More Fairfax County park facilities open today

Mason District Park in Annandale.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin opening additional park facilities on Friday, June 12, as the region moves into Phase 2 in the process of easing COVID-19 restrictions. 

Here’s what Phase 2 means for county parks: 

• Athletic fields – open for organized and permitted use based on the Virginia governor’s and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
• Basketball courts – outdoor courts will open, but users must stay 10 feet apart.
• Volleyball courts – outdoor courts will open, but users must stay 10 feet apart.
• Dog parks – open, with users urged to maintain social distancing.
• Marinas – open for rentals at lakefront and riverfront parks.
• Mini-golf – open.
• Restrooms – permanent outdoor restrooms and portable restrooms are open systemwide. Visitors are encouraged to bring hand sanitizer since these facilities often lack running water.
• Picnic shelters – shelters within parks are open for permitted use with 50 percent capacity of regular occupancy limits, not to exceed 50 people.
• Playgrounds – open, but there won’t be special cleaning. Visitors should use at their own risk and must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Park staff have already started to implement these changes. But with 427 parks in the system, some of the changes will occur over the next few weeks. 

RECenters, nature centers, pools, and historic sites remain closed. 

Related story: Northam says Northern Virginia is ready for Phase 2

The Fairfax County golf academies announced private lessons and small group classes resume June 12 at five Fairfax County Park Authority facilities, including the Pinecrest Golf Course in Annandale.

Several modifications are being made to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at golf centers, including online registration and payment, smaller class sizes, no physical contact, increased spacing between students and instructors, and enhanced cleaning of all equipment and practice areas before and after each instructional session.

Fairfax County Public Schools also opened basketball courts, playgrounds, and fields on school grounds.