Park Authority

Burke Lake Golf Center and Oakmont Golf Center have been recognized as two of the top 50 public golf ranges in the country by Golf Range Magazine. This magazine is published by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) and the Professional Golf Association (PGA).

Oakmont Golf Center, with its 78 lighted stations including 30 covered and heated ones, has received this honor for the third year in a row. Burke Lake Golf Center has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year for its fully renovated facilities. Both golf centers are managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority.

The GRAA awards these recognitions annually to the best public, private, and stand-alone golf ranges, highlighting those that introduce golf to new players and keep current players engaged through various programs and community activities.

"Golf Fairfax is firmly committed to continuous improvement at our ranges and courses. This year, we’ve focused on enhancing the player experience with new technology and innovative programs to make golf more accessible and enjoyable for everyone," said Ryan Carmen, director of Golf Fairfax for the Park Authority.

The Burke Lake and Oakmont ranges were praised for their:

• Modern facilities that allow for year-round play.
• Dispensing over 8-10 million range balls annually.
• Installation of SelectPi technology to improve customer experience and enhance range operations.
• Custom club fitting services, supported by PGA and LPGA professionals.
• Advertising campaigns for promotions, like Family Golf Month and the Orange Tee Club.
• Programs to welcome new, casual and experienced golfers.
• Comprehensive golf academies for all skill levels, families, women and juniors.

Burke Lake Golf Center is located at 6915 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. Oakmont Golf Center is at 3136 Jermantown Road, Oakton. For more details, visit the Fairfax County Park Authority's Golf website. All driving ranges include putting and chipping greens and are open year-round.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce that Rick Healy has been appointed by Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez to represent his district on the Park Authority Board. Healy will fill the seat vacated by former member Ron Kendall, who has served with distinction as the Mason District representative on the board for nearly eight years.

Healy, a former staffer for the U.S. House of Representatives, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the board. During a distinguished 35-year career in public service, he has held several senior staff positions, serving the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Appropriations Committee’s Interior Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee. During his service, he oversaw legislation and government policies for our national parks and forests, natural resources, environmental conservation and matters pertaining to public lands.

Healy’s dedicated public service has also extended to many volunteer positions within our local community as well. His service has included leadership positions with the Northern Virginia Swimming League, Camelot Civic Association, the Falls Church High School Parent Teacher Association and most recently as the Mason District representative to the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council.

Healy will be up for reappointment in December 2026.

Embark on a journey of cultural richness and historical significance this Black History Month with engaging programs in Fairfax County parks. Join in honoring and exploring the vibrant tapestry of Black heritage though interactive events, programs, exhibits and offerings for all ages. Programs include:

• Black History Month at Historic Frying Pan Church, Frying Pan Farm Park, Feb. 1, noon-3 p.m., Free
• Enslaved Lives and the Legacy of Slavery, Historic Huntley, Feb. 27, 1-2 p.m., $12
• Black History Month at Historic Frying Pan Church, Frying Pan Farm Park, Feb. 15, noon-3 p.m., Free
• Paths of Freedom Seekers, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Feb. 23, 3-4 p.m., $8
• Remembering Metilda- An Enslaved Child at the Mill, Colvin Run Mill, Feb. 22, 1-2 p.m., $9

Park visitors are also invited to come discover the resources parks use to uncover the history of Fairfax County families and learn what resources you can use to find your ancestors’ stories. Visit Colvin Run Mill Historic Park, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Green Spring Gardens, Huntley Meadows Park and Sully Historic Site to see our informative displays throughout the month of February.

Visit the Park Authority’s Black History Month webpage for additional activities and resources to celebrate and commemorate Black history and culture in Fairfax County parks.

Ring in the Lunar New Year with an evening of fantastic entertainment, traditional crafts and delicious cuisine at the free Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton.

This year’s celebration promises another unforgettable experience, featuring:

• Traditional Lunar New Year performances, including music, dance and cultural showcases.
• Interactive crafts and games for all ages to immerse in the holiday spirit.
• Delicious Asian cuisine available from local food trucks.

Bring your family, friends and neighbors to honor this rich cultural tradition and enjoy an evening of community connection. The event highlights the beauty of cultural diversity and creates a space to learn, celebrate and share in the joy of the Lunar New Year.

The Twin Lakes Golf course is located at 6201 Union Mill Road in Clifton. For more details, visit the Lunar New Year website. 

Register for the Lunar New Year celebration

View the Lunar New Year flyer

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board held its election of officers at its virtual meeting held on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The board unanimously elected Braddock District Representative Kiel Stone as Chairman; Dranesville District Representative Tim Hackman as Vice Chair; Franconia District Representative Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter as Secretary; and At-Large Representative Dr. Abena Aidoo Hewton as Treasurer.

Board officer positions are outlined in the Bylaws Governing the Fairfax County Park Authority Board and include Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers are elected annually by the members of the Park Authority Board at the beginning of the calendar year.

Members to the Fairfax County Park Authority Board are appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The 12-member board includes one representative from each of the county’s nine magisterial districts and three at-large members. This public body is responsible for setting policy and establishing priorities for the Park Authority. For more information, visit the Park Authority Board website.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is preparing for another busy spring and summer camp registration season! To help camp families, the Park Authority is introducing some changes to support an efficient registration process for this year’s camps.

After receiving customer feedback during our 2024 camp registration period, we learned that the number of devices logging into the system can overwhelm our vendor’s online platform. We’ve worked with our vendor to correct the error that led to last year’s challenges. As an added measure to help moderate user volume on the registration system, registration for spring and summer camp will be split evenly within Fairfax County depending on the location camps take place:

• Green location camps — Register starting Tuesday, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. (add to calendar)
• Blue location camps — Register starting Thursday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. (add to calendar)

The Park Authority has prepared several resources for helping parents prepare for the upcoming spring and summer camp registration, including:

• 2025 Camp Guide: Explore the complete listing of camp opportunities and other key details needed to register.
• Camp Search: Use this online system to search for camps and register when the time comes.
• FAQs: Browse these questions and answers about the registration split!
• Camp Planner Sheet: Write your top choices with their Catalog IDs and the registration date before registration opens to make the process quick and easy the morning of.
• Camp Website: Check our Camp Hub for all the latest information and the resources mentioned above.
• Color-Coded Camp Location Map: Use this to identify camp location and their Green or Blue Team designation.
• Camp Spreadsheet: Sort camps by student age, date, type of camp and location.

Please note that waitlists for all summer camps will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 1.

Children enrolled in camp will have a summer they’ll never forget, making friends, building memories, and enjoying experiences that keep their minds and bodies active. FCPA brings the wonders of the camp experience not only to children but also to preschoolers, teens, adults and people of all ages with disabilities. There’s something for everyone with FCPA’s summer camps! So set your clocks, make those wish lists and get online to register in February!

Be sure to visit the Park Authority's Camp website for the most up-to-date camp information, and keep up with the camp conversation on social media using #FCPACampTuesdays.

If you have any questions, please contact FCPA Camps team at camps@fairfaxcounty.gov. Media inquiries may be directed to the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is thrilled to announce Rena Schild as the winner of the People’s Choice Award for the 2025 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest. Rena’s captivating photo, taken at Huntley Meadows Park, received the highest number of online votes submitted by residents from across the county. As the winner, Rena will receive a $100 gift card, sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

The 2025 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest invited park enthusiasts of all ages to kick off the new year by exploring local parks and capturing their adventures through photography. The contest was a tremendous success, with more than 400 photo submissions and more than 700 residents participating in the People’s Choice Award voting.

This year’s inspiring First Hike submissions showcased the diverse landscapes, wildlife and recreational opportunities found throughout the Fairfax County park system, as well as precious moments that captured the enjoyment of both people and pets as they visited our parks. To view a full collection of this year’s photo submissions.

Visit the First Hike Fairfax 2025 Flickr album

Thank you to all our participants for their enthusiastic support of this year’s First Hike event. We encourage everyone to continue exploring and enjoying our parks throughout 2025. Whether you’re hiking a scenic trail, observing wildlife or simply enjoying a moment of peace in nature, there’s always something new to discover.

For a complete list of winners, visit the First Hike Fairfax webpage.

First Hike Fairfax is sponsored in partnership with the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Fairfax County Park Foundation supports the Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet community needs for park land, facilities and services. For more information, visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation website.

Golf Fairfax congratulates Pinecrest golf instructor, Tim Sample, on his outstanding achievement of leading the Meridian High School golf team to its first Virginia state championship in school history.

Tim Sample was recognized in the Washington Post's 2024 Fall All-Met: Golf coverage. Sample took on the role of head coach for the Meridian High School in Falls Church, just weeks before the start of the season. Leveraging his coaching expertise and passion for the game, he helped transform the team’s potential into a championship performance.

Under his guidance, the Meridian Mustangs achieved an upset victory over Kettle Run in the Virginia 3C region tournament and secured the Class 3 state team title by five strokes.

At Golf Fairfax, Tim shares his expertise with golfers of all ages and skill levels, helping to foster a love for the game while honing their skills.

“Tim’s success with the golfers at Meridian reflects the dedication and talent he brings to our program at Pinecrest,” said Tyler Tschantz, General Manager of Pinecrest Golf Course. “We are proud to have him on our team, inspiring golfers both on and off the course.”

For more information about golf instruction at Pinecrest Golf Course, please visit the
About Golf Fairfax webpage.

Come be a part of the largest Earth Day celebration in Fairfax County!

The Fairfax County Park Authority is anticipating another stellar event with thousands of visitors gathering on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly to celebrate Earth Day. Applications are now being accepted at the Earth Day Festival Vendor/Exhibitor webpage for vendors and exhibitors to participate in this outdoor extravaganza!

All applications must be received by Monday, Feb. 10 and rolling notifications of acceptance will be made through Feb.14. In observance of Earth Day and the Park Authority’s dedication to preserving our natural resources, we request that all food vendors, merchandise vendors and exhibitors plan to provide Earth-friendly utensils, handouts and giveaways.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with thousands of Fairfax County residents as we celebrate our environment and encourage Earth-friendly stewardship practices.

For more information and about the event, hosting a booth and to submit your application, visit the Earth Day Festival Vendor/Exhibitor website.

Chilly weather didn’t deter Fairfax County residents from venturing outdoors to celebrate the start of 2025. Hundreds of people of all ages embraced the fresh new year by exploring the Park Authority’s more than 420 parks and 334 miles of trails, capturing their experience for the 2025 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest.

The annual First Hike Fairfax photo contest is jointly sponsored by the Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation as a way for residents to begin a new year with fitness and outdoor activity, while enjoying the experience with friends, neighbors and family. This year, more than 400 contestants submitted photos. The results are spectacular! See the complete collection of submissions on the First Hike Fairfax 2025 photo album Flickr page.

The contest received entries in four categories: Scenery and Landscapes, People, Wildlife and Pets. A “Best in Show” prize was awarded in each category. Two at-large awards – the Director’s Choice and the Judges’ Choice – were selected by FCPA Leadership. The following winners will receive gift cards to the Fairfax County Park Authority provided by the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The prizes are redeemable toward the cost of most Park Authority programs or Rec Center Memberships.

Director's Choice Award

Judges' Choice Award

Best in Show (Nature and Landscapes)

Best in Show (People)

Best in Show (Wildlife)

Best in Show (Pets)

A committee reviewed submissions and selected finalists for the 2025 People’s Choice Award; this award will be selected by popular vote.

Cast your vote on the Fairfax First Hike voting page this weekend. Voting is open through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 16 and will receive a $100 Park Authority gift card.

"New Year’s Day is the perfect time to reflect on the importance of wellness," Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole said. "We’re inspired by the thousands of people who turn to our parks to celebrate the start of the year. We at the Park Authority are committed to providing spaces that promote health, connection, and a love for the outdoors year-round."

For more information about the photo, visit the First Hike Fairfax webpage. For questions, contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation supports the Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet community needs for park land, facilities and services. For more information, visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation website.