Park Authority

Spring is around the corner and Earth Day Fairfax is almost underway! Mark your calendar for Fairfax County’s largest, family-friendly Earth Day extravaganza at the Sully Historic Site on Saturday, April 26. Celebrate our world with a day filled with games, entertainment, food and hands-on crafts, exhibits and activities. Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Parking is $10 per vehicle.

There’s more than enough fun to go around with an appearance by WUSA-9 meteorologist Topper Shutt and live performances by the D.C. area’s own Recycling Pirates, 2nd Sole and Proverbs Reggae Band. Meet our farmland friends from Frying Pan Farm Park and learn about local plants and wildlife. Enjoy fun experiments that will enhance your understanding of the water cycle and other natural processes going on around us. Channel your outdoor adventure side with a giant rock wall, Nerf archery, ax throwing and camping tips. Participate in a wide variety of fitness demonstrations, such as yoga, Zumba, Body Combat and an outdoor synthetic ice skating rink.

Don’t miss the vendor marketplace, touch-a-truck exhibit, food trucks and a craft beer garden featuring Ono Brewing Company.

With so much to do, learn and experience, it’s an event you’re not going to want to miss. Stay up to date with the latest event details at Earth Day festival website.

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 2025 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. For more information about the Park Foundation, visit its website or call 703-324-8582.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is launching the Parks Count! 2026 Parks Needs Assessment to evaluate park and recreation needs across the county. We want to hear from you! Your feedback will help guide improvements to amenities, facilities and programs for the next five years.

The study will utilize research, trends analysis, community input and surveys to help FCPA meet the diverse park and recreation needs of everyone in Fairfax County. Along with the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access Strategy (PROSA), the 2026 Needs Assessment will help shape decision-making for park investments and improvements, including the 2026 park bond.

Your voice matters! Help shape the future of our parks by attending one of our upcoming public meetings. A virtual public meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This online session is a convenient way to learn more about the project, share your thoughts and ask questions—all from the comfort of your home.

For a more interactive experience, join us at the In-Person Workshop on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franconia Rec Center. This open house-style, family-friendly event will feature a guided nature walk, activities with the Wonder Wagon, a sensory-friendly area for children and a Rec Center pass promotion. Come engage in hands-on activities and discussions to help shape the future of our parks.

If you can’t attend a meeting, you can still make your voice heard by participating in the 2026 Needs Assessment survey launching soon! A randomly selected group of residents will receive a mailed survey, but anyone can provide input through an online survey hosted on PublicInput.

Visit the Parks Count! Our Parks, Our Future webpage for the latest updates, to register for the upcoming events and to learn more about participating in the 2026 Needs Assessment survey. For questions, contact parkscount@publicinput.com.

Beginning March 17, the Cross County Trail in Pohick Stream Valley Park between Cliff Forest Drive and Wadebrook Terrace will be temporarily closed while the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services undertakes a major rehabilitation project on the Pohick Interceptor. This project involves the renewal of approximately 6,500 linear feet of large-diameter sanitary sewer pipe and associated maintenance hole structures to ensure continued safe and reliable wastewater service for Fairfax County residents.

During the construction phase, there will be an initial three-month closure of the Cross County Trail within the project area. Once work at the northern end of the project area is complete, a detour along Pohick Road will be in effect for approximately 12 to 15 months, while the remaining rehabilitation is completed. Depending on weather conditions, construction is expected to conclude in winter 2026. Trail closure and project signs will be posted in Pohick Stream Valley Park to guide residents.

The rehabilitation work, utilizing a trenchless Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) method, is a cost-effective and minimally invasive approach that extends the service life of the infrastructure by approximately 50 years. In addition to proactively maintaining the sewer system, this project will reduce the risk of emergency repairs, protect public health and minimize environmental impacts.

For alternate park locations and trails to explore during this temporary closure, residents are encouraged to use the Park Authority’s Park Amenity Locator and Trail Buddy tools. Project updates and additional information can be found online by visiting the Pohick Interceptor Rehabilitation project webpage.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin renovating the tennis and pickleball court areas at Wakefield Park (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale) to enhance playing conditions and increase dedicated courts for pickleball. Construction, led by contractor ATC Corp, is expected to begin early April 2025.

The project will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 will include converting Tennis Court 11 into four dedicated pickleball courts, renovating Tennis Courts 7 and 8, restoring Courts 9 and 10 to tennis-only use, and repairing Tennis Courts 1 and 2. The basketball courts will also undergo repairs, with completion expected by late June. Weather permitting, Phase 1 is anticipated to be completed by mid-July 2025.

Phase 2 will follow shortly after, replacing half of the walled practice court with two additional dedicated pickleball courts, while preserving the tennis practice wall and courts closest to Courts 9 and 10. This phase will require additional site work, including modifying an existing trail and relocating picnic tables. Phase 2 is expected to be completed by fall 2025, pending necessary permits and weather conditions.

During construction, Tennis Courts 3, 4, 5 and 6, as well as Pickleball Courts 12 and 13, will remain open for public use. Directional signage will guide visitors to alternative pickleball court access, ensuring safe entry. However, visitors are reminded to avoid designated construction areas. Residents should also expect occasional construction traffic entering and exiting near Court 11 via the park access road. Construction hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Residents are encouraged to use the Park Amenity Locator to identify alternative courts to use during construction.

Once completed, Wakefield Park will feature 10 dedicated tennis courts and eight dedicated pickleball courts, reducing competition for dual-use courts and better accommodating the county’s growing demand for racket sports. The final design was informed by public feedback from the July 9, 2024, meeting. The $300,000 project is funded through the FY 2024 Third Quarter Budget Consideration Item, sponsored by Chairman Jeff McKay and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.

FCPA remains committed to expanding accessible playing surfaces for racket sports. With this project, Fairfax County will offer 90 pickleball courts and 193 tennis courts across its parks. For more details, visit the Wakefield Tennis and Pickleball Redevelopment Project page on PublicInput or contact the Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Spring into action with Fairfax County Park Authority classes. Learn a skill, pick up a new hobby, dive into a favorite pastime and get active with a range of fitness and recreation opportunities in and around your local parks.

Whether it’s learning essential life skills (like swimming), connecting with nature, tapping into your inner artist or enhancing strength and cardiovascular health, the Park Authority offers a wide range of ways to be healthy, learn new things and connect with friends and neighbors. Classes can be found for all ages and abilities. Find a class for the entire family that fits your schedule. Explore offerings in the following categories:

• Adapted Recreation Services
• Aquatics
• Children’s Corner
• Dance
• Equestrian
• Exercise and Physical Fitness
• Fine Arts and Crafts
• Gardening
• Golf
• History
• Ice Skating
• Martial Arts and Self-Defense
• Nature
• Outdoor Recreation
• Performing Arts
• Pets
• Science and Technology
• Sports and Leagues
• Xtras

Save $8 when you register by Feb. 21. Flip through the Parktakes magazine to see class offerings and more. Make this spring one to remember. Questions about classes and registration may be directed to PTOnline@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work to preserve the Peake Family Cemetery located in the Mount Vernon District. This project is part of the Park Authority’s ongoing work to preserve and restore historic cemeteries in Fairfax County.

The restoration of the Peake Family Cemetery, expected to begin by spring 2025, will be overseen by archaeologists with specialized training in cemetery care and will include little to no ground disturbance with the only exception being the resetting of headstones. Work on the site will include gravestone cleaning, setting and repair, addressing landscape issues and conducting a ground-penetrating radar survey of the site to identify potential unmarked burials.

In addition to site restoration, the Park Authority is planning to update the existing interpretive signs at the cemetery and is requesting assistance from the surrounding community and historical organizations. The archaeology team seeks historic records, photographs, and/or family histories, which may help in identifying unmarked graves and contribute to the interpretive history of the site. Potential burials could include members of the Ford, Javins, Brown, Bigsby and Fisher families.

Historic records, photos and histories may be submitted online at the Peake Family Cemetery project website. All materials received will be reviewed by the archaeology team. The researched histories and the results of the ground-penetrating radar survey of the site will inform the narrative and design of interpretive signs later in the year.

For additional project background and information, including a recorded project overview, visit the Peake Family Cemetery project website. The Peake Family Cemetery is located adjacent to Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the Gum Springs Community Center at 8115 Fordson Road in Alexandria.

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

As pickleball continues to grow in popularity across Fairfax County, the Park Authority is exploring ways to enhance recreational offerings and provide additional facilities. The Park Authority is now inviting community feedback on the proposed addition of a dedicated pickleball court at Mason District Park. Public comments will be accepted online and U.S. Mail for a period of 30 days.

The proposal includes the placement of one new pickleball court adjacent to the tennis courts at the southwestern corner of the park. The proposed location is outside the minimum-required 250-foot buffer from the nearest home and would allow for existing tennis court lighting to be retrofitted to light the pickleball court as well. The project would require the modification of an existing trail, and relocation of existing utility lines.

Additional project background and information is available on the county’s community engagement platform Public Input. Comments may be submitted on the Public Input website or sent via U.S. Mail to the Park Authority Public Information Office at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 925, Fairfax, VA 22035.

All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2025.

Mason District Park is located at 6621 Columbia Pike in Annandale. For further details or inquiries, please contact the project manager Kelly Davis at kelly.davis@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Ready to dig in and grow your own fresh produce this season? Secure your spot in the Hogge Park Community Garden and experience the joy of growing your own food, connecting with nature and joining an active gardening community! Hogge Park is one of the Garden Plot Rental locations in the Fairfax County Park Authority’s community garden rental program.

Rental garden plots are available for one growing season that runs from February to November. Plot rentals include a 6-feet-by-9-feet raised garden bed, soil, a community hose, shed access for tool storage and waste collection. All plots are accessible by wheelchair.

Don’t wait. Spaces are limited so secure your spot today! Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park is located at 3139 Glen Carlyn Road in Falls Church.

For more information, please visit the Community Garden Plot Rental Program website.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), in partnership with the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), was presented with a 2024 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Technology Award for successfully applied innovative building design, incorporating high standards for effective energy management and indoor air quality. FCPA was recognized for the Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESCO) Phase 1 Project at Cub Run Rec Center in Chantilly, which took first prize in regional competition in August 2024. CMTA, Fairfax County’s contracted ESCO, was responsible for the design and construction of the project. Funding for the project was provided through OEEC.

The upgrades at Cub Run Rec Center included:

• Pool heat recovery system enhancements, which improved system efficiency to heat water more effectively; and
• Building automation system upgrades to optimize energy use and reduce peak electricity demand

The improvements at Cub Run Rec Center significantly reduced the facility’s energy consumption, resulting in a 60% reduction in total energy usage and approximately $316,000 in avoided energy costs during the first year of operation.

The FCPA has, thus far, participated in four phases of energy improvement projects with CMTA focused on major building HVAC and mechanical systems at the Cub Run, Spring Hill, Oakmont, Franconia, and Providence Rec Centers. In addition to the first FCPA rooftop solar array and largest geothermal system in the county at Spring Hill, these projects have upgraded 15 rooftop air handlers, 12 boilers, nine pool dehumidification units, and four building automation systems. These projects account for over $375,000 annual guaranteed utility savings, $90,000 annual operational savings, and feature a 20-year performance guarantee.

“These projects are a testament to the Park Authority’s commitment to sustainability,” said FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole. “As stewards of public spaces, we prioritize energy efficiency not only to reduce environmental impact but also to ensure long-term operational savings. This national recognition reinforces the importance of these investments.”

FCPA is dedicated to enhancing sustainability across its facilities. The Cub Run project exemplifies this commitment, aligning with the Fairfax County Operational Energy Strategy to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. FCPA continues to advance its energy efficiency initiatives through pursuing ESCO projects at the Spring Hill, Oakmont, Franconia, and Providence Rec Centers.

 For more information, contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

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About ASHRAE

ASHRAE is an international society of more than 50,000 heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning professionals from more than 132 nations dedicated to serving humanity and promoting a sustainable world. Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education. Its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.
 

Does your child light up whenever it’s time to tap into their creative side? Have they always wanted to try out a new instrument or learn about computers and coding? Does your youngster gravitate toward animals or do they want to try out a new sport? Park Authority camps offer experiences for children to enjoy all these activities and more. Registration is now open for all spring and summer offerings and there are still spaces available! 

When schools close for student holidays and spring break, Park Authority camps are in session! This year, spring camps will be held: 

• Sunday, March 9 
• Monday, March 31 to Tuesday, April 1 
• Sunday, April 13 
• Monday, April 14 to Friday, April 18 

Summer camps kick off on June 16 with opportunities running through the end of August at many locations across Fairfax County. 

The Park Authority offers numerous resources to help make parents’ search and registration for spring and summer camps easier:

• Browse offerings in the 2025 Camp Guide 
• Use the Camp Spreadsheet to find camps with openings and filter them by age, date, type of camp and the location 
• Get organized and make notes about your top camp picks with the Camp Planner. 

Don’t wait, secure your child’s spot in spring and summer camps today! Stay tuned for more details on the Camps website and join the Park Authority’s conversation about camps on social media using #CampTuesdays. 

For more information or assistance, please email camps@fairfaxcounty.gov.