,” said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “Every day our team exhibits outstanding dedication to their craft and to providing amazing experiences and opportunities for ALL Fairfax County residents regardless of age, ability, race, income or where they may live. Parks are places where our community thrives, and we are proud to be setting a high standard in the D.C. area, throughout the commonwealth and across the nation.”

A new skate park is planned for development at Mount Vernon Woods Park and the community is encouraged to share their input. Spohn Ranch, Inc., in coordination with the Fairfax County Park Authority, will host a survey to collect feedback on the proposed design for the skate park. Community members are encouraged to participate in the survey by Oct. 10, 2024.

The Park Authority and contractor, Spohn Ranch, Inc. will launch the discussion on the design at a virtual public meeting previously announced for Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be accessible online at https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/mount-vernon-woods. A recording of the proceedings will be available following the meeting.

Comments and input received from the public meeting and the subsequent survey will inform the creation of final design concepts that are anticipated to be shared with the community for comment by early November for a 30-day comment period. Construction of the skatepark is currently anticipated for fall 2025.

The skatepark is phase II of the redevelopment of Mount Vernon Woods Park. Phase I is currently underway and is expected to conclude by early 2025. Mount Vernon Woods Park is located at 4014 Fielding St. in Alexandria.

For more information about this project, please contact the project manager, Heather Lynch, at heather.lynch@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin renovations at Field 7 at Wakefield Park. The project will include installation of new fencing, bleacher pads, infield work and drainage improvements. The field will close for renovations on Oct. 1 and is anticipated to open for the new season in spring 2025.

Please use the Park Amenity Locator to identify alternate fields to use during this closure.

Wakefield Park is located at 8100 Braddock Road in Annandale. For questions about this project, please contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin a series of maintenance projects for the playground features at Clemyjontri Park. The project will include a number of routine maintenance activities and repairs to ensure the continued safety and long-term enjoyment of one of the Park Authority’s most popular parks. Contractors will mobilize on site beginning Monday, Sept. 30. Weather pending, construction is expected to conclude on Friday, Oct. 4.

Over the course of the week, work will be accomplished in a phased approach to ensure that the majority of park features will remain open during the week and minimize the inconvenience for park patrons. Park features have been separated into four “zones” (as pictured). The work will cycle through the park, one zone at a time, beginning with zone 1 on Sept. 30. As the repairs in each zone are completed, they will be reopened, and crews will move to the next zone. All areas without active work will remain open until their turn in the cycle.

Built in 2006, Clemyjontri Park is a unique, accessible playground where children of all abilities can engage in a parallel playground experience of fun and exploration. The playground is located at 6317 Georgetown Pike in McLean.

For questions about this project, please contact project manager Heather Lynch at heather.lynch@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk will be addressing a group of gathered volunteers at the Franconia Rec Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, to commemorate National Public Lands Day. Speakers will be highlighting the outstanding contributions of resident volunteers in protecting and preserving the natural, cultural and recreational resources of our treasured park system.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort to preserve, restore, improve and enjoy America’s public lands. In recognition of the occasion, the Park Authority has organized volunteer activities throughout the park system in every magisterial district and invited members of the community to participate in a variety of efforts in their own communities. Activities differ from location to location, but opportunities include trail restoration, park clean-ups, invasive plant removal and more. The service event at Franconia Rec Center will begin with a brief speaking program followed by a park clean-up activity by volunteers from the community. 

The Park Authority is the largest public landowner in Fairfax County as stewards of more than 23,000 acres of parkland. For more information about the Park Authority’s National Public Lands Day activities, please visit National Public Lands Day. 

Several improvements are being considered at Hybla Valley Park, including the conversion of the existing tennis court to a combination futsal and basketball court and the addition of a new playground. The Fairfax County Park Authority welcomes feedback from the community on these proposed improvements. Community members are encouraged to visit https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/hyblavalleypark to participate in a brief survey and submit additional comments. All submissions must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2024.

Hybla Valley Park is a modest 2.3-acre community park in the Franconia Supervisory District. It is adjacent to Hybla Valley Elementary School and easily accessible from the surrounding neighborhoods. The park's master plan was approved in 1979, which resulted in the construction of two tennis courts, a tennis practice wall and a small parking area. A playground, a multi-use court and picnic area were included in the master plan but were never developed.

In 2023, the Park Authority completed the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Access (PROSA) Strategy to provide a framework for equitable access to facilities and amenities throughout FCPA park system. The strategy focuses on access to parks, complete park experiences, habitat connectivity and prioritization of recreational needs with equity in the forefront. Using this strategic framework, the Park Authority identified Hybla Valley Park as an opportunity for investment that will have a lasting positive impact on the surrounding community.

FCPA is committed to providing a diverse range of recreational opportunities throughout the county. Research in this area indicates the need for additional futsal and basketball opportunities for the surrounding community.

Hybla Valley Park is located at 3431 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria. Questions about this project can be directed to the Park Authority Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and George Mason University Golf are proud to announce a new partnership naming the Park Authority’s Laurel Hill Golf Club as the university golf team’s home course. The collaboration aims to enhance the training and development opportunities for George Mason student-athletes and will also provide opportunities for expanded Park Authority summer camps utilizing the George Mason Field House in Fairfax.

“For many years Laurel Hill and George Mason Golf have had a partnership, but both parties wanted to make this partnership official,” said George Mason Head Coach Greg Pieczynski. “It makes sense on both sides. We are Virginia's largest university residing within Fairfax County. Laurel Hill Golf Club is Fairfax County's premier and flagship golf course. Our team has loved coming here to practice and play. Many of our team members from the area and state have competed at events at Laurel Hill over the years. We want to continue that relationship in the future.”
 
The partnership between George Mason and the Park Authority marks a significant step for both organizations, creating opportunities for growth and collaboration in our community. The Patriots men’s golf team will have access to the golf course and its facilities for practices, training sessions and team events. In return, the team will host two junior golf clinics at a Park Authority golf course and the university will provide access to its Field House to support Park Authority summer camp programming. Access will vary from year to year and be based on the team’s utilization of Laurel Hill Golf Club.

“This is a huge milestone in our partnership with George Mason University golf and has significant meaning as we work toward developing young golfers and fans of the sport throughout Fairfax County,” said Ryan Carmen, director of Golf Fairfax. “We’re very excited that, through the formalization of our partnership, we will be able to provide junior golf clinics hosted by a collegiate golf team at our courses, and we have the added benefit of expanding our variety of summer camp offerings with the use of the George Mason Field House in Fairfax.”

The Laurel Hill Golf Club was constructed in 2005 and has perennially been recognized as one of the premier public courses in Virginia. The golf club boasts robust development facilities, including a 30-station practice range with both mats and natural grass tees, a multitiered putting green, chipping green, and sand bunkers. Laurel Hill is also home to the award-winning Eisman Golf Academy, with a state-of-the-art developmental technology for helping players improve their game.

Laurel Hill Golf Club is located at 8701 Laurel Crest Drive in Lorton. For more information about the course, please call 703-493-8849 or visit the Laurel Hill Golf Club website.

In June, the Fairfax County Park Authority unveiled a proposal to reconfigure the tennis and pickleball court area to enhance the dedicated courts for both sports and opened a public comment period to receive community input. In response to that call, more than 150 comments were received with general support favoring the realignment of the court configuration and included several consideration items for the Park Authority to evaluate.

Park Authority staff have worked creatively and within the available project budget and geographic footprint of the site to revise the court realignment in response to public input received. The project design includes converting tennis court 11, currently in need of repair, into four dedicated pickleball courts, returning the two dual-use courts (courts 9 and 10) to tennis only. A second phase of the project will replace one-half of a walled practice court with two additional dedicated pickleball courts. The new design includes increased court margins and a north-south orientation for all pickleball courts. As the result of the project, Wakefield Park will have 10 dedicated tennis courts and eight dedicated pickleball courts. The revised layout will increase the net amount of pickleball courts and alleviate competition over the use of dual-use courts for either tennis or pickleball.

The Park Authority anticipates work to begin on Phase I of the project in spring 2025. The start date of Phase II will be dependent upon the permitting process, but once work begins it is expected that Phase II will take approximately three months to complete. All times are subject to change based on project approvals, permitting and weather conditions during the project window. In total, the project cost is estimated at $300,000, with funding provided by the Board of Supervisors in a joint FY 2024 Third Quarter Budget Consideration Item from Chairman Jeff McKay and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.

Supervisor Walkinshaw commended the Park Authority for their diligent work to redesign this proposal in response to community input. “Wakefield Park presents a great opportunity to help meet the growing demand for dedicated pickleball courts. The Park Authority went above and beyond in thinking creatively to develop a solution to address the community’s needs and concerns. I am proud to have been able to work with the Chairman and Park Authority on this project. It represents a win-win for both the pickleball and tennis communities.”

The Fairfax County Park Authority remains committed to providing accessible playing surfaces to support the popularity of racket sports countywide. With this project, the Park Authority will have a total of 90 pickleball courts and 193 tennis courts at parks throughout the county. To locate athletic courts and other park amenities near you, please visit the Park Amenity Locator website.

Additional details will be provided as the construction plan for the project is defined. For more information, please contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Golfers of all ages are invited to Laurel Hill Golf Club for Student Appreciation Day, hosted by The Eisman Golf Academy on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free, but reservations are required. The day promises a fantastic blend of skill-building activities and fun, including:

• Longest Drive Competition: Show off your skills and compete in our Longest Drive Competition for men, women and juniors (12 and under). Prizes will be presented for the longest drive in each division.
• Delicious Food: Savor a selection of treats to keep your energy up throughout the day.
• Live Demos: Get insights from the pros with live demonstrations of cutting-edge golf technology, including the Swing Catalyst, Smart2Move, Gasp and Custom Fit.
• Range and Putting Contests: Test your precision and win fun prizes in our range and putting contests.
• Short Game Poker: Sharpen your short game skills in a poker-style competition.

The Eisman Golf Academy – ranked a Top Golf Teacher in Virginia by Golf Digest – offers a variety of lessons, classes and camps at Laurel Hill Golf Club. The academy’s Performance Lab is a state-of-the-art facility designed for golfers of all levels, who are serious about improving their game, and features cutting-edge technology and equipment that provides detailed analysis and feedback, allowing our coaches to tailor your instruction to a player’s specific needs.

The Laurel Hill Golf Club is located at 8701 Laurel Crest Drive in Lorton.

Register for Student Appreciation Day