Park Authority

Winners of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s “Celebrate the Senses!” youth poetry contest were honored on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the SpringFest Fairfax celebration at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly, VA.

In recognition of National Poetry Month in April, the Park Authority invited children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade to write poems inspired by what they see, touch, taste, smell and feel in Fairfax parks. Two winners in each age category were selected from 115 entries. The six winners received $100 parks prize packs and were invited to read their poems at Springfest Fairfax. The contest was supported in part by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

Back Row (left to right): Roberta Longworth, Fairfax County Park Foundation Executive Director;

Lane Brooks, Fairfax County Park Foundation Board Treasurer; Sagar Gupta, eighth grader at Rachel Carson Middle School; Jasmine Carlos, eighth grader at Holmes Middle School; Kate Schlageter-Prettyman, fifth grader at Fairhill Elementary School; Sara Baldwin, Deputy Director of the Fairfax County Park Authority; and Cristin Bratt, Deputy Public Information Officer of the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Front Row (left to right): Kenzy Abdelmoneim, first grader at Medina Montessori School; Zoya Quraishi, kindergarten homeschool student; and Lubabah Qazzaz, fourth grade homeschool student.

For more information on the poetry contest and showcase, visit the Poetry Contest.

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On Saturday, April 14, 2018, the Fairfax County Park Authority renamed South Run District Park Athletic Field #5 in honor of Jack Nolan, a longtime coach, leader and advocate of youth soccer in the Springfield District. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mr. Nolan served as a coach for several soccer teams in the Springfield Youth Club (SYC). His success on the field led to leadership roles with SYC, the Fairfax County Soccer Council and the Athletic Council. He was instrumental in the development of a rectangular field allocation policy.

Pictured in the photo, from left to right: Delegate Kathy Tran, Virginia House of Delegates; Michael Thompson, Fairfax County Park Authority Board, Braddock District Representative; Jack Nolan, Honoree; Pat Herrity, Braddock District Supervisor; and Kirk Kincannon, Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Authority Executive Director.

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The Fairfax County Park Authority signed an agreement with ServiceSource's Pathways to Careers initiative on December 13, 2017, in an effort to provide adults with disabilities internship opportunities in programs and activities operated by FCPA. The ultimate goal of the partnership is to provide competitive employment opportunities for qualified individuals in some of the more than 10,000 programs offered annually by the Park Authority.

ServiceSource's Pathways to Careers initiative supports integrated and customized work opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the DC metro region. For more information about Pathways to Careers, please contact Pathways to Careers Employer Relations Coordinator John Gyourko at 571-249-9468 or john.gyourko@servicesource.org. 

Pictured from left to right in the front row are: Sara Baldwin, Acting Executive Director, Park Authority; John Gyourko, Pathways to Careers Employer Relations Coordinator, ServiceSource; Second row: Kasey Kahmann, SourceAmerica; Ken Crum, Regional Executive Director, ServiceSource; and Jennifer Cardona-Kellett, Pathways to Careers Program Manager, ServiceSource.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, December 8, 2017, for a new birthday party shelter at Clemyjontri Park in McLean, Virginia.

The shelter is being fully funded thanks to grants from the McLean Community Foundation, the Rotary Club of McLean, Friends of Clemyjontri and individual gifts to the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The $80,000 project is scheduled for completion by spring 2018.

Pictured from left to right are: From the Rotary Club of McLean: Vance Zavela, President of McLean Rotary Club Foundation; Thamir Al’Hashimi, Rotarian; Michael Arietti, Rotarian; Bob Jansen, President of Rotary Club of McLean; Gene Durman, Rotarian; Jan Auerbach, Rotarian; and Carol Stone, Rotarian. From the Fairfax County Park Foundation: Bobbi Longworth, Executive Director. From the Friends of Clemyjontri Park: Julie Clemente, Board Director; Dan Clemente, Board Director; and Rachel Georgelas, President. From the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors: John Foust, Dranesville District Supervisor. From the McLean Community Foundation: Janet Tysse, President; Amy Swaak, Trustee; Julie Warin, Trustee; and John Schell, Trustee

On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, the Fairfax County Park Authority signed a lease with Stephen McCullough as part of the new Resident Curator Program. McCullough will now serve as the Resident Curator of historic Stempson House in Lorton, Virginia.

Under the program, a curator is selected to live in a historic Fairfax County property rent-free in exchange for rehabilitating the house and allowing public access. As required by the state legislation, lease agreements are required between the Park Board and Board of Supervisors, as well as the potential curator. Those approvals set in motion the right to rehabilitate the properties.

Steven McCullough was selected as the Resident Curator for the Stempson House after submitting an application in March 2017. The public is invited to follow renovation progress on McCullough’s blog.

Pictured standing (L-R): Margaret Puglisi, Heritage Resource Technician, Park Authority; Jo Gilbert, Investment Manager, Fairfax County Department of Finance; Dr. Liz Crowell, Manager of Archaeology and Collections, Park Authority; David Buchta, Historic Conservation Branch Manager, Park Authority; Leonard Clark, Insurance Manager, Fairfax County Department of Finance; Mike Thompson, Springfield Representative, Park Authority Board; Denice Dressel, Heritage Resource Planner, Park Authority; Daniel Storck, Mount Vernon Representative, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Cyndi McNeal, Project Coordinator, Park Authority Planning & Development; Dave Bowden, Director, Park Authority Planning & Development; Janet Burns, Fiscal Administrator, Park Authority; Mike Lambert, Assistant Director, Fairfax County Facilities Management; Michelle Meadows, Senior Right-of-Way Agent, Park Authority Planning & Development.

Seated (L-R): Steven McCullough, Stempson House Resident Curator; Cindy Walsh, Acting Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer, Fairfax County Park Authority.

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On, Saturday, December 2, 2017, County leaders and golf enthusiasts celebrated the opening of the new Burke Lake Golf Clubhouse with a ribbon-cutting on the new building. The opening is the latest phase of a $6.6 million redevelopment project, funded by voter-approved park bonds in 2008 and 2012. The clubhouse will complement the state-of-the-art heated, covered driving range that opened in April 2017.

The 4,200-square foot clubhouse boasts a modernized pro shop, updated kitchen and dining area, enhanced food and beverage options and patio overlooking the golf course. The patio was specifically placed on the northeast side of the clubhouse and away from the hot, setting sun so that summer outings can end with comfortable outdoor dining. 

Pictured at the ribbon cutting are Peter Murphy, Springfield District Planning Commissioner; Tim Hackman, Dranesville District Representative, Park Authority Board; Steve Thormahlen, Chair, Fairfax County Park Foundation; Ron Kendall, Mason District Representative, Park Authority Board; Pat Herrity, Springfield District Representative, Board of Supervisors; Mike Thompson, Springfield District Representative, Park Authority Board; Lewis Musolf, Burke Lake Golf General Manager, Park Authority; Stephen Williamson, Vice President/New Construction, ADI Construction of Virginia); Mike Belefski, former Park Authority Board Member; Dave Bowden, Park Authority Director of Planning & Development; Todd Johnson, Golf Enterprises Division Manager, Park Authority; Roberta Korzen, Golf Marketing Specialist, Park Authority; Eric Inman, Planning & Development Project Manager, Park Authority; along with site staff and golf enthusiasts. 

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new playground at South Run District Park on Saturday, September 16, 2017 to mark completion of the new playground in Springfield, VA.  

The park’s old playground was demolished to make way for a new play area that features a playground, tot lots, sun shading and an upgraded ADA accessible route. As part of the playground and tot lot replacement, sidewalks through and adjacent to the playground were upgraded and shades over each play area were replaced. The $420,000 project also included a timber border, safety surfacing, drainage, benches and fencing. Work was funded through the 2012 Park Authority Bond.

Pictured from left to right are Mike Thompson, Park Authority Board Secretary and Springfield District Representative; Dave Bowden, Director, Park Authority Planning & Development; Dave Fallert, Manager, South Run RECenter; and Sara Baldwin, Acting Executive Director, Park Authority. They are joined by children and parents celebrating the new playground.

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On Saturday, September 30, 2017, more than 25 volunteers participated in a work day at Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park in Alexandria, Virginia as part of National Public Lands Day (NPLD).  Local residents, members of the Banks Family, Park Authority staff members, Dr. Cynthia Jacobs-Carter (Lee District Representative on the Park Authority Board) and Park Board Vice Chairman Mary Cortina gathered for a commemorative photo.

Volunteers spent the morning painting bollards, removing landscape timbers, laying stone, pruning shrubs, raking, mulching and helping with other park beautification projects. The Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park includes approximately 10 acres of land in the Kingstowne area where opportunities for new, publicly-accessible open space are few and far between. The site is characterized by a mixture of open lawn areas, mature canopy trees and a stream that bisects the property.

The National Environmental Education Foundation’s (NEEF) National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands and aims to connect people to public lands in their community, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage use of public lands for education, recreation, and general health.

On, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, leaders from the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services joined contractors and residents for a tour of the recently completed stream restoration project in Lake Fairfax Park. The project team discussed the benefits to the park and surrounding environment, which include reduced flooding hazards, higher water quality, a new vehicular bridge, a stabilized pedestrian bridge, and access points for environmental education programs.

The first phase of a stream restoration project restored 2,220 feet of Colvin Run, a tributary of Difficult Run, which drains into the Potomac River. This was a joint project completed by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) and the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Pictured in the photo, from left to right: Matthew Kaiser, information officer, DPWES; Vince Martucci, branch chief, Utilities Design and Construction Division, Capital Facilities, DPWES; Joanne and Ron Wallos, park neighbors; Wayne Brissey, Area 6 Manager, Park Authority; Brian Chromey, Wet Studies and Solutions, Inc.; J.T. Kelley, WSSI; Bart Cowne, Avon Corp.; Tim Hackman, Dranesville District representative, Park Authority Board; Bill Bouie, chairman, Park Authority Board; Katie Fordney, GeoConcepts Engineering, Inc.; Michael Freund, Engineering Technician, Stormwater Planning Division, DPWES; Sara Baldwin, acting executive director, Park Authority; Jay Horstman, senior engineer, Utilities Design and Construction Division, CAP, DPWES; Charles Smith, central branch chief, Watershed Projects Implementation, Stormwater Planning Division, DPWES; and Dave Bowden, director, Planning and Development Division, Park Authority.

On, Saturday, October 14, 2017, current and former Fairfax County leaders joined family and friends to rename a Tysons park in honor of former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Ken Lawrence, who passed away in December 2016.

Jones Branch Fields and Arbor Row Stream Valley Park were consolidated and renamed Ken Lawrence Park in honor of the former Providence District Planning Commissioner and longtime advocate for parks, fields and open space in Fairfax County. His vision for Tysons sought balance between growth and infrastructure and he was a major influence in getting green space added to the Tysons Urban Center Comprehensive Plan, which will guide development of Tysons’ recreational amenities now and in the future.

Pictured in the photo, from left to right:

(LEFT SIDE) Philip Niedzielski-Eichner, Providence District Planning Commissioner; Jay Donohue, former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner; Tasso Flocos, Cityline; James Migliaccio, Lee District Planning Commissioner; John Litzenberger, Former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner; Tom Fleury, formerly of Cityline; Tim Sargeant, At-Large Planning Commissioner; Jill Cooper, Fairfax County Planning Commission Director; John Ulfelder, Dranesville District Planning Commissioner; Fred Selden, Director of Fairfax County Planning & Zoning; Peter Murphy, Springfield District Planning Commissioner; Janyce Hedetniemi, At-Large Planning Commissioner; Sara Baldwin, Park Authority Acting Executive Director; Ken Quincy, Providence District Representative for Park Authority Board; Andi Dorlester, Park Authority Planning Manager; Walter Acorn, At-Large Representative for Park Authority Board

(RIGHT SIDE) Lawrence family members along with Tim Eakin Walsh, Fairfax County Park Foundation Board of Directors; Linda Q. Smyth, Providence District Supervisor, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Dave Bowden, Park Authority Director of Planning & Development; James R. Hart, At-Large Planning Commissioner; Lynne Strobel, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh; Jim Zook, former Director of Fairfax County Department of Planning & Zoning. 

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