Park Authority

Oak Marr RECenter is joining with the First Baptist Church of Vienna (FBCV) to encourage people to change their lifestyle to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems. The initiative to improve overall health is part of the Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative (SDFI) Program, a five-state faith-based project designed to expand access and utilization of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Prevent T2 lifestyle change program.

On Friday, August 17, 2018, program participants, family and friends took the plunge at Oak Marr RECenter by participating in a 55-minute low-impact water aerobics class led by CDC-trained lifestyle coach and certified water instructor Robin Williams.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, the Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) and members of the McLean community gathered on July 28, 2018 for the “inaugural” ride on a new trackless train at Clemyjontri Park, as well as a ribbon cutting for a new picnic pavilion. The celebration noted the funding and support from community organizations and individuals.

This popular park in McLean, VA hosts more than 80,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy the fully accessible features which include an enormous playground, carousel, swings and now these new amenities as well. Everything is designed to enable children of all ability to play side-by-side. Friends of Clemyjontri Park funded the new trackless train and a forthcoming “train station.” The new picnic celebration pavilion was made possible thanks to contributions from McLean Community Foundation, Rotary Club of McLean, and the Friends of Clemyjontri Park. Other contributors include Amy and Jeff Sonderman, and the friends and family of Sue Rowell, a longtime contributor to the park. Partnership recognition was also extended to McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) and Wheat’s (park landscaping).

Pictured from left to right near the new train are: Jan Auerbach, Treasurer, Rotary Club of McLean; Ryan McElveen, Member, Fairfax County Public School Board and daughter; Deb Bissen, Director of Community Outreach, McLean Project for the Arts (MPA); Bobbi Longworth, Executive Director, FCPF; Nancy Sausser, Exhibitions Director, MPA; Christina Girardi, Artist/Education Programs Director, MPA; Margaret Thaxton, Director of Development, FCPF; Debbie Frank; Patrick Frank; Madison Frank; Jeff Sonderman; David Hyman; Janet Tysse, President, McLean Community Foundation; Gene Durman, President, Rotary Club of McLean; Amy Sonderman, Board Director, FCPF and daughter; John Osborn, Board Chair, FCPF; Barbara Favola, Virginia State Senator; John Foust, Dranesville District Supervisor; Aimee Burgoyne, Board Member, McLean Community Foundation; Dan Clemente, Board Member, Friends of Clemyjontri; Tim Hackman, Dranesville District Rep., Park Authority Board; Rachel Georgelas, President, Friends of Clemyjontri; Amy Brennan Swaak, MPAartfest Director; Derrick Swaak, Board Chair, MPA; Lisa Rowell and Andrew Edelman, Manager, Clemyjontri Park.

Clemyjontri Park is located at 6317 Georgetown Pike in McLean, VA. For more information visit online at Clemyjontri Park.

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At the June 27, 2018 joint board meeting between the Fairfax County Park Authority Board and the Fairfax County Park Foundation Board of Directors, representatives of the Park Foundation presented a check in the amount of $811,803.04 to Park Authority leadership.

This check represents generous support from individuals, businesses and foundations transferred in Fiscal Year 2018 to enrich Fairfax County parks and outreach programs. The Foundation supports the Fairfax County Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet our community's needs for park land, facilities and services. Visit the Park Foundation online at Fairfax County Park Foundation or call them at 703-324-8582.

Pictured front row, left to right – Rich Harpe, FCPF Board member; Dr. Abena A. Aidoo, FCPA Board member; Lane Brooks, FCPF Secretary; Maggie Godbold, FCPA Board member; Bobbi Longworth, FCPF Executive Director.

Back row, left to right – Cameron Mayer, FCPF Board member; Amy Sonderman, FCPF Board member; Margaret Thaxton, FCPF Director of Development; John Osborn, FCPF Chair; Stephen Thormahlen, immediate past Chair; Ken Quincy, FCPA Vice Chair; Kirk Kincannon, FCPA Executive Director; Linwood Gorham, FCPA Board member; Gary Kirkbride, FCPF Board member.

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The Friends of Green Spring Gardens, better known as FROGS, were honored for 25 years of service to the Fairfax County Park Authority site with a resolution from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. At an evening concert and celebration at Green Spring on June 26, 2018, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross presented the resolution, which she called an “anniversary card,” to FROGS President Sarah Munroe.

Over the past quarter-century, the FROGS organization has donated more than $1.9 million to support Green Spring operations and special projects. FROGS has used its Annual Appeal to support initiatives such as the Frances Tyler Fund, which subsidizes educational programs for children from Title I schools and has supported 10,055 children through more than 500 educational programs. The group has provided renovations to the Glasshouse, repairs to Historic Green Spring and maintenance vehicles for staff. In addition, it expanded the Garden Gate Plant Shop, funded plants and site maintenance projects, and sustained Spring Garden Day, the Fall Garden Day & Silent Auction, summer concerts, Gardeners’ Holiday, art shows in the Historic House and Horticultural Center, and the Harry Allen Winter Lecture Series.

Pictured left to right are: FROGS President Sarah Munroe and Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross.

For more information about Green Spring Gardens and the FROGS organization, visit Green Spring Gardens.

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On Saturday, June 23, 2018, park leaders, staff, volunteers and community members gathered at Hidden Pond Nature Center to celebrate the new playground and picnic shelter. The new nature-themed playground features several structures to accommodate play for ages 2 to 12, including swings for all ages. A pre-fabricated multi-use shelter was erected at the site of the old playground. This shaded area expands picnic facilities at the site. The project also includes site improvements to meet ADA standards and improve accessibility.

Pictured in the photo, from left to right (in front): Cindy Walsh, Director, Park Authority Resource Management Division; Isabel Villarroel, Project Manager, Park Authority; Aimee Vosper, Deputy Director/Chief of Business Development, Park Authority; Mike Thompson, Springfield Rep, Park Authority Board; Senator Dave Marsden, Virginia’s 37th District; Bill McCabe, Office of Supervisor Pat Herrity, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Springfield Rep; Mike McCaffrey, Manager, Hidden Pond Nature Center; Gary Schankmen, community member; Mary Olien, Site Operations Manager, Park Authority; Michelle Alexander, Visitor Services Manager, Hidden Pond Nature Center; pictured along with Hidden Pond volunteers, staff and visitors on hand to celebrate the new playground structure.

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Chessie’s Trail at Lee District Family Recreation Area was held on June 16, 2018, as officials, project team members and local children celebrated the completion of the project. Chessie’s Trail was the last component of a robust capital improvement program at the site that includes a fully-accessible carousel, treehouse and playground, as well as a spray ground known as Our Special Harbor.

This multi-phase, multi-year, multi-million dollar effort to renew a once underdeveloped and dilapidated area of the park is unique in its use of funding from individual and organizational donors, Park Bond dollars, grants and in-kind contributions made to the Park Authority and Park Foundation. The project serves as a model for other collaborative efforts to provide new, much-desired and needed recreational amenities not funded by tax dollars.

Pictured with local children are (left to right) Roberta Longworth, Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Foundation; John Osborn, Chair, Fairfax County Park Foundation; Fairfax County Park Authority Board Members Dr. Abena Adoo and Dr. Cynthia Carter; Project Manager Tom McFarlane; Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay; Civil Designer Matt Tauscher, Bowman Consulting;

Park Authority Executive Director Kirk Kincannon, Lee District RECenter Manager Dan Peters and Mason District Park Board Member Ron Kendall.

For more information about Lee District Park amenities, visit online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/recenter/lee-district/family-recreation-area.

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On Tuesday, May 22, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Washington Field Office held a Children's Citizenship ceremony at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly, VA. More than two dozen children recited the oath of citizenship and received certificates at the event, now in its 10th year at the site. Visitors celebrated with the children as they received their certificates.

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 for the new playground at Bucknell Manor Park in Alexandria, Va.

Bucknell Manor Park now features two play areas to appeal to children of different ages. In addition to the play structures, the facility includes new borders, subsurface drainage, child safety fencing and an asphalt trail – all designed to meet ADA standards. The $100,000 project was financed through the 2016 Park Bond as part of a plan to install new playground equipment at aging parks to bring them into compliance with today’s safety and ADA standards.

Members of the community, both young and old, were joined by (left to right, in back): Linwood Gorham, Park Authority Board Rep, Mount Vernon District; Philip Hager, Park Authority Area Manager; Daniel Storck, Board of Supervisors, Mount Vernon District; Kirk Kincannon, Park Authority Executive Director; Dave Bowden, Director of Planning & Development, Park Authority.

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On Thursday, May 3, 2018, County leaders gathered to celebrate the opening of the Government Center Farmers Market in Fairfax, Virginia. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova rang the bell to mark the market’s official opening at its new location in the grassy median near the entrance to the Fairfax County Government Center. The Government Center market is open Thursdays through October 25 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. The only exception is June 7, to allow for Celebrate Fairfax set up.

Pictured in the photo, from left to right: Lindsey Martin, Government Center Market Manager; Margaret Thaxton, Director of Development, Fairfax County Park Foundation; Sharon Bulova, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Kiel Stone, Braddock District Rep, Park Authority Board; Bryan Hill, Fairfax County Executive; Chelsea Roseberry, Farmers Market Coordinator, Park Authority; and Mary Olien, Resource Management Division Operations Manager, Park Authority.

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On Saturday, April 28, 2018, the Fairfax County Park Authority and TrailsforYouth.Org opened a new bicycle pump track at Brookfield Park in Springfield, Virginia. The track is designed to allow riders of a wide range of abilities to maneuver around the track, while navigating smooth bumps (rollers) and banked turns (berms). The track project was supported by the Springfield Civic Association and funded by TrailsforYouth.Org through a Park Authority Mastenbrook Grant and community-raised matching funds. The Park Authority oversaw the construction of the project, with expertise provided by the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE).

Pictured in the photo, from left to right: Jeff McKay, Lee District Supervisor; Julie Childers, TrailsforYouth.Org Executive Director; and Aimee Vosper, Deputy Director of the Fairfax County Park Authority, along with two young cycling enthusiasts.

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See more photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157694621836281.