The Fairfax County Park Authority is thrilled to announce Nathan Kennedy as the winner of the People’s Choice Award for the 2026 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest. His captivating photo, taken at Huntley Meadows Park, received the highest number of online votes submitted by residents from across the county. 

As the winner, Kennedy will receive a $100 gift card, sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

The 2026 First Hike Fairfax Photo Contest invited park enthusiasts of all ages to kick off the new year by exploring local parks and capturing their adventures through photography. The contest was a tremendous success, with more than 250 photo submissions and more than 500 residents participating in the People’s Choice Award voting.

This year’s inspiring First Hike submissions showcased the diverse landscapes, wildlife and recreational opportunities found throughout the Fairfax County park system, as well as precious moments that captured the enjoyment of both people and pets as they visited our parks. To view a full collection of this year’s photo submissions, visit the First Hike Fairfax 2026 Flickr album.

Thank you to all our participants for their enthusiastic support of this year’s First Hike event. We encourage everyone to continue exploring and enjoying our parks throughout 2026. Whether you’re hiking a scenic trail, observing wildlife or simply enjoying a moment of peace in nature, there’s always something new to discover.

First Hike Fairfax is sponsored in partnership with the Fairfax County Park Foundation. For a complete list of winners, visit the First Hike Fairfax website.

About Fairfax County Park Foundation

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