Park Authority

This fall, the Family Skate and Dance Nights at Franconia Rec Center will feature a lively schedule. Skaters of all ages will enjoy the festive themes, tasty food and fun music of these skate nights hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Join the fun and break out your quad skates, inline skates or dancing shoes (bring your own skates/footwear) and take a spin around Franconia Rec Center’s gym floor. Each skate night includes music from a guest DJ, as well as food, snacks and drinks available for purchase (Please note that outside food/drink is not permitted). Tickets for everyone (skaters, dancers, spectators and chaperones) cost $10 and can be purchased in advance online. Or you buy them at the door for $15.

Bring your friends, family and best skating partners out for a groovy time!

• Aug. 17: Back to School Flashback to the 90s and 00s (6-9 p.m.)
• Sept. 21: Come on Skaters, Let’s Go Party! (BarbieTM themed) (6-9 p.m.)
• Oct. 26: Halloween Costume Party (6-10 p.m.)
• Nov. 16: Franconia Hold ‘Em Skate and Dance Night (Country Night) (6-9 p.m.)
• Dec. 21: Holiday and Ugly Sweater Skate and Dance Night (6-9 p.m.)

Register for Family Skate Night

Franconia Rec Center is located at 6601 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. Visit the Franconia Rec Center website for more information and to stay up to date on future skate nights and other events at the Rec Center.

Host your very own private skate night to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or other occasions at the Franconia Rec Center gym. Call 703-922-9841 to inquire.

On Friday, Aug. 2, the Fairfax County Park Authority, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and members of the Villamay community held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a new swing set at Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park.

The swing set has been a part of the vision for the park for more than 20 years. The Villamay Community Association spearheaded fundraising for the playground, raising $23,000 toward the total cost of the project in 2004. These funds were matched with two Mastenbrook Grants each for $10,000, but due to limited funding, the project scope did not initially include swings. However recently, having never lost sight of the original vision for the park, the community came together once again and raised $13,000 in just a year to add a swing set to the park. These funds were matched with a Mastenbrook Grant in 2023 and the $26,000 project was completed in July 2024.

“This new swing set is a shining example of what the Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program is all about,” said Park Authority Board Member Linwood Gorham during his remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Thanks to the collaboration between the Villamay Community Association, the Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Park Authority’s Mastenbrook Grant Program, Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park now has a two-bay set of swings, which include both standard belt-seat model swings and a two-seat “expression swing” for a parent and child, where the adult and child are comfortably seated face-to-face at eye level with one another. This unique design promotes intergenerational play and fosters social connection.

“Fairfax County Parks play a critical role in our everyday lives – physical and emotional wellbeing, social connections and sense of community, and most importantly, an opportunity to spend time with family,” Supervisor Storck said. “While it may appear to be ‘just a swing set,’ what this represents is more time that children and families can spend in the park. It’s another opportunity to extend the fun, to spend just a little more time together outdoors.”

Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park is located at 7509 Fort Hunt Road in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin repairing the basketball courts at Fitzhugh Park and Brookfield Park. The basketball court improvements at both locations will include installation of new goals, crack repairs, power washing, a 2-inch overlay on the asphalt and new court coloring. Contractors are scheduled to mobilize onsite this week, and weather permitting, active construction is anticipated to be completed in two to three weeks. Both parks will remain open during construction.

Residents are encouraged to use the Park Amenity Locator to identify alternative courts to use during the construction.

Fitzhugh Park is located at 4966 Americana Drive, Annandale. Brookfield Park is located at 7417 Floyd Ave. in Springfield.

Questions regarding this project can be directed to Project Manager Marcos Suarez by calling 571-595-2762 or emailing Marcos.Suarez@fairfaxcounty.gov. You can also contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8700 or at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin repairs to the marina parking lot at Burke Lake Park. TMG and Southern Asphalt contractors will mobilize on site, with active construction activities scheduled to begin the third week of August. Weather permitting, active construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of September 2024.

Burke Lake Park will remain open during construction, but residents should expect partial parking lot closures that may impact the boat launch area on weekdays. During weekends, the full parking lot will be available.

Burke Lake Park is located at 7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. You can find more information by visiting the Burke Lake Park website or by calling 703-323-6600.

Questions regarding the repair project can be directed to Isabel Villarroel at Isabel.Villarroel@fairfaxcounty.gov, or the Public Information Office at 703-324-8700 or via Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Whether you want to perfect your game, play a round with friends, get out on the range, or all of the above, Golf Fairfax is here to help you celebrate National Golf Month this August! With discounts and deals happening across all seven golf courses, golfers can enjoy the amenities offered on the fairways, ranges and putting greens across the county.

Here are some ways that you can celebrate National Golf Month with Golf Fairfax this August:

Kids play a free round at Burke Lake Golf Center, Jefferson District Course, Oakmont Golf Center or Pinecrest Golf Course! Accompanied by a paying adult, kids and teens ages 5-17 will be able to play for free. Perfect for bringing the whole family out on the fairways for an eventful round. Valid Monday through Friday all day and weekends after 1 p.m. Limited to one child per paying adult. Learn more.

I Love Golf Fairfax photo contest – Grab your clubs and your cell phone for a chance to win tickets for the 2024 Solheim Cup in Gainesville, Virginia! Capture your best golf moments at any of the seven Fairfax County Park Authority golf course between Aug. 5-20 and submit your photo online. Learn more.

Unlock even more golf with the Range Flex Pass! Use this new pass to enjoy the driving ranges at Burke Lake, Oakmont Golf and Twin Lakes. Golfers load value onto their cards and redeem it for a 35% discount off the 40-range ball bucket pricing. Skip the weekly visits to the pro shop! Scan your card at the dispenser and hit balls until you need to reload with this cost-effective new pass! Learn more.

Play fore the glory at one of Golf Fairfax’s upcoming Club Championship tournaments. Whether you want to engage in some friendly competition or are in it for the prizes, there are tournaments available for all ages and skill levels. Learn more.

Elevate your game with private lessons from PGA, LPGA and USGTF professionals who are ready to help you take your game to the next level. Register for small group classes at Burke Lake and Pinecrest. Private lessons are also available at Pinecrest, Burke Lake, Oakmont, Twin Lakes and Laurel Hill. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Golf Fairfax has you covered. Learn more.

To learn more about National Golf Month and ways to celebrate with Golf Fairfax, visit the Golf Fairfax website.

The I Love Golf Fairfax Photo Contest is happening now through Aug. 20 across all Golf Fairfax courses! The Fairfax County Park Authority is giving away tickets to the 2024 Solheim Cup and invites all golf enthusiasts to take their best “shot” at any Golf Fairfax course for a chance to win.

Take a photo of your experience at one of the seven Golf Fairfax courses, submit your photo and a 1-2 sentence caption of why you love to golf with Golf Fairfax! This contest is open to golfers of any skill level. Whether you are amateur or a professional, if you love Golf Fairfax, this contest is for you!

There are two contest divisions, one for adults (18+) and one for juniors (17 and under). Each winner receives a complimentary weekday ticket for themselves and a friend to the Solheim Cup. The junior winner will receive one junior ticket and one adult ticket. Winners will be randomly selected. Please note that participants are only eligible to win one of the drawings.

This year, the Solheim Cup is taking place in Gainesville, Virginia, on Sept. 10-15. The Solheim Cup is a women’s professional golf tournament that occurs every two years and includes the top competitors from Europe and the United States. It has grown to become one of the most coveted trophies in women’s professional golf.

For information, please visit the I Love Golf Fairfax Photo Contest website.

There is no better way to celebrate Wetlands Awareness Day than by visiting the Fairfax County Park Authority’s premier wetland sanctuary at Huntley Meadows Park on Sunday, May 5, from 12-4 p.m. Come explore the wonders of the park including a nationally significant historic house, majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and a vast wetland bursting with all forms of life. There is no cost for admission.

Some of the best wildlife watching in the Washington metropolitan area is here. Bring your friends and family to stroll the forested paths and immersive boardwalk trails. Appreciate the plants and animals that live in the park and find out why they play an important role at the park. This exciting event will feature live raptors, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy an up-close view of our creatures and interactive displays and activities. 

On-site parking is limited. Shuttle rides are available from nearby Groveton Elementary School, 6900 Harrison Ln., Alexandria. Shuttles run every 30 minutes with the last shuttle ride to Huntley Meadows Park at 3:30 p.m. The last return shuttle ride to Groveton Elementary School is at 4:15 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.

To register for this free event, visit Wetlands Awareness Day. Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. For more information visit Huntley Meadows.
 

Despite a few early raindrops, the sun broke through the clouds as the Fairfax County Park Authority, Board of Supervisors and hundreds of local little leaguers and their families celebrated the historic opening of the county’s new state-of-the-art baseball/softball sportsplex at Patriot Park North on Saturday, April 15. The event signaled the completion of a “game-changing” facility that offers a fantastic competitive experience and provides a significant economic benefit to the community.

“Patriot Park North provides a winning combination of community use and economic benefit that really knocks it out of the park,” said FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole. “This project is a wonderful example of what we can do together with the community and a host of partners in creating and executing a shared vision for amazing park facilities like this. This is a project we can all truly be proud of.”

Originally, the park was home to three grass diamond fields. In 2014, the FCPA acquired adjacent land, which expanded the site to 67 acres and opened the possibility for the redevelopment of the property to accommodate expanded use and create a prime destination for baseball and softball tournament play throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

The redevelopment of the park included the installation of six synthetic turf diamond fields (two 60-foot and four 90-foot diamonds), batting cages, warm-up areas, lighting, a 360-degree press box and deck, live streaming capability, concession stands, stormwater management, trails, playground, parking lot and other site amenities. The $22.7 million facility was funded through developer proffers and voter-approved 2016 and 2020 Park Bonds.

The FCPA anticipates significant returns on investment, with 26 committed tournaments already in process. The economic impact for the county is estimated between $162,000 to more than $1 million per tournament, depending on attendance and the duration of the event. The total estimated impact for all 26 tournaments is approximately $18.3 million in 2023.

Patriot Park North is located at 5425 Willow Springs School Road, in Fairfax. For additional information, visit the Patriot Park North website or call 703-324-5308.

Watch a video of the Patriot Park opening and ribbon-cutting. 

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is seeking teenagers looking to develop their leadership and communication skills to become Counselors in Training (C.I.T.). The C.I.T. program is open to teens ages 14 and older and provides real-world experience in planning and leading activities for elementary-aged children participating in FCPA camps and Rec-PAC. Participants often return year after year, eventually accepting paid staff positions when they turn 18.

Serving alongside adult leaders, participating C.I.T.s assist counselors with programming, gain experience working as part of a team, develop new communication and leadership skills, and have fun helping elementary school-age children. Each participant receives a T-shirt and will receive an assignment for a specific Rec Center, park or school site.

To participate, applicants must submit the C.I.T. application and complete an interview. Once selected to the program, there is an application fee and initial online training that must be completed before the start of the summer program. Specific instructions for summer camp and Rec-PAC C.I.T.s are included below:

Summer Camp C.I.T.s: Applicants must submit their application to the camp program directors at the location they are interested in being assigned to. Camp C.I.T. training will be held virtually on Tuesday, June. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Become a Camp C.I.T.

Learn more about FCPA’s camps by visiting the Camps website.

Rec-PAC C.I.T.s: Applicants must note their preferred location and submit applications by Friday, June 9 and attend an in-person training event on June 17. Accepted applicants will be assigned to a site and work daily on weekdays from June 26 through Aug. 3, from 8:15 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Become a Rec-PAC C.I.T.

Learn more about the FCPA Rec-PAC program by visiting the Rec-PAC website.

Don’t wait, submit a C.I.T. application today!

Explore a thriving wetland sanctuary during Wetlands Awareness Day! Join us in celebrating the significance of Huntley Meadows Park and get connected with the treasured homes and habitats of the wildlife throughout the park on Sunday, May 7, from noon to 4 p.m.

Huntley Meadows Park is home to a nationally significant historic house, majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and vast wetlands bursting with life. Some of the best wildlife watching in the Washington Metropolitan Area is here.

Enjoy an up-close view of live raptors, reptiles and amphibians and interactive displays and activities. Bring the whole family, and your neighbors too, to stroll the forested paths and immersive boardwalk trails throughout the park. See the plants and animals that live in the park and learn how they play vital roles in the ecosystem. Grab a discovery guide when you check in and visit different activity stations, receiving a stamp at each station to earn a prize.

This free, family-friendly event will be held rain or shine. Come discover the importance and value of our local wetlands.

Register for Wetlands Awareness Day

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, Virginia. For more information, please call 703-768-2525 or visit Huntley Meadows Park.