For nearly 40 years, America has celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July as a way to promote strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. In Fairfax County, this month is dedicated to celebrating the more than 1,000 full-time park employees – along with the thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers – who maintain our 420 parks, more than 334 miles of trails, rec centers, nature centers, hundreds of athletic courts and fields, historic and cultural sites, and who provide thousands of camps, classes and special events within our community.
This year’s theme – “Where You Belong” – celebrates the dynamic and enriching impact that our park system has on individuals, families and communities every day of the week. Some benefits include:
- Promoting active lifestyles
- Encouraging social connections
- Providing connection to nature
- Providing an outlet for stress relief
- Advancing environmental conservation and stewardship
- Enhancing economic growth
“Parks play an essential role in enriching the quality of life we all enjoy – from mental and physical health and wellbeing to strengthening our social connections within families and communities – and we serve more than 18 million visitors every year,” said Fairfax County Park Authority Director, Jai Cole. “This month, we invite everyone – newcomers and returning guests - to explore the wealth of experiences that await you in the park.”
Begin exploring our Fairfax County park system with tools, such as the Park Amenity Locator, and our online class catalog and registration system – Parktakes. We also invite individuals and families to explore a wide variety of free and inclusive experiences, including:
- Park Authority Summer Entertainment Series
- Park Authority Wonder Wagon Activation Series (Mobile Nature Center)
- Fairfax County Libraries Summer Reading Program
- Fairfax County Public Schools Puzzle Hunt
For additional information, please visit the Park and Recreation Month website.