Park Authority

The Fairfax County Park Authority has become certified as a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer. This designation serves as a welcome sign for veterans seeking employment with the agency. The V3 Program helps employers develop and implement long-term strategies and nationally recognized best practices in recruiting, hiring and retaining Veterans.

Veterans have many well-recognized and valued traits. They are disciplined team players; enter the workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real-world situations; are trained and expected to be able to perform under pressure, with deadlines and under trying conditions; they fit in and work well in diverse workplaces; and they are expected to be constantly learning, to take initiative and be accountable for their actions.

Virginia is fortunate to have one of the youngest and the fastest growing Veteran labor force in the United States. Thousands of new Veterans enter Virginia’s workforce each year, and that number is projected to rise in the coming years. While many employers are unaware of the value Veterans can bring to their workforce, other employers are actively seeking to hire Veterans as a part of their workforce. The Park Authority will continue to develop relationships with local military facilities to recruit, hire, train and retain Veterans.

The V3 Program is an official Commonwealth of Virginia Program, authorized under the Code of Virginia (§ 2.2-2001.2). For more information contact the Park Authority at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. For more information about hiring opportunites at the Park Authority, visit the Jobs and Internships page.

Help tidy up your local parks and clear the earth’s arteries by volunteering for some spring cleaning in April. It’s a great way for individuals, families and groups to earn service hours, work on team building or simply give back to the local community.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s annual Watershed Clean-up Days are scheduled in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy at sites throughout the county on April 4, 5, 11 and 18. Most of the volunteer work involves collecting and bagging trash found on park grounds, but other projects may be added. For instance, the cleanup at Lee District Park involves cleaning up landscape beds and mulching.

Cleanups on Saturday, April 4 include:

• 8 to 10 a.m.: McLean Central Park (meet in the Dolley Madison Library parking lot)
• 9 to 11 a.m.: Ossian Hall Park (meet in the parking lot in front of the playground)
• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Merrybrook Run Stream Valley Park (meet in the Liberty Property Trust parking lot)
• 9 a.m. to noon: Hidden Pond Nature Center and Lake Fairfax Park

Cleanup on Sunday, April 5 includes:

• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Huntley Meadows Park

Cleanup on Saturday, April 11 includes:

• 9 to 11 a.m.: Lake Accotink Park

Cleanups on Saturday, April 18 include:

• 8 to 11 a.m.: Royal Lake Park in Fairfax
• 9 to 11 a.m.: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Lillian Carey Park (meet by the tennis courts near the rear parking lot of Bailey’s Community Center)
• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Arrowbrook Park, Bren Mar Park (meet in the parking lot), Chandon Park, Cub Run RECenter, Lee District Park (meet in front of the RECenter), London Towne, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, Sully Historic Site, Sully Station I, Sully Station II, Isaac Walton, Virginia Run and Chalet Woods
• 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Roundtree Park
• 10 a.m. to noon: Riverbend Park

Staff will be at each cleanup site to provide trash bags, gloves, guidance and appreciation.

To sign up to volunteer, go to the Nature Conservancy website. For questions about individual cleanups, please contact the site. Find information about Fairfax County parks.

On Saturday, February 8, 2020, students from the Oakton High School Environmental Club spent two hours removing invasive shrubs from Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Oakton, VA. The students removed 15 bags of Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) as part of the Fairfax County Park Authority Invasive Management Area (IMA) program.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s IMA program encourages restoration and tree preservation through the removal of non-native invasive species. There are roughly 60 IMA sites throughout Fairfax County dealing with various invasive species. To find out more information about IMA and sign up for future workdays visit our Invasive Management Area web page.

For a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in Fairfax County parks, visit the Park Authority volunteer web page.

Pictured in photo: On Saturday, February 8, 2020, students from the Oakton High School Environment Club removed 15 bags of invasive species from Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Oakton, VA.  

Media Note: Click photo to download

The Laurel Hill Park Volunteer Team (PVT) has been honored by the Virginia House of Delegates for its service work on behalf of parks. Delegate Kathy Tran proposed a resolution to honor the group for receiving the Park Authority’s Elly Doyle Service Award in 2019, and she presented it to the Laurel Hill PVT in a ceremony at the park on December 12, 2020.  

House Joint Resolution No. 257 was offered on February 18, 2020, as an expression of the General Assembly's “ardent appreciation for their contributions to Fairfax County and the Commonwealth.” It commends the Laurel Hill PVT for being one of the first groups to collaborate with the Fairfax County Park Authority through the Park Volunteer Team Program and helping the county refine its model for coordinating park maintenance efforts between county employees and volunteers. 

Members of the PVT conduct service activities throughout the year such as trash clean-ups, invasive plant removal and trail maintenance. The work is part of group’s mission to make Laurel Hill Park as beautiful and inviting as possible and to protect the park's pristine nature, wildlife, birds and plants.   

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or send an email to parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.   

See more photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157717472667816 

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More than 30 volunteers bundled up and braved the cold to help Lake Accotink Park on this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.  

Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) sponsored the volunteer clean-up on Monday, January 20, 2020, at the park’s marina. FLAP board members Jim Hickey and Dave Gibson met the volunteers, provided trash bags and led the group to a successful day of giving back and making a difference. Volunteers filled dozens of trash bags with garbage collected in the park.

FLAP holds monthly volunteer clean-ups at several Lake Accotink Park locations. For more information about FLAP events, visit Friends of Lake Accotink Park. For a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in Fairfax County parks, visit the Park Authority volunteer page.

Pictured in photo:  Brian, Tatiana and Thomas Lisle of Springfield, Virginia, participate in the Friends of Lake Accotink Park volunteer clean-up event on Monday, January 20, 2020.

Media Note: Click photo to download

On Monday, January 20, 2020, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw, along with the Royal Lake Park Volunteer Team (aka Friends of Royal Lake) engaging more than 60 volunteers, honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a day of service at Rabbit Branch Park in Fairfax, Virginia. The group braved frigid temps all morning to clean up the park, stream and surrounding wooded areas, removing 18 large bags of trash. They also gave the park sign a refresh by carefully hand-painting the faded lettering and touching up worn spots. The Park Authority provided the paint and supplies and provided project oversight.

Photo: Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw and Royal Lake Park Volunteer Team Lead Sarah Lennon are joined by more than 60 volunteers for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service event at Rabbit Branch Park in Fairfax.

Media Note: Click photo to download

On January 12, 2020, more than 500 people gathered at Burke Lake Park in Springfield, VA, to witness the release of a rehabilitated bald eagle. The bird was recovered by the Fairfax County Police Department on December 12, 2019, after a community member saw the bird on a trail near Burke Lake, unable to fly.  Dr. Belinda Burwell, D.V.M., of Wildlife Veterinary Care, facilitated the rehabilitation of the bird, who suffered from a shoulder injury and lead poisoning. After a few jumps on the ground, the eagle headed towards the lake.

Photo: Hundreds of onlookers watched as a rehabilitated bald eagle was released at Burke Lake Park on Sunday, January 12, 2020. 

Media Note: Click photo to download

See more photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157712652985167

On January 1-3, 2021, the Fairfax County Park Authority joined America’s state parks including Virginia State Parks to encourage everyone to start 2021 with a hike. In Fairfax County, it’s a great way to appreciate more than 450 miles of trails and to set the bar for a new year of fitness and outdoor activity. This year’s contests included special prize amounts of $70 to commemorate the Park Authority’s 70th anniversary. Nearly 200 hikers submitted photos as part of the First Hike Fairfax 2021 Photo Contest presented by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Park Authority Executive Director, a panel of Park Authority judges and a public vote have determined the following winners:

Elaine Starr, Huntley Meadows Park

Judges’ Choice: $70 Park Authority Gift Card OR 25-visit FCPA RECenter Pass

A panel of judges thought the photographer did an excellent job of clearly capturing the detail of this action shot from a Northern pintail at Huntley Meadows Park. They felt like the photo transported them to the Huntley wetlands – home to so many beautiful birds and animals.

First Hike Fairfax kicks off a new year of Healthy Strides activities for the whole family. For more fresh ideas, visit the Healthy Strides web page and sign up for the e-newsletter with monthly tips to get you and your family energized.

Find out more about how easy it is to support local parks by visiting the Park Foundation.

For more information on First Hike Fairfax, visit the First Hike Fairfax web page

Media Note: Click the photo to download

See all First Hike Fairfax 2021 photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157717789997173

Lee District community leaders recently honored Transurban, operators of the 495 and 95 express lanes, for significant enrichment of Fairfax County parks through contributions to the Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF). 

Officials thanked Transurban for its support at a ceremony on December 10, 2019, at the accessible carousel at the Lee District Family Recreation Area. Transurban was granted naming rights to one of the horses because of a donation to the Park Foundation. The sponsors fittingly named the Chessie’s Carousel horse “Elane.”

“Transurban is honored to support the Park Foundation’s many programs that help make our community a great place to live,” said Brent McKenzie, Transurban Government Relations & Community Outreach Manager.

Since 2011, Transurban has donated a cumulative total $182,700 to FCPF for parks and programs located near the express lanes. Grants and charitable contributions enable the Park Authority to provide the popular Lee Nights Summer Entertainment Series, Chessie’s Big Backyard playground and programs at other parks.

A $10,000 gift to the Fairfax County Park Foundation enables the donor to name one of a limited number of Chesapeake Bay-themed Carousel features. To learn more, visit Chessie’s BIG Backyard at Lee District Park.

Pictured standing from left to right are: Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter, Park Authority Board Lee District representative; Margaret Thaxton, FCPF Director of Development; Dr. Abena A. Aidoo, At-Large Park Authority Board representative; Rodney L. Lusk, Lee District Supervisor-elect; Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman-elect; Brent McKenzie, Transurban Government Relations & Community Outreach Manager; Bruce D. McLeod, FCPF Board Emeritus; Bobbi Longworth, FCPF Executive Director; Michael Gailliot, Vice Chair, FCPF Board of Directors.

For more information, visit us online.

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Members of the community, local elected officials, and representatives from the Park Authority gathered in celebration this past Saturday at Azalea Park in Falls Church.  This small, neighborhood park has been fully redesigned and, with the collaboration and cooperation of neighbors, has become a wonderful place to play, spend time with family and friends and enjoy being outdoors.  The park now features new play equipment for all age groups, adult exercise equipment, seating areas, picnic tables, and landscaping featuring the parks’ namesake azaleas.

The Park Authority worked closely with the Greater Hillwood Citizens Association to plan the improvements for the park, and the planning and construction process was completed within one year.  As part of the process, residents formed a volunteer group to provide enhanced maintenance of the park’s landscaping. 

Cunningham Recreation, Custom Park Solutions and Denison Landscaping provided services for the project, which had a total cost of $176,500, funded via proffers. 

Pictured are members of the community and the Park Authority project team as well as Alex Strong, President of the Greater Hillwood Citizens Association; Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Kirk Kincannon, Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Authority; Ken Quincy, Providence Representative, Park Authority Board; Adam Wynn, project manager, Park Authority; Julie Guzzo, co-chair, Azalea Park Steering Committee; Paul Shirey, Park Planning Division and David Bowden, director, Park Planning Division.

Media Note: Click photo to download

See more photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157710885348161