The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole offers a wide range of opportunities to earn some cash this summer!

Laurel Hill Golf Club was ranked among the top 20 best golf courses in Virginia according to the annual Golfers' Choice lists generated by the GolfPass community ratings and reviews.

Take a break from the winter weather and get some tropical inspiration with upcoming programs at Green Spring Gardens.

Come to Green Spring Gardens to explore the sensational world of seeds!

With long evenings and clear skies, it is a great time to observe constellations and planets and create lasting family memories at the same time.

Have your child pack a favorite doll, drink and snack, and visit Sully Historic Site for an All-American Girls story.

Two of Golf Fairfax’s ranges were recognized as Top 50 Public Ranges by Golf Range Magazine, a publication of the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) and the Professional Golf Association (PGA).

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, for the expansion and renovation of the Mount Vernon Rec Center in Alexandria, Virginia, one of the county’s oldest and most popular Rec Centers.

Black History Month is more than just a monthlong observance at the Sully Historic Site.

Welcome the winter with a two-session workshop at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site.

Fairfax County Park Authority Board Chairman Bill Bouie has announced his intention to step down as chairman of the Park Authority Board after 14 years of distinguished leadership of that body.

This year, nearly 300 contestants submitted photos showcasing the sights and scenes they experienced. The results were amazing!

Join the Colvin Run Mill Book Club to broaden your horizons through excellent literature, insightful discussions, and fantastic treats.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is helping to get young gamers off the couch, out of the house and into the community with the new Esports Club.

Commemorate the Lunar New Year with crafts, games, New Year’s resolutions, traditional snacks, and a discussion about history and culture.

Have a close encounter with some of the area’s common but curious critters!

The Fairfax County Park Authority has begun work to replace the playground equipment at Glasgow Park.

Registration for Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) summer camps serving children ages 3 to 16 will begin Jan. 10, 2023.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation has received a $20,000 grant to support the removal of invasive plants and replace them with new seedlings at Blake Lane Park in Oakton, Virginia.

Step confidently into a healthy new year and chart your course to improved health and wellness by creating a routine that works for you and meets your interests.

Jan. 5, 2023 may be National Bird Day, but it’s not the only time to appreciate the abundance of beauty, color and species of birds that reside in and migrate through Fairfax County.

Learning about the past is a fascinating journey of self-discovery, as the histories of former generations become a part of our own living stories.

If you need to break away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, give RV-ing a try at Lake Fairfax!

Dinos Roar in Puppet Show and Crafts at Hidden Oaks

Come and see exquisite photos of natural scenes and wildlife contributed by artists and photographers from across the D.C. area at the Green Spring Gardens “Art in the Gardens” exhibits.

Join artist and naturalist Avery Gunther and learn new tips and techniques to artistically recreate the beauty of outer space.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved the project scope for the development of Ruckstuhl Park in the Providence District.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has scheduled its annual community comment meeting on the agency’s proposed fee adjustments.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has confirmed the reappointments of Michael Gailliot and Kevin Ta as recommended by the Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) Board.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has achieved substantial completion on the development of Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church.

The Park Authority reminds you to recycle your tree at the curb and not by dumping it in the woods or on Fairfax County parkland.

Learn to identify these owls from other native owls by their calls, markings and behaviors.

The Mount Vernon Rec Center will close its doors at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, for an extensive renovation and expansion project expected to last two years.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is beginning the Vendor Application process for the 2023 farmers market season.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reappointed three members of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board.

It’s interesting how much the day-to-day tools, utensils and technologies we use will tell of our day.

Parents and guardians will be able to drop off their children for up to two hours while they get in a workout, take a dip in the pool or enjoy any of the center’s diverse programming options.

Join the effort to find hidden treasures in nature through this creative winter-themed video scavenger hunt through the forest behind Cub Run Rec Center.

If you want to join in the fun of First Hike 2023, consider a sunrise or sunset hike with a naturalist at Burke Lake Park on New Year’s Day!

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has changed the name of two parks and one Rec Center.

The Park Authority has received a proposal from McLean Little League to fund the conversion of the grass baseball diamond at Linway Terrace Park to synthetic turf.

Mason District Representative Ron Kendall was recently reappointed to the Fairfax County Park Authority Board by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for another four-year term.

Join us on Sunday afternoons in January and February in 2023 and learn from the experts through Green Spring Gardens’ annual Winter Lecture Series for home gardeners.

Ring in the new year with a hike on Fairfax County trails! Even better, take a great photo and win a prize.

Are you looking for ways to keep your child busy this winter break? If so, look no further!

We’re having dinosaurs for tea! What could possibly go wrong?

Let your inner artist loose through Kaleidoscope Art Weaving!

IONA returns to the Sully Historic Site for a holiday concert on Dec. 30, 2022.

Visit the Sully Historic Site Visitor Center and the Squirrel’s Nest Museum Shop this holiday season to add a unique touch of local history to the holidays.

The newly refurbished and expanded Wakefield Skate Park is open to the public.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Board approved a Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Funds Grant to help fund a project to construct a concession/restroom building at McNaughton Fields Park.

Two Fairfax County Park Authority employees were presented with the 2022 Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) President’s Award at the society’s annual conference in Virginia Beach.

Visitors will experience holiday traditions and decorations, including an 1885 Christmas tree, from the families that lived at Sully during the 18th and 19th century.

Starting Dec. 1 through Dec. 23, 2022, come see the late 18th century decorations throughout the house at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly, Virginia.

For hundreds of student athletes across the region, winter brings the start of the competitive swim season.

Flying squirrels are commonly zipping between trees just after dusk, but many of us never get a chance to see them.

This new trail at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park combines the opportunity for a healthful walk, the chance to share and interact with your favorite little one, and it provides a cost-free outdoor adventure.

A winter’s evening is the best time to learn about fairy gliders, better known as flying squirrels.

Bring the whole family, including four-legged members, to celebrate the holidays at Lake Accotink Park.

If cleaning up Lake Accotink Park, while also competing with other high schools to collect the most trash sounds fun, it’s time to sign up for The Flap Trash Off.

Balance all the delicious holiday meals and hectic holiday shopping at your nearby Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Center.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board, a 12-member board appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to set policy and establish strategic policy and direction for the Park Authority, has approved its 2023 meeting schedule.

Riverbend Park Forest Preschool will hold an Open House on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, from 10 a.m. until noon.

The Turner Farmhouse Foundation (TFF) is hosting its third-annual pancake breakfast and open house.

Come enjoy the Holiday on the Farm! Thousands of lights will decorate the Frying Pan Farm Park on select weekend evenings this December.

Bring the kids to Green Spring Gardens this December for one of these wonderful winter-themed programs.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find lots of Park Authority holiday programs and events listed conveniently in one location? That’s what we thought.

There is always something interesting to do at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale.

The Oakton Community Park Volunteer Team, in collaboration with other Oakton community organizations, will host a crafts sale at the historic schoolhouse in Oakton Community Park.

Friends and family, local officials and members off the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association will gather on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. to dedicate a field at Pine Ridge Park in honor of Wanda Rixon.

The Fairfax County Farmers Markets have extended the season at three popular market locations.

The Fairfax County Park Authority in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will soon begin work on the Burke Lake Park Marina Maintenance Project.

Celebrate International Children’s Day honoring children everywhere with a multicultural salute. Hidden Oaks will highlight fall festivals.

Snakes native to Fairfax County showcase superior adaptations that enable them to get a meal or to keep from being a meal.

Baby turkeys and their adults are very curious creatures.

November is National Native American Heritage Month.

Get set, get ready and root for your favorite cow when Frying Pan Farm Park hosts its third NASCOW Race.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) named Ryan Carmen to serve as its new Golf Division Director.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will join in the national commemoration of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, by offering free admission to the Rec Centers to those who serve and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In the November edition of artiFACTS, find out the story behind mended sherds of pearlware with a colorfully painted female figure found at a homestead in Lorton, Virginia.

Visit Colvin Run Mill to discover how communities, such as Colvin Run supported the young U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.

There has never been a better time to use your Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Center and the robust Aqua Fitness classes taking place.

There has never been a better time to use your Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Center and the robust Aqua Fitness classes taking place.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) will be working to remove and replace the existing bridge at Fairfax Villa Park.

Add your voice to the conversation via a short survey.

Hidden Oaks Nature Center took the challenge of filling the educational gap brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, developing a video alternative to onsite field trips.

Join lots of little ones for Halloween in the Woods at Riverbend Park on Halloween morning, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, treat yourself to a day of fun and learning.

The Fairfax County Park Authority was the recipient of just over $6 million in carryover funding approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors earlier this month.

Ellamae Doyle, former chairman and member of the Park Board, is the recipient of a Chairman’s Choice Award, which recognizes her many years of service to the Park Authority and to residents of Fairfax County.

This year, the Park Authority Board will present the inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award, which was established this past summer.

Susan Kalish has been named Director of the Office of Marketing and Communications.

There is still time to have your say and make an impact on the Fairfax County park system of the future! You can still join in the conversation online at two approaching workshops!

Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers will welcome back FCPS High School swim and dive teams starting Nov. 7, 2022.

Create a beautiful fall floral arrangement in the Floral Design Workshop.

Join all the other monsters and run for the fun of it at the South Run Rec Center on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin construction of the equestrian parking at Turner Farm Park, located at 927 Springvale Road, Great Falls, Virginia.

Just in case you have not signed up yet, you can still spend a day in the 1800s and explore how local crops were turned into food.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is partnering with the McLean Citizens Association, Dark Sky Friends and the Analemma Society to host a celebration of the importance of dark skies.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, a free Youth Fishing Derby for youngsters ages 15 and below will take place at Lake Accotink Park Marina.

One night a year, the forest creatures, and even some plants, come alive at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

Outside, the bears are going to sleep, but you can make your own personality-filled felted toy bear.

Come in your favorite costume to Oak Marr Rec Center and play some Haunted Mini Golf.

In a new Parks Plus video, you can learn how these inclusive programs are making a difference and providing life-changing experiences for individuals with disabilities of all ages and ability levels and their families.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will officially open new pickleball courts at two locations on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

The Fairfax County Park Authority farmers markets are pleased to announce the 2022 hot foods pilot program for the remainder of this year’s market season.

You never know what lies behind the walls in old houses.

October is Virginia Archaeology Month.

Discover techniques to create your own art projects and drawings using gel pens, art markers, colored pencils and watercolors.

Using real and simulated skulls and bones, children ages 5-11 can discover secrets that skeletons unlock.

As the air gets crisp, the fun of fall abounds in the parks.

Families can learn proven strategies to encourage these amazing native flying squirrels to your treed backyard.

The 17th Venture Into Volunteering Fair has returned.

Add a dose of motivation to your workouts with Group Fitness Classes.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has initiated a master plan amendment process for Trailside Park, a 6.6-acre local park located at 6000 Trailside Drive in Springfield, Virginia.

The activity heats up as temperatures cool down on the farm. See all that’s happening as Farm Harvest Days returns to Frying Pan Farm Park Oct. 14 through Oct. 16, 2022.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) will honor McLean Youth Soccer Association (MYS) with a 2022 Eakin Philanthropy Award.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) will participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is developing a Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access Strategy (PROSA).

This weekend, you can renew your personal commitment to health and wellness. Healthy Together Fairfax (HTF) will be held on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022 from noon until 4 p.m. at Lee District Park.

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, a Fairfax County Park Authority business partner, located at the South Run Rec Center, is celebrating the change in seasons with a variety of fun, fall festivities throughout September and October.

Fairfax County Park Authority staff can help you find where the fish are biting with fishing reports.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board allocated funds to continue the popular Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Grant Program.

Are you spellbound by the lovely trees you see at Green Spring Gardens? Learn about them and about how you can add more fall beauty to your own garden at one of these upcoming programs.

Are you looking for a fun creative outlet for yourself or your family this fall? Consider signing up for a fine arts class at Green Spring Gardens in October.

Beginning next week, site prep work will start on a Fairfax County Park Authority project that will replace the asphalt surfacing, color coating, fencing and gates, net posts, footers, and nets at the Borge Street Park basketball courts.

In just about two weeks, a Fairfax County Park Authority trail improvement project will get underway on the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail in Difficult Run Park near the Dulles Access Road.

Join the Fairfax County Farmers Markets for the Fall Harvest Festival at four FCPA Farmers Market locations.

There are two Harold Strickland Partnership and Collaboration Award recipients this year. The recipients include the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park and the Friends of Lake Accotink Park.

Announcing the inaugural year of the Ghost Town event at Burke Lake Park.

Do you have a small space but big garden dreams?

We invite you to explore the hidden history revealed in quilts inspired by Native American and Indigenous culture and lifeways.

Enjoy nature-themed stories in different languages in the magical setting of the Children's Garden at Green Spring Gardens.

The closure is estimated to be about two weeks in duration.

Flying a kite seems simple, but there are strings attached to this fun activity.

This fall, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board will honor numerous volunteers for their service to parks.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board understands the value of demonstrating appreciation for the individuals and organizations that provide volunteer service to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Nature Playce at Fairfax County Park Authority’s Hidden Oaks Nature Center encourages outdoor play every day, plus an opportunity to get just a little bit dirty.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is taking part in this year’s Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz and is actively looking for volunteers to participate.

There are more than 330 species of hummingbirds in the Western Hemisphere, and the most common visitor east of the Great Plains is the ruby-throated hummingbird.

On Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, join us from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the annual Family Fall Festival and Plant Sale at Green Spring Gardens!

Lewinsville Park is featuring Bug Fest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The entire family will love this program designed to appeal to learners of all ages who love insects!

Are you starting to wonder how to overwinter your favorite tender perennials? Would you love to have a fresh supply of culinary herbs in your home or garden to add flavor to your home cooking? Two upcoming Green Spring programs can help you learn the basics!

Due to mechanical failures beyond our control, The Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole in Reston is closed for the remainder of the season, effective immediately. 

UPDATE, Sept. 1, 2022: Due to The Water Mine's closure for the rest of the season, Dog Daze scheduled for Sept. 10, 2022 has been canceled.

Be the first one there! Join our 60th Anniversary Party at 10 a.m. and enjoy an extra hour of fun at Lake Accotink Park this weekend.

As you shift to your fall schedule and routines, there has never been a better time to use your local Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Rec Center.

In this month’s edition of artiFACTS, we discover the personal touch of those who labored to build a brick barn in Fairfax County.

As kids return to school and the seasons change, there are still opportunities to see amazing performers in a park near you.

Participants ages 4 and above are invited to learn more about this popular insect, its challenges and how to make a positive difference in your own backyard.

Join naturalists at Hidden Oaks Nature Center for a pretend dinosaur egg hunt after learning about the fossil record of sizes and shapes of real dinosaur eggs.

Green Spring Gardens has a special program for garden lovers like you.

Don’t fall behind on fall gardening! September is a great month to catch up on planting and gardening maintenance.

Grab a bag and go on a trash scavenger hunt as the Fairfax County Park Authority hosts Watershed Cleanup Days once again this fall.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board announced two recipients of the Elly Doyle Park Service Award for 2022.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin to replace the playground at Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park located on Burchlawn Street in Herndon, Virginia.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) has named a foundation, an organization and a Park Authority Friends Group as recipients of this year’s Eakin Philanthropy Awards.

Huntley Meadows Park is looking for some very special volunteers.

Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated this September. In honor of this occasion, Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers are featuring Zumba classes.

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, one of the Summer Entertainment Series’ favorite performances will take place.

Pack up the kids and jump in the car because on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, there are three great performances in the parks perfect for children.

Walney Pond will be drawn down partially between Sept. 12 and Sept. 16, 2022.

Parks director completes systemwide tour. Join Fairfax County Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole on the last stop of her 420 parks tour for a community stewardship celebration at Lake Fairfax Park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is currently in the design process for redevelopment of Mount Vernon Woods Park located at 4014 Fielding St. in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is pleased to announce the selection of Brendon Hanafin as the new Planning and Development Division Director.

It’s going to be weekends only at the Water Mine a bit earlier this year.

Save the date because Bill Kirchen is ready to perform at Arrowbrook Centre Park on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.

If you love jazz with a side of interesting interaction and content, join us for a Swamp Romp on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Frying Pan Farm Park.

On Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., get ready for a memorable concert featuring Ruthie & the Wranglers.

The Audrey Moore Rec Center, the oldest of nine Fairfax County Park Authority recreational centers, will close its doors from Aug. 27 through Sept. 9, 2022, to address pressing facility maintenance needs, as well as its annual, routine pool whitecoat maintenance. 

During the remainder of August, the Norma Hoffman Visitor Center at Huntley Meadows will have modified hours on Monday, Thursday and Fridays.

The Fairfax County Park Authority received a land dedication on July 22, 2022, from Arrowbrook Centre LLC in the Dranesville District.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a Mastenbrook Grant request from the Great Falls Grange Foundation (GFGF) in the amount of $20,000 to help install a municipal-connected water line to service the Great Falls Grange.

A temporary closure of the parking lot across from Walney pond in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park will result in long-term benefits to the environment, as a green design is implemented at the new facility under construction located at 5301Walney Road in Centreville.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has more than 3 million artifacts and more than 33,000 of those interesting items came from one site. That one location was the Dulin site, located in the Holmes Run area.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., head out to Ellanor C. Lawrence Park for ParkeMon Community Day.

Green Spring Gardens is bursting with color and blooms of all kinds this month! Adults have a chance to experience the gardens in a more meaningful way this August, by signing up for a guided tour of the gardens.

Sully Historic Site is looking for volunteers! Hone your public speaking and organizational skills, while learning local history in a friendly environment surrounded by fellow history enthusiasts.

During National Golf Month, join us Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, for a two-hour Golf Fit workshop taught by Laurie Strickland, golf conditioning specialist and CPT.

On Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, come out to see bluegrass royalty Leigh and Eric Gibson.

If you love the sound of the islands, you don’t want to miss this exciting performance on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022.

The Roadducks are a five-man rock band based in Northern Virginia.

Beat the heat this summer in a house built during the 18th century. Sully Historic Site is open for tours of the 1794 house all summer long.

Fairfax County Park Authority registration for fall classes and programs opens Aug. 2, 2022.

Lake Accotink Park is getting ready for its 60th anniversary celebration slated for Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022.

Come out to Frying Pan Farm Park for family fun and excitement, as the fair and carnival return Thursday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022.

Take a step back in time with a visit to historic Oak Hill Manor in Annandale.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin bridge replacement work in McLean Central Park in McLean, Virginia.

Celebrate National S’more Day on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, from 7 to 8 p.m. by learning more fun facts than you imagined existed about this popular gooey campfire treat.

What’s better than a drive-in movie? A movie and a children’s performance!

August is National Golf Month, a celebration that encourages golfers of all levels and experience to get out their clubs and tee it up at one of the seven public golf courses located throughout Fairfax County.

One Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, The Seldom Scene will perform at Nottoway Park.

Why not start the new month with a great time at the Summer Entertainment Series on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022?

Fairfax Water recently awarded Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends a Water Supply and Protection Grant in the amount of $1,437 in support of ECLP’s water quality monitoring program.

Calling all photography and garden lovers! Green Spring Gardens is hosting its first judged photography contest this summer, sponsored by the Friends of Green Spring (FROGS).

The Fairfax County Park Authority has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.

In action at their regular meeting on July 13, 2022, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board voted to name rectangular field 6 at Pine Ridge Park in honor of Wanda Rixon at the request of the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association (FWSA).

On Thursday, July 28, 2022, head to Nottoway Park at 9537 Courthouse Road, Vienna, Virginia, for some of the best performances of the Summer Entertainment Series.

The Summer Entertainment Series is in full swing with performances at dozens of locations. Three outstanding concerts are set for Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Get ready to party with the Skip Castro Band, performing on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station, Virginia.

Fairfax County Farmers Markets will join farmers markets across the nation in celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 7-13, 2022.

Now is the time to rise up and support your local park system.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will honor 21 individual volunteers named 2022 Outstanding Volunteers and selected by their peers from across the park system.

Mark your calendars because the legendary Nighthawks are bringing their unbridled blues to the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.

Two-time Grammy winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are an eclectic folk festival on their own terms. Join them Wednesday, July 20, 2022, as they perform at Mason District Park Amphitheater.

On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, get ready to remember the best music of the past with The English Channel.

Fairfax County will highlight and celebrate the Latino community’s love for the outdoors during Latino Conservation Week, which takes place July 16 to July 24, 2022.

One of Fairfax County’s oldest and most interesting buildings is undergoing repairs to address termite damage that has affected its log structure.

Come celebrate six decades of excellence at Lake Accotink Park.

It’s back better than ever! Here comes the fair and carnival, one of summer’s most iconic events and popular family traditions, returning Thursday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. Join in the celebration brought to you by the Fairfax County Park Authority, Frying Pan Farm Park, The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park, the Park Foundation, Fairfax County 4-H, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and…

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series is in full swing! On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, there are several performances across the county. They are cost-free, nearby and lots of fun!

Those with disabilities and their families are invited to Fairfax County Park Authority’s sensory friendly events this summer at Our Special Harbor and The Water Mine.

If you love Americana Country, you will love the Randy Thompson Band coming to Burke Lake Park on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, for the Summer Entertainment Series.

Archaeologists recovered an old toy rocket at a site in Fairfax County.

The Combo Classic returns to Twin Lakes Golf Course, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 to Oct. 8, 2022.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is hiring Rec-PAC leaders for our summer Rec-PAC program at 26 elementary schools across Fairfax County.

Green Spring Gardens celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 and began making plans for a new Moon Gate Garden.

Latino Conservation Week is from July 16-24, 2022. Fairfax County will be celebrating the Latino community’s love of nature.

Join us at Frying Pan Farm Park as we celebrate Latino Conservation Week.

From Bolivian dancers to a children’s story along a trail, enjoy activities for all ages at Hidden Oaks Nature Center’s Grand Reopening celebration on Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has began construction of North Hill Park at the North Hill Development located in Alexandria, Virginia, at the intersection of Richmond Highway and Dart Drive.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation Board of Directors elected officers to lead the fundraising arm for the Park Authority from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024.

If you have an appreciation for jazz, swing and R&B, here come three performances in the Evenings on the Ellipse series that you’ll love!

Grab your dancing shoes and friends for a night in the park with upbeat performances at Hunter Mill Melodies at Frying Pan Farm Park!

Three great bands are sure to dazzle you this July as the Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series continues.

Just like Tarzan and Jane, the partnership between Go Ape and the Fairfax County Park Authority is one of those perfect unions.

Here comes Independence Day and in advance, a great show and lots of family fun!

For those who can't get enough of the beauty of hummingbirds, a group of local photographers are mounting an exhibition this summer at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria.

We are excited to bring Cultural Heritage Nights to Ossian Hall Park for the Summer Entertainment Series!

Grab your friends and family and come out to the parks this summer for three bands that you’ll love!

Mark your calendars for family fun in the park this weekend and beyond.

The Summer Entertainment Series lineup includes a wide range of styles and genres, including Indian dance, go-go and swing music.

Here comes Nottoway Nights, part of the Summer Entertainment Series.

Once again, the Fairfax County Park Authority, one of the largest and most diverse park systems in the region, has earned the appreciation of locals and been named several times in Northern Virginia Magazine's Best of 2022 list.

Check out what Park Authority archaeologists have been up to in the lab in the latest issue of the CART Newsletter.

It’s a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what each of us can do to protect them.

Riverbend Park offers rentals of single kayaks for one-person, tandem kayaks for two-people, and canoes for up to three people.

Come out with the little ones for a fun morning with the Blue Sky Puppet Theater, The Great Zucchini and Marsha and the Positrons!

Blues, jazz and patriotism. Get ready for two evenings of fun this summer with the United States Army Blues and the National Concert Band of America!

Are the little ones already missing their friends this summer? Get them all together in the park for an incredible performance!

After months of repairs and conversion of existing courts to pickleball courts, it’s time to officially open the renewed and renovated Wakefield Park tennis and pickleball court complex. Pickleball is fast becoming one of the most popular sports around. That means a growing need for new courts and facilities to accommodate pickleball enthusiasts.   Please join us on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at…

Celebrate the summer solstice with a song (or two)! The mid-Atlantic's highly acclaimed pan-Celtic band IONA returns to Sully Historic Site for their first summer concert, after a two-year hiatus, Saturday, July 9, 2022. Listen to traditional Celtic tunes as well as song and dance music, arranged in their signature style for vocals, flute, fiddle, mandolin and more. 

From Bolivian dancers to a children’s story along a trail, enjoy activities for all ages at Hidden Oaks Nature Center’s Grand Reopening celebration on Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All the activities indoors and outside are free and open to the public. Visitors will reap the benefits after the long wait of COVID closures and construction of new learning centers, additional…

There is still time to nominate an individual or organization for the Elly Doyle Park Service Awards. The Fairfax County Park Authority is extending the nomination period for honoring volunteers who work in our parks and support park programs and events. The new deadline will be extended until Friday, June 24, 2022.

Green Spring Gardens invites you to come and listen to our storytellers read nature-themed stories in different languages in the magical setting of the Children's Garden! Afterward, enjoy a walk around the gardens or a picnic. There will also be other children's activities and Ribbit the frog will make an appearance. 

The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce two more exciting bands in the free Summer Entertainment Series lineup! Concertgoers are sure to be delighted by these two performances.

The Fairfax County Park Authority presents two more performances as part of the Summer Entertainment Series, and these talented musical groups with distinctly traditional roots are sure to wow you! Admission is free. 

On Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 10:30 a.m. to noon help Green Spring Gardens celebrate National Pollinator Week! In the evening, a second program will be held. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. adult participants can take an evening stroll through the gardens at Green Spring with curatorial horticulturist Brenda Skarphol to see eco-friendly and sustainable garden ideas.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is thrilled to bring you more performances that you’ll love in the Summer Entertainment Series lineup. The Silver Tones Swing Band will take the stage July 6, 2022 and bring you the classic swing hits from the 1940s, plus many more show-stopping tunes from the 1950s, 1960s and beyond. Admission is free.

June is National Great Outdoors Month, a celebration of the outdoors encouraging everyone to explore and enjoy time outside. This event began in 1998 as the Great Outdoors Week and expanded to a month-long celebration in 2004. National Great Outdoors Month became official when the U.S. Senate designated June 2019 as ‘Great Outdoors Month.’   

It’s the small details that often make archaeology so interesting. To most people, creamware sherds from tea sets or other vessels look pretty much the same. However, to the trained eye, a small asterisk or star symbol cut into the glazed surface of a piece of creamware tableware recovered in our community, speaks to the beliefs and traditions of enslaved people who once lived and worked here. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) EBT cards can be used at select Fairfax County Farmers Markets. We match SNAP benefits so you can purchase fruits and vegetables for free!

Up next in the Arts in the Parks lineup is Mr. Lilo Gonzalez! The Fairfax County Park Authority invites you to come out on July 16, 2022, for a free performance that will simultaneously inspire and entertain the whole family.

Every summer, the Friends of Green Spring (FROGS) extend a special welcome to families in the community by hosting a free concert in the garden.

With golf season in full swing, Fairfax County Golf is hosting a variety of tournaments at multiple golf courses throughout the county! Compete for bragging rights and prizes and socialize with fellow golf lovers!

The summer of fun continues July 10, 2022, with a moving and highly energetic performance by SOLE Defined, the Washington Metro area’s leading arts organization that specializes in percussive dance. The Summer Entertainment Series is possible thanks to a strong partnership between Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, our volunteers, business sponsors, individual donors and the Fairfax County Park…

Oak Marr Rec Center in Oakton, Virginia will host its first summer Fitness and Wellness Open House this weekend. On Saturday, June 4, 2022, from 9 until 11 a.m. members of the public are invited to join in Fairfax County Park Authority’s celebration of possibilities; a chance to feel good and get into shape. Drop by and meet a registered dietician, health coach and personal trainers. 

Experienced riders, plus people who have never seen a horse in person, are all invited to the Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park.

A cow wore this bell as she grazed at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly.

Be the first to earn the new Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC) official Dark Sky Patch.

On Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 10 to 11 a.m., celebrate the Earth at Green Spring Gardens.

Spring is finally here, and it is the perfect time to start adding some color and interest to your garden!

On Sunday, April 24, 2022, from 4 to 5 p.m., you have the chance to learn history in the historic Oakton schoolhouse, a Fairfax County Park Authority property.

Bring your family to Frying Pan Farm Park for a great day of food, fun activities and baby farm animals!

Enjoy mini golf and an egg hunt at Burke Lake Park.

The Access and Inclusion Branch of the Fairfax County Park Authority has opportunities to work in a wide variety of positions in various locations throughout Fairfax County.

On Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 4 to 5 p.m., enjoy a very special lecture and book signing.

National Poetry Month is a marvelous opportunity to celebrate the expressiveness, delight and pure charm of poetry.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has launched a new website celebrating the accomplishments and impact of extraordinary women who have shaped Fairfax County’s parks.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is taking part in this year’s international City Nature Challenge.

Youth with autism and their families are invited to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day at Lake Fairfax Park with a day of fishing.

Join us for a program sure to take local gardeners’ skills to the next level.

The amazing facts of the solar system may seem like an April Fool’s joke, but all the facts are true at Hidden Oaks Nature Center’s Solar System Investigation on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 10-11 a.m.

Scout counselors at Hidden Oaks are offering several Boy Scout merit badges over spring break.

If you love scavenger hunts or have an artistic flair, consider these two fast-approaching programs at Green Spring Gardens.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) offers an array of spring break camps that are sure to be a hit with youngsters.

Park Board members granted $20,000 to FXA Sports to install fencing at Greenbriar Park at field 5.

Board members granted $17,189 to the Annandale North Springfield Little League (ANSLL) to replace the backstop at the diamond field at Americana Park.

A new community park will become a reality over the next several months. The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin construction of the Boyd A & Charlotte M Hogge Park located at 3139 Glen Carlyn Road in Falls Church, VA.

The $2 milliondollar project is funded via voter-approved park bonds. The contractor, Bright Construction Group, will be mobilizing on site shortly…

Come to the mill and experience history firsthand. The public is invited to join in the fun at Colvin Run Mill on Sunday, April 3, 2022, from 1 to 4 p.m. as the Miller’s House reopens. After extensive renovation, the house now offers an interactive design representing home life and in the early and late 1800s. The two lower rooms of the have house have been designed for guests to immerse…

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is hiring aquatics instructors. Aquatics programs provide the community with opportunities for recreation and improvement to physical and mental wellbeing. Instructors provide specialized instruction to children and adults of skill levels.

Instructors teach Virginia Swims swimming and water safety programs, including Parent and Child,…

Do your kids want to make a big splash this summer? Get them involved in Fairfax County Park Authority Summer Swim Teams! Children from age 6 to 14 who can swim 25 yards on both front and back in deep water are invited to become a Rec Center swimmer.

“Swimming is a wonderful, lifelong leisure activity, and our new summer swim teams are a great way to reinforce what they’ve…

Summer is just around the corner and many families are already looking for ways to save money yet still send their kids to camp. With more than 1,000 different camp options each year, the Fairfax County Park Authority is a leading provider of summer camps in our area. Here are some tips from our experts on getting the most for your camp dollars:

Compare prices on a per-hour…

The Fairfax County Park Authority wants trail users to be aware that a trail maintenance and repair project is getting underway. Tibbs Paving will be making repairs and paving the stretch of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail from Route 50 to Thaiss Memorial Park (City of Fairfax) beginning…

Time to kick-start your health and fitness routine? Spring ahead with your fitness goals at one of the Park Authority’s Rec Center fitness centers.

Take advantage of flexible membership options during our Rec Center Membership Pass Sale available now through March 31. This March, new and existing members – including one-day pass holders – will receive Healthy Strides swag for…

Looking for that perfect activity during Spring Break? Juniors ages 8-14 at all levels are invited to a fun-filled week of Junior Golf Camps, April 4 - 8, 2022, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Laurel Hill and Twin Lakes Golf courses.

The Eisman Academy’s team of professionals will host and entertain juniors with a variety of golf lessons, on-course play, etiquette overview, games and…

Golf weather is on the horizon and so is the Golf Fairfax Spring Pass Sale. Stock up on rounds at seven Park Authority golf locations, at the lowest rates of the season.

Between March 24 and April 8, 2022, save up to 25% when you purchase multi-round passes at Fairfax County Park Authority golf facilities, including the Burke Lake, Greendale, Jefferson, Oak Marr, Pinecrest and…

A new playground project is about to start. The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on a new playground at Laurel Hill Central Green.

The Park Authority will begin construction this week. It is anticipated that the playground replacement will be completed by early April 2022. The park is located at 8780 Lorton Road in Lorton, VA. Park users should expect traffic…

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Great Falls Grange Foundation will ratify an agreement, which permits the Great Falls Grange Foundation to operate and maintain the historic property.

Build a fairy house, make nature-based art and discover soil and water creatures at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon on Saturday, April 2, 2022.

On Monday, March 14, 2022, come celebrate Pi Day at Sully Historic Site.

This spring, the Fairfax County Park Authority is offering opportunities to geocache and learn about different caches in the county.

With the help of new scholarship opportunities, the doors opened wider for those who wish to run in the Health Strides 5K/10K but found entrance fees challenging.

The Resident Curator Evaluation Team for the Margaret White Gardens property will hold a virtual public meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at 7 p.m.

The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park invite the public to participate in its 2022 photo contest.

The cold weather will be a mere memory soon. Spring, when something new blooms each day at Green Spring Gardens, is a great time for family programs, such as the monthly nature scavenger hunt or a topical nature walk of your choice.

There may be a bit of snow on the ground and cold weather in the forecast, but it’s time to start thinking about getting your garden ready for spring!

On Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., enjoy the "Watercolor Workshop – Pen and Ink," another informative program at Green Spring Gardens.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is currently recruiting volunteers to manage our 10 farmers markets across Fairfax County, Virginia.

February is Black History Month and serves as both a celebration and powerful reminder of the struggles, progress and accomplishments of African Americans throughout U.S. history.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is hiring camp counselors and camp directors.

Executive Director Jai Cole is getting to know the Fairfax County Park Authority by touring all 420 county parks in her first year.

The Park Authority invites the community to provide further comments on the survey results, including Rec Center usage and desired improvements.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Great Falls Grange Foundation (GFGF) will hold a joint meeting to discuss the Great Falls Grange and Forestville Schoolhouse Operational Partnership.

The Fairfax County Park Authority just opened registration for spring classes.

Brush up on your knot-tying skills this winter and work on common badge requirements for all types of scouts, including the Scouts BSA rank requirements.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day 2022 with a special program on the language of love, and take a hike at Lake Fairfax Park.

Join the Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners for the 18th Annual EcoSavvy Symposium, which focuses on restoring our urban forests.

Hidden Oaks Nature Center will shut its doors for the next four months, but outdoor programming and adventures will continue.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will close Oak Marr Rec Center for one day to accommodate the replacement of several rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning units.

This month, artiFACTS showcases colonoware, simple ceramic vessels that tell a story of necessity and provide a link to the story of enslaved individuals.

Green Spring Gardens has a variety of youth and family programs during the month of February that can add fun, education and inspiration to your children’s day.

Fairfax County is facing an invasion from an aggressive plant species called wavyleaf basketgrass, and it’s encouraging everyone to join the fight against it.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors affirmed the selection of Jai Cole as Executive Director of the Park Authority today, voting to accept the recommendation of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. Cole, a park professional with more than two decades of leadership experience with award-winning recreation and park agencies will begin immediately, filling the vacancy created by the…

Renovations are scheduled to get underway around June 14, 2021, on the tennis courts at the Park Authority’s George Washington RECenter in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 5 p.m.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 5 p.m.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved three Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grants to be used for trail and field improvements and construction of a pump track.

Sully Historic Site is offering a unique opportunity in March for folks to stroll the historic house on their own with members of their family.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is offering a free scavenger hunt with video clues in the Cub Run Stream Valley. Grandmother Frost has lost her gifts for the woodland animals, and it’s your job to help her find the presents as you walk through the forest behind Cub Run RECenter. Videos at stops along the trail lead you to your goal and teach you about the animals in the…

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 at 5 p.m.

As the clocks roll back this fall, use some of that extra hour to take a step back in time. Go on a virtual tour of historic Oak Hill beginning at noon on Nov. 1, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board, a 12-member board appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to set policy and establish strategic policy and direction for the Park Authority, has approved its 2021 meeting schedule.

Just in time for the holidays, Green Spring Gardens' gift shop is now open for shopping by appointment only.

Explore the colors of fall at Green Spring Gardens on a customized, private family tour.

Decorate your home with colorful acorns that you create.

Oak Marr RECenter is welcoming all werewolves, vampires and goblins for a howling good evening of mini golf on Halloween weekend.

Treat your tastebuds to some Scotch whisky at two tasting events in the parks in November.

Take the “Mill Race Tour” on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, and trace the changes at Cabell’s Mill over its 250-year history.

Discover what critters are on the move in local parks after people go home for the day.

Give the kids a chance to relax with yoga in the gardens or give yourself a chance to turn garden fruits and vegetables into a beautiful home decoration. Green Spring Gardens is offering programs for kids and adults to enjoy on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020.

Visit artiFACTS this month and discover the story of an old-fashioned ballot box.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is offering a new series that allows families to enjoy personalized tours and programs on a date and time that work best for them.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will host six polling locations on Nov. 3, 2020. These six sites will be closed to customers to facilitate voters. Other Park Authority sites will be open for business.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will join in the national celebration of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, by offering free admission to the RECenters to those who serve and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Last year’s First Hike Fairfax program, which drew hundreds of people onto local trails on New Year’s Day, has been honored by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) as the Best Health Initiative in the category for a population area greater than 200,000.

Spend a Sunday afternoon exploring the grounds of historic Colvin Run Mill and enjoy a free demonstration of the ancient art of blacksmithing.

Come to Lake Fairfax Park on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, for an evening campfire and s’mores the whole family can enjoy.

Come to Burke Lake Park on a Monday in November for some “Family Fishing” time. Use that weekday break from school to see what you can catch.

Come to Green Spring Gardens on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, and let botanical artist Dawn Flores teach you how to plan and execute an orchid-inspired painting.

Sully Historic Site is open for private tours! Each tour session will be reserved exclusively for one household, family group, pod, etc.

Family members of all ages are invited to celebrate the season by creating a scarecrow to use for a fall decoration.

The community has an opportunity to participate in an important survey that will help inform the Braddock Park master plan revision process.

This month, Green Spring Gardens is celebrating 50 years as one of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s premier destinations, and there are several ways you can join the fun.

Three Fairfax County parks are among the region’s favorites as chosen by readers of Washington Parent magazine this year.

Take advantage of the membership sale that’s going on now through Nov. 30, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 at 5 p.m.

The Fairfax County Park Authority wants to reel you in with its new website dedicated to fishing in and around the county.

If you’ve ever wondered why a moth is attracted to light, then come to the “Night Flyers Campfire” at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and go mothing with a naturalist.

Want to know more about wildlife near your house or school? Bring the youngsters to Lewinsville House to learn about the plants, animals and habitats near you.

What better way to learn about “Nature Drawing” than on the nature trails at Huntley Meadows Park?

Keep the kids busy on their student holiday Nov. 2 and 3, 2020, with the “Best of Burke Lake Park” mini-camp.

Now that the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer, it’s a great time to learn some astronomy basics to better enjoy those extra hours of dark skies.

Come to Lake Fairfax Park for an evening campfire the whole family can enjoy.

Green Spring Gardens is offering two Garden Talks this fall that will help you give your garden an organic boost and improve your home’s curb appeal.

Root for your favorite cow when Frying Pan Farm Park hosts its first-ever NASCOW Race on Friday Oct. 16, 2020.

If you’re running out of ways to keep yourself and the kids entertained, use the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center this week to get ideas for real-world adventures in Fairfax County parks.

Pack up the family and head to Frying Pan Farm Park for a private twilight wagon ride this fall.

Experience the “Colors of the Fall” at Sully Historic Site as you go on a guided tour of hidden ruins throughout the property.

Set sail on a two-hour tour and go “Birding on the Boat” at Burke Lake Park.

An expansive new picnic shelter location is open and ready to host your family gatherings, staff meetings, parties and more at Laurel Hill Central Green.

Learn what archeologists discovered hiding under a brick floor on the historic Ash Grove property that was once owned by a member of the family that gave Fairfax County its name.

During the “Salamanders Undercover” program, learn about the secret lives of these important amphibians through hands-on discoveries.

Bring Virginia history to life for your fourth-grade student with the “Taux Trek at Huntley.”

Get to know some of the birds of Burke Lake Park and gain some basic identification skills that you can use to identify birds anywhere you see them.

Spend a Saturday morning soaking in the fall sights aboard a kayak at Lake Accotink Park.

Dig deeper into local history with the program, “Hidden in Your Backyard: The History of Cain’s Branch.”

Do some birding from the water with an early morning kayak adventure at Lake Accotink or Burke Lake Park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin the Roundtree Park Tennis Court Repair project. Work will start on or about Sept. 23, 2020 and continue for approximately six weeks.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 at 5 p.m.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Fairfax County Park Authority, and activities are planned from now through next June to mark our 70 Years of Excellence.

This year, historic Oak Hill will open its doors to the public through a virtual tour in autumn.

The Fairfax County Park Authority held a well-attended, online information meeting regarding the proposed Long Branch Stream Valley Trail Maintenance project on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020.

Kids and parents, too, need a break from their screens once in a while. Zoom away from the computer and find suggestions for some family fun at the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center.

Come to Hidden Oaks Nature Center to explore the ancient world of dinosaurs in Dinoland.

Curious about what happens in nature after the sun sets? Get some answers in the “Nature at Night” program this fall at Riverbend Park.

Join the “Nature Photography at Dawn” class for adults to discover what critters awake with the sun, and learn how to capture them with your camera.

During the “Campfire Fridays” programs, explore the wonders of our natural world through nature walks, interactive activities and animal presentations.

Join a naturalist at Riverbend Park to learn about some of the park’s native plants and discover why they are so important.

The Park Authority was founded on Dec. 6, 1950, and on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, we will offer a series of virtual fitness programs to celebrate seven decades of parks and recreation in the county.

Visit a Fairfax County park for Virginia BioBlitz 2020. It’s an opportunity to discover the nature around you.

Take a break for a few hours and give the kids (and you) some fun at Fairfax County Parks every Monday. That’s right, Monday is now the new Fun Day!

Do your part to help the environment. Volunteer for a “Watershed Cleanup Days” event at a park or recreation center near you this fall.

Do your gardening muscles a favor. Try some “Virtual Yoga for Gardeners.”

They heard the call. Now you can hear how women have helped to preserve and protect parks, open spaces and the natural world.

Field trips aren’t just for kids anymore. Take the whole family on a field trip this fall to supplement screen time with in-person learning experiences.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has acquired an additional 12.0565 acres of parkland under a proffer agreement with the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The Park Authority is offering a flash sale on fall classes. Register by Sept. 19, 2020 and save $8 on any program costing $45 or more.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is creating programs just for you. The park agency is offering virtual versions of its popular park programs, and many of them can be scheduled for your convenience.

Test your golfing talent with a championship challenge or by leaving some clubs at home in upcoming Park Authority golf tournaments.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has said, “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” But if you want to try to make sense of it, start with a Park Authority webinar.

Learn about the distilling process, how ciders are made, and why these activities are mill-related at the “Stills and Cider” event at Colvin Run Mill.

See a side of Riverbend Park most humans don’t get to experience. Enjoy the park after dark with the “Nature at Night” program on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.

Make Monday your Fun Day this school year with programs designed for family members of all ages in Fairfax County Parks.

Visit Hidden Oaks Nature Center’s pond and peek inside the Little Acorner area to enjoy a new nature scene every week.

They may not be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but Fairfax County has some pretty “Terrific Turtles” of its own.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 at 5 p.m.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has started a public planning process that will update the master plan for Braddock Park.

Take a stroll through the less-visited side of Huntley Meadows Park to uncover its history of spies and espionage. Learn how the Cold War struggle between the US and the former Soviet Union shaped Huntley and the Fairfax County we know today.

Spend a morning at Green Spring Gardens and enjoy an “Outdoor Storytelling” experience.

Preschoolers ages 4 to 5 benefit from daily outdoor play. Encourage their natural curiosity by exploring forest critters.

Bats may have a scary reputation, but they make our evenings more pleasant by gobbling up lots of bugs, such as mosquitoes, that like to bother humans.

Come to Lake Accotink Park for an evening campfire and s’mores the whole family can enjoy.

As summer draws to a close, welcome fall by spending some time outdoors at Huntley Meadows Park.

This fall, Historic Green Spring invites you to enjoy three virtual afternoon tea programs that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a virtual informational meeting regarding the proposed Long Branch Stream Valley Trail Maintenance project on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 at 7 p.m.

Flit your way over to Hidden Oaks Nature Center/Annandale Community Park to the butterfly metamorphosis-themed playground.

Dig out your basket and stomp over to Nature Playce at Hidden Oaks Nature Center to enjoy an outdoor dinosaur program followed by an egg hunt.

Honor your furry friend on its national day and learn how teddy bears came into popular culture. Have your bear or buddy join you on an outdoor teddy bear picnic in Nature Playce and make a bear craft.

Join the Fairfax County Park Authority for a Virtual Dog Daze from Friday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 14, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is introducing programs designed to support online school education and homeschooling students.

This September Green Spring Gardens will once again offer garden-related programming sure to entice gardeners, those who appreciate beautiful things and people with a passion for history.

For the fourth consecutive year Laurel Hill Golf Club has been named one of Golfweek Magazine’s “Best Public Courses You Can Play” in Virginia.

Summer is almost over, but the music still heats up as the Fairfax County Park Authority’s virtual summer concert series approaches the finish line with six great performances.

After a monthslong, pandemic-related hiatus, Parktakes programs and classes are scheduled to resume this fall!

Trinity Centre and 1-66 Express Mobility Partners are being honored with a 2020 Eakin Philanthropy Award for their commitment to co-sponsor the Park Authority’s Starlight Cinema Summer Entertainment Series.

The Hwang Family will be honored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) for their support of county parks and park programs. Family members will receive the 2020 Eakin Philanthropy Award in the Individual category at a virtual ceremony in November.

As the nation celebrates the 100th Anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, artiFACTS salutes a woman important to Fairfax County history.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s historic sites will begin programming once again, bringing the magic of local history outside, inside and virtually with a focus on family tours, safety and limited indoor access.

The Friends of Riverbend Park is being honored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation for its generous support of Riverbend Park programs and projects.

Dominion Energy will be honored with a 2020 Eakin Philanthropy Award for its support of Fairfax County parks through the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

See what you can learn from a puppet, take a garden stroll or work up a sweat with a fitness workout via the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s virtual summer concert series pulls out all the stops with a blockbuster lineup.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s virtual summer concert series roll on this week with a diverse lineup of performers.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the Resident Curator Evaluation Team for the Lahey Lost Valley property will host a virtual public meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 at 10 a.m. to score the Resident Curator Program application received for the Lahey Lost Valley property and determine the selection outcome.

The votes are in and once again, the Fairfax County Park Authority has been named among the top in Virginia Living Magazine’s Best of Virginia 2020 competition.

There’s never been a better time to get fit at a Park Authority RECenter. Take advantage of the pass sale that’s going on now through Sept. 30, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority in partnership with Springfield/South County Youth Club (SYC) will soon begin Field #3 lighting installation at Hooes Road Park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has voted to name a pollinator garden at Lake Accotink Park in honor of lifelong educator, naturalist, gardener and community volunteer Margaret Kinder.

Take your green thumb on a shopping spree at Green Spring Gardens. Green Spring’s Garden Gate Plant Shop will open for limited hours starting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s virtual summer concert series continues this week with a variety of musical styles to suit all ages.

Historic Green Spring invites you to enjoy an afternoon tea program from the comfort of your home on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. You supply the kettle, and Green Spring can do the rest.

Huntley Meadows Park offers the perfect backdrop for two different nature drawing courses this August.

Feeling anxious about outdoor group activities these days? Relax with a personalized program for just your family at a Fairfax County park.

The meadow at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is a-buzz with bug life. Come on a “Meadow Bug Hunt” on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, and capture and release amazing insects and other arthropods.

Join a virtual program from the folks at Hidden Pond Nature Center to learn why it’s important to keep streams and creeks healthy and discover how to gauge their health.

Take a break from the constant stream of virtual meetings to get the office crew back together again safely with an outdoor meeting at Frying Pan Farm Park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority announced the selection of Stephanie Leedom, who will serve as Director of the Park Planning and Development Division.

Cathy Ledec will be honored with the 2020 Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award for 17 years of volunteer service at Huntley Meadows Park and for the Fairfax County 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 Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin the Mason District Park Basketball Court Repair project. Work will start next month and continue for approximately four weeks.

Head into the woods on a twilight adventure at Hidden Pond Nature Center that will let you see spiders that are active by day, as well as those coming out for the evening.

Discover natural wonders in a virtual summer geology camp led by staff at Riverbend Park.

There’s a lot going on under the surface at Burke Lake. Come to the park for “Life in the Lake” and see some of the small critters that make the lake their home.

Celebrate National Farmers Market Week the first week in August with a visit to one of the county’s producer-only farmers markets.

August is National Golf Month and a great chance to celebrate with Golf Fairfax.

Round up the kids and head to Frying Pan Farm Park for a safe and private single-family wagon ride tour of the park.

While shoppers scrambled to find cleaning products to protect against COVID-19, Fairfax County archaeologists were harboring a gallon bottle of a much sought-after bleach. Only problem, the bottle was 60 years old – and empty!

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board will honor the Meridian Group with the Harold L. Strickland Partnership and Collaboration Award for its work on Quantum Field in Tysons.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on the Rolling Valley West Court Repair Project at Rolling Valley West Park.

Your favorite Park Authority group fitness classes with your favorite fitness instructors will be holding virtual classes beginning on Aug. 3, 2020.

Beginning July 30, the Fairfax County Park Authority will livestream 25 free summer concert events featuring a mix of nationally known performers and singer-songwriters.

Take a break from the summer’s heat and cool off with a little ice skating at the Mount Vernon RECenter.

Explore the riparian forest of the Pohick Stream Valley on a “Stream Valley Hike” at Hidden Pond Nature Center.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin trail improvement work on trails in Long Branch Stream Valley Park and Rutherford Park in Burke.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will honor six individuals and groups with 2020 Elly Doyle Park Service Special Recognition Awards at a virtual volunteer celebration in November.

Volunteers from Colvin Run Mill, Frying Pan Farm Park and the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park will be honored for their outstanding service contributions as recipients of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s 2020 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards.

With the continued opening of RECenters at a modified pace, Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is pleased to announce the return of our Learn to Swim classes starting Aug. 1, 2020.

A Springfield, Virginia, teenager described as an “all-round volunteer dynamo” is the 2020 Youth recipient of a Fairfax County Park Authority Elly Doyle Park Service Awards.

Delve into Huntley Meadows Park’s history and prehistoric past as you examine the lives of the Tauxenent and other First Americans in this region.

Search for small items such as fungus, seeds, flowers, feathers, bugs and more on a 30-minute stroll at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

Stir up your summer with the “Science for Wizards Virtual Camp” the week of July 27-31, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 5 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, this is a virtual meeting.

The Public Links, Inc, a nonprofit arm of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Three Fairfax County Park Authority Board Members will be in the meeting.

Nineteen Fairfax County Park Authority volunteers will be honored as Outstanding Volunteers at the 2020 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards virtual celebration in November.

Virtual concerts will be held Thursday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., and children’s shows will be held on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. A schedule of virtual events will be released later this month.

Explore the riparian forest of the Pohick Stream Valley on a “Stream Valley Hike” at Hidden Pond Nature Center.

Learn about the lives of the monarch butterflies that visit Fairfax County each year on their long aerial treks.

Discover how culture and nature were intertwined in life as a Powhatan through a virtual summer camp with the folks at Huntley Meadows Park.

The Eisman Golf Academy (EGA) has opened the Eisman Performance Center at Laurel Hill Golf Club.

Come to Burke Lake Park and discover what’s super about snakes in the “Super Snakes” program on Monday, July 20, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is still looking for enthusiastic workers to fill seasonal positions now that COVID-19 safety restrictions are being eased and park facilities are reopening under Gov. Ralph Northam’s phased Forward Virginia Blueprint.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has started a public planning process that will revise the master plan for Braddock Park. This 61-acre district park is in Clifton, Virginia.

The Resident Curator Program (RCP) is designed to preserve historic properties by offering long-term leases to qualified tenants who agree to rehabilitate and maintain these historic resources. A curator can be a private citizen, a nonprofit entity or a for-profit entity.

Families can choose to meet a special live nature center critter, explore the stream, dip for tadpoles or meet a caterpillar along with a personalized naturalist-led woodland walk along the Old Oak Trail at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

Parenting or teaching is never easy, and during the pandemic the challenges can be greater. It is time to move outside with the children. To prepare for the adventure, join the Fairfax County Park Authority online.

Get outside and see Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in a different light this summer at an evening campfire program.

Outdoor programs are back at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park! What could be safer or more fun than a grand adventure for just you and your family?

Carousels are once again spinning at parks in Fairfax County, and the Burke Lake Park train is choo-chooing along the rails. Take the kids for a ride on your next park outing!

The Fairfax County Park Foundation Board of Directors has electedofficers to lead as the fundraising arm for the Park Authority from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022 at its May 19, 2020annualmeeting.

Michael Gailliot was elected as Chair for the new term. He is a real estate professionalwithCentury 21 New Millennium in Alexandria, Virginia. Gailliot has volunteered with and…

The Fairfax County Park Authority has two job openings at Green Spring Gardens for applicants with a passion for farmers markets and public gardens.

Green Spring is currently accepting applications for a Farmers Market Coordinator to coordinate the operation of 10 seasonal farmers markets throughout Fairfax County and oversee special events, such as Farmers Market Week and Fall…

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 5 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, this is a virtual meeting. You can watch the meeting here or listen by calling 855-925-2801 and entering the access code: 8081.

The Board will recess for closed session during the…

July is Park and Recreation Month around the nation, and this year’s theme from the National Park and Recreation Association is “We Are Parks and Recreation.”

In keeping with the theme, this month the Fairfax County Park Authority will be shining a spotlight on some of the many staff members who provide vital services in our…

Take a break from the virtual world and get outdoors with programs in the parks. The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is offering programs for families and individuals in July and August that will allow you to experience nature in person – not via a screen.

Hidden Oaks Nature Center is offering hikes for up to nine family members. During “Nature Your Way at Hidden Oaks,” a…

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is looking for nearly 150 enthusiastic workers to fill seasonal positions at the agency now that COVID-19 safety restrictions are being eased and park facilities are reopening under Gov. Ralph Northam’s phased Forward Virginia Blueprint.

Have fun and get paid while enjoying the park system this summer. Many positions are primarily outdoors…

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s (FCPA) nine RECenters will reopen to the public over the next several weeks as the region moves into Phase Three of Gov. Ralph Northam’s Forward Virginia Blueprint.

Pinecrest Golf Courseannouncesthe return ofFootGolf-- this weekend --on July 4, 2020.FootGolf will be available on Saturdays and Sundays after 3 p.m.With the safety of allplayers and staffasthepriority,new safety guidelineshave been implemented based on recommendationsput forth by the Centersfor Disease Controland PreventionandThe American FootGolf League.

FootGolfcombines two…

The Park Authority’s Picnic Locator 2.0 is here! A new version of one of our most popular web applications makes it easier than ever to locate and reserve a picnic spot in a Fairfax County park.

With the new application, picnickers can now make reservations online. Visitors to the locator site can use filters to find the rental facility that best meets…

Get your fitness fix with the Park Authority’s new Outdoor Group Fitness Classes. The Park Authority is launching a series of outdoor exercise classes starting on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at RECenter locations across the county.

Finding pickleball courts in Fairfax County parks just got easier.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved a reallocation of funds to continue the Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program and has also approved grants for projects at Frying Pan Farm Park and Observatory Park at The Turner Farm.

The Fairfax County Park Board has approved a plan for the distribution of funds from the $100 million Park Bond that is scheduled to appear on the ballot in the upcoming November election.

While the Park Authority’s usual summer camps at RECenters, nature centers and local parks and schools cannot be held in-person this summer due to COVID-19, kids can still enjoy a great summer of fun and learning with all new virtual camps.

This week, the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center is putting the animals of Hidden Oaks Nature Center in the spotlight through a series of videos.

Swing into summer with upcoming tournaments hosted by Golf Fairfax. Get your practice rounds in and take your game to the next level!

Drive back in time to a working farm in Herndon, Virginia. Take a driving tour of Frying Pan Farm Park.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Go on a virtual field trip to Frying Pan Farm Park and get eye-to-eye with a cow and her calf at the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is extending the nomination period for honoring those who volunteer in parks and support agency programs and initiatives.

Kurt Louis has been named the new Director for Park Operations for the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Some facilities at Jefferson District Park will remain closed through July due to construction work getting underway this month.

Welcome to, or back to, Huntley Meadows Park! As the Fairfax County Park Authority continues to reopen, please come and enjoy our trails.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin opening additional amenities to the public on Friday, June 12, 2020, as the region moves into Phase Two of Gov. Ralph Northam’s Forward Virginia Blueprint for reopening.

The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) has selected The Lazar Family as a recipient of a 2020 NACPRO Award in the Outstanding Contributor category.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Farmers Market in Herndon will open for the season on Thursday, June 18, 2020.

Today it’s easy to snap a selfie if you want a portrait of yourself. In the nation’s early years, people would turn to silhouette artists if they wanted a cheap and fast portrait.

In this month’s edition of artiFACTS, discover how silhouettes got their name and learn about the person who came to be associated with…

The Fairfax County Golf Academies are thrilled to announce the return of private lessons and small group classes at five Fairfax County Park Authority facilities.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is being honored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for an innovative program that helps to strengthen services for residents by embracing staff ideas for innovation and change.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods and more will soon be available at four additional Fairfax County Park Authority Farmers Markets. Markets at Oak Marr, Annandale, McLean and Kingstowne have now been scheduled to open.

Experiment with a new paper craft, challenge yourself with a picture and word game, or give your core a workout with a visit to the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center.

Crank up your computer. The annual Antique Car Show at Sully Historic Site will be an online gathering.

Green Spring Gardens is now offering phone orders and curbside pickup of plants from its Garden Gate Plant Shop.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s seven courses are celebrating Women’s Golf Month with a variety of fun social events and specials to celebrate our growing network of women golfers.

Keep dad out of the rough this Father’s Day with special savings and events. Surprise dad with a friendly tournament, rounds of golf, gift cards or quality gear!

Beginning today, face coverings must be worn inside public spaces. For the Fairfax County Park Authority, this currently means anyone who visits a Park Authority golf course clubhouse, or other indoor space would fall under Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 63. This effects players or visitors as well as park staff members. As other public facilities open, this rule will…

Challenge yourself to a new workout, find a unique activity for the kids and explore the beauty of Green Spring Gardens from the Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center. The website is filled with ideas to entertain everyone in the family.

The flume and wheel that power grinding operations at Colvin Run Mill are going to be replaced.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series will be canceled through July due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Fourth of July events have been canceled, too.

The Fairfax County Park Authority has been honored with six awards from the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC).

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) are announcing the reopening of outdoor athletic fields in Fairfax County for unpermitted use as part of Forward Virginia Phase 1 for Northern Virginia.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board (PAB) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Two more Fairfax County Farmers Markets will open next week. The Wakefield Market in Wakefield Park will open for the season on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, and the Lorton Market at the Lorton VRE parking lot will open on Sunday, May 31, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) are announcing the cancelation of 2020 summer camp programs due to the COVID-19 crisis. Included in these cancellations are all FCPA sponsored summer camp programs, REC-Pac programs held at local schools, summer camp programs sponsored by NCS and SACC programs.

Collectively, these…

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) will not open its premier outdoor water attractions this summer due to COVID-19.

Use your love of gardening to help those in need.

The county’s Providence District Office is working with Food for Others to encourage gardeners who are planting fruits, vegetables and herbs this spring to consider dedicating some garden space to donations.

Pledge to “Plant a Row” at this ...

Get ready for the greatest golf savings of the season with the Golf Fairfax Spring Pass savings spectacular. The more you play, the more you save!

Now through June 21, 2020, save up to 25% when you purchase multi-round passes at Fairfax County Park Authority golf facilities, including the Burke Lake, Greendale, Jefferson, Oak Marr, Pinecrest…

The Mount Air Historic Site is best known for an 18th-century mansion that once graced the property. A recent archaeological discovery at the site points to a much older past.

Check out the new look of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center.

The Park Authority has begun reopening of parking lots and parks in the park system to be open for the Memorial Day weekend. Park Authority staff will begin the process of clearing barricades and opening parking lots at all 427 parks for our community on Wednesday, May 20 through Friday, May 22. These parks will reopen for limited use in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines from the…

Work associated with an approaching sanitary sewer replacement project within Pohick Stream Valley Park on parcels adjacent to Williamsburg Square neighborhood in Lorton, Virginia, is set to begin.

Add a taste of old-fashioned goodness to your baking and cooking. The 200-year-old Colvin Run Mill is set to begin selling its stone-ground products at the Reston Farmers Market.

Stay healthy, connected and engaged while parks are closed by checking out the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center.

The Summer Entertainment Series will be canceled through June 2020 due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fairfax County Park Authority golf courses and driving ranges will reopen in May. This is the start of a phased reopening of park amenities that so far includes trail, farmers markets and garden plots as state restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 disease are eased. These sites will open as follows:

May 8: Burke Lake Golf Center, Greendale Golf Course, Laurel Hill…

A new picnic shelter will be coming to Burke Lake Park with the help of a Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on a new trail in Flatlick Stream Valley Park in Chantilly.

This week, new features have been added to the Virtual Exploration Center to give your family a workout, challenge the kids with scavenger hunts and help you delve into county history from the comfort of your couch.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on the replacement of the Area 1 Maintenance Facility located at 1929 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church, Virginia.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will open some of its farmers markets in May. This year’s markets will again offer delicious, locally grown, farm-fresh products. Three markets will open initially, with others phased in as resources allow.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s April 22, 2020, Board Meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 5 pm. In light of current social distancing recommendations, the meeting will be held in virtual format accessible via livestream.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation celebrated Earth Day with a virtual poetry showcase recognizing the winners of the 2020 Fairfax Parks student poetry contest.

You can recognize volunteer’s invaluable contributions with a nomination for an Elly Doyle Park Service Award, Elly Doyle Special Recognition Award, Elly Doyle Youth Award, Harold L. Strickland Partnership and Collaboration Award, Mayo Stuntz Cultural Stewardship Award, or Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award. Anyone can submit nominations.

The Fairfax County Park Authority just added more than 11 acres of land to its holdings in fiscal year 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority salutes its invaluable volunteers as the nation celebrates Volunteer Appreciation Week April 19-25.

Laurel Hill Golf Club’s newly launched virtual store brings its fully stocked pro shop straight to you! Customers can view items online or set up a virtual in-store shopping experience with a personal shopper. The pro shop features everything a golfer needs to play a round of golf, from sunglasses to apparel to golf balls.

Browse the online selection of performance technology polo…

Spring is the perfect time to dust off your camera and head outside to capture images of budding trees, wildflowers and baby animals. Let the April issue of the Snapshots e-newsletter inspire you with photos from Fairfax County parks.

If you want to experiment a little with photo processing, Snapshot offers tips on how to use…

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has canceled its regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2020, and will instead be holding a virtual, electronic meeting on Wednesday, April 29 at 5 p.m.

More information regarding the agenda and how the public can view this meeting will be forthcoming.We appreciate your patience as we refine our digital meeting platform and…

Whether you’re looking for an on-demand workout, activities to entertain the kids, or historical tidbits about Fairfax County, check out the Park Authority’s new Virtual Exploration Center.

Visit artiFACTS and learn about beautiful Japanese Imari ware and how it was used for entertaining.

The Fairfax County Park Authority cares about your health and wellness and so does our RECenter fitness partner Les Mills.

During this time of COVID-19 awareness and social distancing, please be aware that sports activities, of all kinds, except for use of trails are prohibited at Park Authority locations.

Use your extra time at home this spring to become an armchair archaeologist or couch curator with a visit to the Fairfax County Park Authority’s artiFACTS website.

A temporary storage site will be established at Boyd A. & Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church, Virginia, to help with a construction project in the area.

Observe s o c i a l d i s t a n c i n g while you’re being sociable in parks.

Although park facilities are closed, parks are open, and the Fairfax County Park Authority is asking you to observe government guidelines to limit your group size to fewer than 10 people during the current world pandemic. One of the key tactics to limiting the spread of coronavirus is social distancing,…

The Lake Accotink Master Plan Revision community meeting at Cardinal Forest Elementary School scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2020, and the community meeting at the large waterfront pavilion in Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, April 18, 2020, are postponed indefinitely, due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) safety precautions.

Public input continues to play a big role in developing a vision…

The Fairfax County Park Authority has postponed two public meetings of its Resident Curator Program Evaluation Team for the Lahey Lost Valley property in Vienna, Va. As a result, the period for public comment on a resident curator application for the Lahey Lost Valley site has been extended.

The postponed meetings were set for Monday March 23, 2020, and Monday, March 30 in the…

While Park Authority RECenters are temporarily closed, you can stay active and reduce stress by exercising at home.

Try “Everyday Tai Chi” or choose from four “Everyday Yoga” classes. They can be livestreamed on Channel 16 television at the air times listed below or viewed online by clicking on the…

The Fairfax County Park Authority has extended the deadline for the 2020 Parks Poetry Contest. Entries will now be due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.The previous deadline was March 13.

The extended deadline will allow students in grades K-8 to work on entries over the weekend and on the March 16 Teacher Workday just announced by Fairfax County Public Schools, while also…

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has reappointed James P. Zook to the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. The action came at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a community meeting Tuesday, March 31, 2020, to provide an update on the Lake Accotink Park Master Plan Revision.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved a Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant to refurbish the equestrian ring surface at Turner Farm Park.

A memorial plaque will be installed at Great Falls Grange Park in honor of the late Bob Lundegard.

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has confirmed the appointment of Laura Eakin Erlacher to the Fairfax County Park Foundation Board.

Meet local live owls up close and personal! Come to the “Festival of Owls” at Huntley Meadows Park on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is pleased to announce that Fairfax County has been selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to participate as a pilot community implementing the Move Your Way campaign.

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren, and the Fairfax County Park Authority wants to know what it can do to help grandparents connect their grandchildren with nature.

A Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant will be used to help control invasive plants in the Turkeycock Run Stream Valley.

Discover the improvements and new facilities that have come to your local Fairfax County parks.

Make Smokey Bear proud and register for the “Campfire Safety for Families” program.

Discover how you can capture the beauty of Huntley Meadows Park with “Nature Photography At Dawn.”

Fairfax County Park Authority summer camps are winners! They have once again been named in Northern Virginia Magazine’s Best Summer Camps list.