The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved matching funds in the total amount of $55,325 to support improvements at three parks – Lake Fairfax Park, McLean Central Park and Frying Pan Farm Park. The construction of all three projects will be managed by the Park Authority and are expected to be completed by the spring 2024.

Lake Fairfax Park ($15,325)

In 1997, field 8 at Lake Fairfax Park was developed into the first cricket field in Fairfax County in partnership with the Cricket Association of Fairfax County (CAFC), who agreed to maintain the pitch. Field 8 is one of the few fields in the Northern Virginia region large enough to meet the international standards of cricket and, having been heavily utilized over the years, the pitch needs to be replaced. The CAFC has requested $15,325 in matching grant funding to install a new pitch consisting of a concrete base and artificial turf. The project budget totals $30,650, with the applicant contributing $15,325 toward the replacement.

McLean Central Park ($20,000)

Friends and neighbors of Thomas A. Mulquin are seeking to honor his memory and the impact he had on the community and through the sport of basketball. They founded the Friends of Thomas A. Mulquin and raised funds within the community to renovate the basketball court at McLean Central Park. The project would include refurbishing the existing court surface, color coating and line painting, replacing both goals and adding a 10-foot, vinyl-coated chain link fence to prevent basketballs from going into the heavy overgrowth near the court. The total project budget is $65,176.50, with $45,176.50 coming from community contributions raised by the applicant.

Frying Pan Farm Park ($20,000)

Through an agreement with the Park Authority, Spirit Open Equestrian (SOE) offers therapeutic riding programs for the public at Frying Pan Farm Park and leases an area within the park for its operations. The leased space currently has no electrical service. SOE has requested $20,000 in Mastenbrook grant funding to have Dominion Energy extend power to the leased operations area from a nearby cell tower and contract with an electrician to outfit the buildings with wiring, conduit, outlets and related electrical components. The total project budget is $72,458 with $52,458 being contributed to the funding by SOE.

The Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program encourages public-private ventures that improve Fairfax County parks and park facilities. It is designed to fill a gap between limited bond funding and the community’s desire for new or improved park facilities by assisting volunteers, community and user groups in improving park facilities by matching funds and in-kind services.

Since 1999, the program has awarded approximately $2.2 million in grants for projects valued at more than $16.5 million. Grants ranging from a few hundred dollars to the maximum of $20,000 have funded such projects as trail improvements, construction of gazebos and shelters and athletic field improvements.

The Mastenbrook Grant Program is not accepting additional applications at this time, as the Park Authority is conducting a review of the 25-year program. The goal of the review is to examine the process through an equity lens and determine how to improve accessibility and benefit of the program in all areas of the county – particularly in communities of opportunity. The Park Authority expects to return to the board with any recommendations in the early part of 2024.

For more information about the Mastenbrook Matching Funds Grant Program, visit the Mastenbrook Grants website.