Park Authority

This winter, Golf Fairfax is thrilled to launch its first-ever Indoor Trackman League! Using the state-of-the-art Trackman4 golf simulator at Pinecrest Golf Course, players can compete in a fun and engaging league from the comfort of our indoor studio. The tournament will run from Jan. 6 to March 30, 2025.

“Pinecrest’s Indoor Trackman League offers the perfect opportunity to stay in the game during the winter months,” Michael Mauk, the program director for Pinecrest Golf Course, said. “Players compete with friends and can improve their performance and enjoy the thrill of playing some of the world’s most famous courses—all without leaving Alexandria.”

The league will feature four 9-hole rounds on these world-renowned courses: St. Andrews Old Course, Pinehurst No. 2, Bethpage Black and Pebble Beach Golf Links. Golfers have three weeks to complete each round and can attempt each course up to four times, with only their best score counting toward the league standings. Prizes will be awarded to overall winners and closest-to-the-pin competitions. There will be designated tees for men, women and juniors to ensure fair play.

Registration is $40, with discounted Trackman fees of $25 for the first hour and $20 for additional hours applied to league rounds. To participate, golfers must create a Trackman account and handicap.

Register for the Indoor Trackman League before the deadline on Dec. 22

Pinecrest Golf Course is located at 6600 Little River Turnpike in Alexandria. For more information or to register, visit the 2025 Pinecrest Winter Trackman League webpage.

Start 2025 on the right foot with the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation's annual First Hike Photo Contest! Community members of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join the fun and explore the beauty of Fairfax County parks.

How To Participate

1. Take a Hike. Enjoy a stroll through any of the Park Authority’s 420 parks or along more than 334 miles of trails on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
2. Capture the Moment. Snap a fantastic photo during your adventure.
3. Submit Your Best Shot. Upload your photo online by noon on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, for a chance to win amazing prizes!

Join a nationwide First Day Hike tradition and start your year with an adventure! Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a first-time explorer, it’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with family, friends, and neighbors. This family-friendly community activity is open to photographers of all levels. Each participant can submit one photo in one of the following categories: Scenery/Landscapes, People, Wildlife, and Pets. Multiple family members may enter individually. Please remember to follow all park rules and safety protocols—photos depicting rule violations will be disqualified.

The following prizes are sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation:

• People’s Choice: $100 Park Authority Gift Card
• Judges’ Choice: $100 Park Authority Gift Card
• Director’s Choice: $100 Park Authority Gift Card
• Best in Show (Scenery/Landscapes): $75 Park Authority Gift Card
• Best in Show (People): $75 Park Authority Gift Card
• Best in Show (Wildlife): $75 Park Authority Gift Card
• Best in Show (Pets): $75 Park Authority Gift Card

Complete contest rules, photo submission instructions, and hike-planning resources can be found on the First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest website.

Hit the trails, capture the moment, and start the new year off with a win!

For questions about the First Hike photo contest, contact the Park Authority Public Information Office at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Turner Farmhouse Foundation is hosting its annual pancake breakfast and open house on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Parking is available on site with volunteers able to assist. The event is open to the public at no cost.

The Turner Farmhouse Foundation serves as the resident curator for the historic Turner Farmhouse and several other outbuildings on the property located at 10609 Georgetown Pike in Great Falls. Through the Resident Curator Program, the Turner Farmhouse Foundation is using the other structures on the site to create and operate a retreat center, partnering with Becky Love Foundation, Comfort Zone Camps and other organizations to host bereavement programs.

The Turner Farmhouse, built in 1905 by the Turner family, is in a 52-acre community park at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Springvale Road in Great Falls. The Mark Turner Dairy Farm is an example of the type of farm that predominated in this community during the early years of the 20th century, and the Turners were hailed as model farmers in a 1948 article in the "National Grange Monthly."

The 3,216-square-foot house Queen Anne style farmhouse exemplifies the cultural, economic and historic heritage of the Springvale and Forestville/Great Falls agricultural communities in Northern Virginia. Many of the original details, formal parlor, hardwood flooring and fireplaces remain. Several outbuildings on the property reflect its rural history, as well.

The Resident Curator Program provides a unique opportunity for individuals, nonprofit and for-profit organizations to secure long-term lease agreements for historic properties in beautiful public park settings. The curator leases are without charge in exchange for a financial commitment toward approved rehabilitation of the Park Authority’s underutilized historic properties. The program requires reasonable public access to these historic resources, which often occurs in the form of an annual open house.

For additional information please visit the Resident Curator Program website. You may also contact the manager of the Resident Curator Program Stephanie Langton at 703-324-8791.

Enjoy a truly magical event at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3 — the 2025 Healthy Strides Fantasy Forest 5K/10K. Encounter mythical creatures as you run, walk or roll in the 5K (3.1 miles) or as you run through the trails in the competitive 10K (6.2 miles) at Burke Lake Park located at 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station.

The event also features a Tots Dash (ages 2-5) and Kids Dash (ages 6-10) for children of race participants to enjoy a short run to the finish line. Early registration discounts are available through Jan. 1.

Registrants will receive a shirt and commemorative medal. Register by Jan. 1 to receive a $5 early registration discount using the code 25HSPARKS. Awards and bragging rights will be presented to the overall top finishers and top finishers in different age groups for both the 5K and 10K.

Healthy Strides Information and Registration

Come out to cheer for the runners and enjoy the post-race refreshments and party. Please note that all race participants and spectators must wait until the race is over before leaving the park, since roadways will be closed for the runners.

A portion of the proceeds from the Healthy Strides 5K/10K goes to the Fairfax County Park Foundation to support the beautiful Burke Lake Park. For information and Healthy Strides sponsorship details, please visit the Park Foundation website.

View Healthy Strides flyer

The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), 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 website or call 703-324-8582.

Join family, friends and neighbors at the park this holiday season. With more than 50 holiday-oriented activities and events to choose from, the Fairfax County Park Authority has something for everyone – from wagon and train rides to candlelit tours and, of course, Santa himself! Here are just a few highlights. 

Holiday on the Farm

Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 21; 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Frying Pan Farm Park

Enjoy an evening on the farm with bright holiday lights, wagon rides, indoor activities, animal attractions, campfires, cocoa and visits with Santa. Tickets are $15 per person in advance and $20 at the door. 

Winter Wonderland

Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Burke Lake Park

Experience the magic of the holidays with train rides on the Holiday Express, carousel spins and s’mores by the fire. Meet Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and candy canes. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. 

Experience the Holidays at Colvin Run Mill

Holiday Lantern Tours

Saturday, Dec. 7; tours at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Tour the historic mill by candlelight and discover holiday traditions of the past. Tickets are $12 per person. 

Children’s Holiday Shopping

Saturday, Dec. 7; times available between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Attend this special event where children can shop for holiday gifts in a historic setting. Tickets are $7 per child. 

Santa at the Mill

Dec. 14 and 15; multiple times

Meet Santa in the charming setting of Colvin Run Mill. Times available from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 2 to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Sensory-friendly options available as well! 

Candy Cane Lane

Saturday, Dec. 14; 3 – 7 p.m. Oakmont Rec Center

Stroll down Candy Cane Lane for a game of mini golf with Mrs. Claus. Come out to meet Santa, enjoy hot chocolate and other sweet treats, work on crafts, and have fun. Tickets cost $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Swim with Santa

Sunday, Dec. 15; Multiple times for different age groups. Spring Hill Rec Center

Celebrate the holiday season with a festive-themed pool party and the opportunity to swim with Santa at Spring Hill Rec Center. The session for children ages 1-6 years will be from 3 – 4 p.m. and the session for children ages 7 – 12 will be from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per child. 

Holiday and Ugly Sweater Skate and Dance Night

Saturday, Dec. 21; 6 – 10 p.m. Franconia Rec Center

Celebrate the holiday in style by wearing your brightest, most festive sweater (or holiday outfit) of the season. Make the season bright by taking laps around the skate floor with friends and family. Tickets cost $10 per person. 

For a comprehensive list of events, dates, and registration details, please visit the Park Authority’s Seasonal Events in the Parks page.

Celebrate the holidays with family, friends and four-legged buddies over at Lake Accotink Park for a merry good time! Join the Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) for a festive holiday experience on Saturday, Dec. 14. Volunteer setup and decorations start at 10 a.m. and Santa arrives at noon. Enjoy holiday goodies, including treats for your pets, prizes and photos with Santa at the Lake Accotink Park Marina Pavilion.

This event is free for all guests. The Friends of Lake Accotink Park welcomes contributions to support this and other events, programs and initiative at Lake Accotink Park. The Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) is a certified 501(c)3, all-volunteer organization that is committed to protect, restore, preserve and educate all concerning the natural, historical and cultural resources of Lake Accotink Park.

Lake Accotink Park is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road in Springfield. 

Register to see Santa at Lake Accotink Park

The Fairfax County Park Authority – in partnership with Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, The Fairfax County Park Foundation and The McLean Central Playground Team – is pleased to announce the official ribbon-cutting to commemorate the reopening of McLean Central Park. This event will celebrate an extraordinary collaboration to enhance one of McLean’s beloved community spaces and create a more vibrant and accessible park experience.

• When:  Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at 9 a.m. 
• Where: The New McLean Central Park Pavilion, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA 22101 

Limited parking is available at the Dolley Madison Library and the McLean Community Center. 

The event will include a brief speaking program with speakers, including Tim Hackman, Dranesville representative of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisor Bierman.

The program will also include Laura Eakin Erlacher, Chair of the Fairfax County Park Foundation and Dr. Cara Schantz, of the community-based McLean Central Playground Team, who spearheaded a fundraising effort to generate approximately $400,000 to support the construction of the new playground facilities.  

For more information about the event or McLean Central Park, please contact the Park Authority’s Communications Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Contributions for the McLean Central Park Project were coordinated by the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Fairfax County Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3), 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 website or call 703-324-8582.

The Fairfax County Park Authority joined with Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and members of the Woodlawn Little League community to celebrate the completion of the new restroom and concession building at McNaughton Fields Park.

The new facility marks the realization of a long-held vision for McNaughton Fields Park since its establishment in 2016. The building includes permanent restrooms, a concessions stand and storage space built on an existing concrete pad. The facility is a huge addition for the promotion of McNaughton Fields Park as a desirable multi-field location to support baseball/softball tournament play in the Mount Vernon District.

The project, costing just over $1 million, is also a powerful example of an engaged community working with local government to make improvements in community amenities. The Park Authority acknowledged the amazing contribution of the members of the Woodlawn Little League community, who spearheaded a fundraising effort that generated $200,000 to support the construction of the facility.

“This is a really good example of what we can get done if we stick with it and work together,” said Linwood Gorham, Mount Vernon District Representative on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. “We’re grateful for the engaged participation of the Woodlawn Little League on this project and look forward to an amazing spring opening when league play gets underway.”

McNaughton Fields Park is located at 5320 Pole Road in Fort Belvoir.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has begun a trail maintenance project in South Run Stream Valley Park. The project includes trail repairs, culvert replacements and related improvements to enhance safety and usability.

During construction, occasional trail closures may be necessary to ensure public safety. The Park Authority anticipates the repaving of the trail segment will be complete by Nov. 27, weather permitting. Trail edge stabilization and other related work will continue through December, but the work should not require trail closures. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting.

Trail users are urged to obey all posted signs and avoid construction zones for their safety. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and use the FCPA Trail Buddy app to locate alternative trails in the area.

South Run Stream Valley Park is located at 8299 South Run Road in Springfield.

For questions or more information, please contact FCPA Project Manager Isabel Villarroel at Isabel.villarroel@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-7195.

Golf Fairfax is excited to announce a new enhancement to Noteefy, our virtual tee time booking assistant. Golfers can now set up recurring tee time searches, making it easier than ever to secure tee times at their favorite Golf Fairfax courses, eliminating the need for repeated manual searches.

“Finding the perfect tee time can be a real challenge, especially at peak hours,” said Golf Fairfax Director Ryan Carmen. “With this new recurring search feature, golfers can plan in advance—just like setting up recurring meetings but for tee times. We want golfers to play more and search less.”

Signing up for Noteefy is quick and easy and takes less than 30 seconds. This feature ensures that golfers stay ahead of the game by booking prime tee times with minimal effort. As the tee times are released, golfers will receive notifications to book. For more information and to sign up, visit the Virtual Tee Time Waitlist and Assistant.

How the recurring searches work:

1. Select Frequency: Set up search for one time, daily or weekly occurrence
2. Set Preferences: Pick your preferred dates, times and number of players.
3. Get Alerts: Click "Get Notified" to start receiving alerts for available tee times that match your request.

Discover more about Golf Fairfax's seven municipal golf courses at the Park Authority Golf website.