Park Authority

Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers offer quality opportunities to be active and stay healthy in Fairfax County. In addition to top-notch equipment, fun drop-in exercise classes and swimming pools, Rec Centers also host periodic events to help residents connect to a variety of health and fitness resources that match their needs and interests. Some upcoming events include:

Healthy Together Fairfax

Sunday, May 19; Noon - 3 p.m. Franconia Rec Center (6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria)

This fun, free, interactive community event focuses on healthy and active living in the areas of physical, environmental, social and emotional wellness. Join us for free health screenings, access community services and resources, enjoy hands-on activities and fitness classes, and explore the trails, playgrounds and amenities in Franconia Park. For more information, visit the Healthy Together website.

View the Healthy Together flyer

Open House at All Rec Centers

Wednesday, May 22; Free Access All Day (special programs from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.). All Rec Center Locations

Visit your local Rec Center – for FREE – and get a firsthand look at all the opportunities that we can provide. Anyone can access FCPA Rec Centers for free all day. Special programs – including arts and crafts and drop-in fitness classes – are available from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on May 22. In addition, those who choose to purchase or renew Rec Center memberships during the month of May can receive a 15% discount.

View the Rec Center Open House flyer

Try It Triathlon

Saturday, June 8; 7-10 a.m. Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale)

Have you ever experienced a triathlon? If not, we’ve got a fantastic experience for you! The Try It Triathlon is a great way to give it a try. The event includes swimming 300 yards, biking 5 miles and running 2 miles. Whether you are competing against friends, racing the clock or just looking for a fun opportunity to be active, the Try It Triathlon has the challenge that’s right for you. Tickets cost $44 per participant.

New Extended Lap Lane Hours

Lanes open at 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Franconia Rec Center and Oakmont Rec Center

Get started an hour earlier on the weekend at Franconia and Oakmont Rec Centers all summer long! The Park Authority is testing a new schedule with extended hours at these locations. In the fall, the Park Authority will review the success of the program and evaluate the potential for additional operating hours adjustments.

Get active, have fun and form connections with your community at your local FCPA Rec Center. Learn more by visiting the Rec Center website.

As an agency that offers numerous opportunities to swim and enjoy the water at Rec Center pools, lake and riverfront parks and waterparks, the Fairfax County Park Authority celebrates water safety all year long. Each year, the Park Authority hires, trains and certifies lifeguards and swim instructors. During National Water Safety Month in May, the Park Authority is placing added emphasis on water safety and education.

Dive Into Swim Lessons

No matter your age, the Park Authority offers lessons in the pool to learn how to swim and increase your swimming skills. In addition to private and semi-private swim lessons, ongoing group swim classes offered include:

• Baby & Me (6-18 months)
• Toddler & Me (19 months-3 years)
• Pee Wee Paddler (3-7 years)
• Swimming for Children (6-12 years)
• Stroke Mechanics (6-18 years)

In addition, the Park Authority has started offering swim lessons taught in Spanish at multiple Rec Centers. Bilingual instructors using the Virginia Swims curriculum teach lessons to swimmers in both English and Spanish. Contact your local Rec Center to identify bilingual aquatics lessons.

Award-Winning Adapted Swim Programs

Take part in an award-winning Adapted Aquatics Program for adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities. The program includes learn-to-swim classes, aquatic exercise classes and training for Special Olympics and Paralympic Swim Team competition.

Water Safety Education for Children

This spring the Park Authority brought back its Get Set, Get W.E.T. (Water Education Training) program. The free, 30-minute presentation aims to get children ages 3 to 5 comfortable with the concept of being in and around water and shares vital water safety tips. Since this program began in 2022, more than 10,000 children have participated in these classes and learned more about water safety.

Advancing Skills with Summer Swim League

For those looking to increase their skills in the water, the Park Authority offers the Summer Swim League for swimmers ages 6 to 14 to join a swim team and participate in swim meets this summer. The deadline to register is June 9.

Together all these efforts combine to enhance swimming skills and water safety throughout Fairfax County. Learn more about National Water Safety Month webpage.

For a complete listing of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s offerings in and around the pool, visit the Aquatics and Swimming webpage.

Partner up for fun competition this season with Golf Fairfax. Golfers of all ages and abilities are invited to showcase their skills. The more the merrier!

Spring Best Ball

Saturday, May 11, Jefferson District Golf Course (7900 Route 29, Falls Church)

Teams of two (ages 18 and over) will compete in a 9-hole, best ball stroke play tournament. Cost $80 per team. For additional information and to register, visit the Jefferson District Golf Course website.

Spring Two-Person Challenge

Saturday, May 25, Burke Lake Golf Center (6915 Ox Road, Fairfax Station)

Teams of two (ages 12 and over) will compete in an 18-hole best ball, scramble tournament. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third and closest to the pin. Cost is $90 per team and includes complimentary range balls, push cart, greens fees and lunch. For more information, visit the Burke Lake Golf Center website.

Discover all Golf Fairfax has to offer with seven municipal golf courses, golf classes, tournaments and special events at Golf 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.
 

Children of all ages are excited to try out their new gadgets, gizmos and toys at their favorite local park. Just remember, our parks are places for everyone to have an enjoyable time in nature. Park rules are designed to ensure a pleasant experience for our guests, as well as the protection of wildlife that call parks their home. Here are some Fairfax County Park Authority rules to consider when visiting the parks with your new gifts this season:

E-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and other electric conveyances are allowed in parks, but to protect environmental and cultural resources, you should only use them in areas where traditional (human pedal-powered) bicycles are allowed. Do not disturb wildlife, livestock or domesticated animals on park property. For your safety and the safety of others, maintain speeds under 20 mph. For details, visit the Electrically Assisted Bicycles and Other Conveyances webpage.

Drones may be used in some parks, but only if you remain in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration directives. Many parks are in no-fly zones due to their proximity to airports, etc. Get details for safe and responsible use of drones in parks at the Model Aircrafts and Drones webpage.

Marvel at how much distance you get with your new golf clubs at a county golf course or driving range, but projectiles (such as soaring golf balls) are prohibited elsewhere. Find a place to take your game to the next level by visiting the Golf website.

Unless you’re in a special archery program, bows and arrows should be left at home. That goes for stun guns, spears, slingshots, dart devices and other high-speed missile projectiles, too.

Camping overnight in your new tent? Make plans to register and stay in designated campgrounds by visiting the Campgrounds website first.

If you’re camping and preparing food, knives are permitted in parks; however, knives with a blade more than 4 inches in length should remain at home.

Got a new puppy? Remember to keep your furry friend on a leash and wait until they are at least 4 months old (and not in heat) before visiting a dog park. Bone up on the rules and find your nearest off-leash dog park.

New pony? There are plenty of equestrian trails and riding areas designated for equestrian use. Ride off into the sunset with information from the Park Authority’s Equestrian page.

Get ready to brag when you try out your new fishing rod at a waterfront park, but stay in compliance with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ laws and park rules. Find tips on the best fishing spots and all the rules at the Fishing website.

Give your new ice skates a twirl at one of the Park Authority’s ice skating classes or at a local ice rink. It’s been pretty mild so far, but when it gets colder, remember to stay off seemingly frozen lakes, ponds and streams, which pose a drowning danger.

We’re expecting some good snow this year. This is a reminder that golf courses are made for golfing, not for sleds, tubes and skis.

Enjoy your new ear buds, but if you want to blast music loud enough for everyone to hear, you need to obtain written permission from the Park Authority.

Finally, if you are on a post-holiday treasure hunt, keep in mind that metal detectors may only be used with the FCPA’s express written permission.

With so many ways to have fun in Fairfax County parks, it’s easy to have a great experience without putting yourself and others at risk and ensuring that everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy themselves, as well.

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.

It’s National Poetry Month and Arab American Heritage Month. Celebrate both at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park with the first in a series of Poetry in the Parks events.

Enjoy poetry from the Fairfax Poet Laureate featuring local Arab American poets Zeina Azzam, Rayan Afif and Danielle Badra. Poetry in the Parks is a partnership between ArtsFairfax and the Fairfax County Park Authority, highlighting the relationship between nature and poetry. Experience the serenity of the Ellanor C. Lawrence wooded amphitheater, while experiencing the natural surroundings.

The event will be held on April 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but please register for the program.

Register for Fairfax Poet Laureate

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located at 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, please call 703-631-0013 or visit Ellanor C. Lawrence Park.

Meet Kimeshia!

Name: Kimeshia Junkins 
Position: Operations Branch Manager, Park Services Division, Fairfax County Park Authority

Growing up I stayed in the Rec Center learning all the different sports there were because at the time I was the only girl with two brothers, and I had to beat them. I also remember countless practices being coached by my dad as the only girl on the boys’ basketball team. As a military kid it was hard moving every few years, but one thing that was constant was I always had a Rec Center to go to! The Rec Center was the perfect outlet for my two brothers, sister, and I to compete and see who was the best! From those long days spent in the Rec Center I was able to achieve a full ride scholarship to play division 1 basketball. Without knowing it my class choice choose my major of Health Promotion. I was truly inspired by all my years spent in a Rec Center to find a career that would help me give back to the community and give an outlet for others to experience activities that they love. Fairfax County truly has an environment and workplace that is fun and wholistic for any and everyone. I am honored to be a part of #teamFCPA and look forward to all the fun times ahead and growing a team of inspirational community leaders. 

#joinFCPA