Tag: parks
Kite fighting banned in county parks
The Fairfax County Park Authority is banning kite fighting in county parks. Kite fighters use super sharp wires, such as piano wire or metal filament or line coated with glass fragments, instead of string, to cut lines from an opponent’s kite. The practice is being prohibited, the Park Authority states, due to “increasing reports of … Continued
Park Foundation steps up removal of invasives at Lake Accotink Park
The Fairfax County Park Foundation received a $40,000 three-year grant to remove invasive plants from Lake Accotink Park. The funds, from the Society for Ecological Restoration, support the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area projects at the park. Related story: New task force will review options for the future of Lake Accotink The grant … Continued
Explore a park: Howrey Field Park
This article is part of our Explore a Park series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The most recent article in this series covered Annandale Community Park. Previous articles are listed on the Parks page. Howrey Field Park, a small park in Annandale has just four athletic fields and a memorial in recognition of a tragic … Continued
Community invited to National Trails Day event at new Lake Accotink trail crossing
The Fairfax County Park Authority is celebrating the official opening of the Accotink Creek Crossing on Saturday, June 3, which is National Trails Day. The new crossing at the bottom of the Lake Accotink dam consists of a 325-foot elevated concrete pedestrian bridge over the outfall, an area that repeatedly flooded in the past, and … Continued
Military members get free admission to park facilities on Memorial Day
In honor of the sacrifices made by members of the U.S. armed forces and their families, the Fairfax County Park Authority is offering them free admission to rec centers and lakefront parks tomorrow for Memorial Day. The complimentary admission covers military members, veterans, and their families. It covers swimming pools, fitness rooms, drop-in fitness classes, … Continued
New task force will review options for the future of Lake Accotink
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a motion May 23 to create a task force on the future of Lake Accotink. The motion, proposed by Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw, calls for the task force to: Related story: Lake Accotink dredging project not likely to happen, due to increased cost The task force will … Continued
Lake Accotink Park to get a new playground
Lake Accotink Park is getting a new playground to replace the old, obsolete one that had been there since 1995. The old play equipment was removed earlier this month after a licensed playground inspector deemed it unsafe. Crews laid seed and straw to provide erosion control and a temporary green space until the new equipment … Continued
Summer concerts scheduled for local parks
The Fairfax County Park Authority has announced the summer entertainment schedule. The free shows are held in parks throughout the county. Mason District’s Spotlight by Starlight series at the amphitheater in Mason District Park (6621 Columbia Pike) starts June 16 with the City of Fairfax Concert Band. There are shows at Mason District Park … Continued
Dowden Terrace Park courts closed
The Fairfax County Park Authority has begun work to resurface the athletic courts at Dowden Terrace Park. The basketball and tennis courts are closed until July 17 when the project is expected to be completed. Dowden Terrace Park is located at 5616 Bradley Blvd. in Bailey’s Crossroads. The existing fencing, goals, and posts will be … Continued
Elevated walkway opens at Lake Accotink
The new elevated walkway below the Lake Accotink dam opened to the public on April 21. The $3 million project is substantially complete, but crews are still working on a few punch list items, says Heather Lynch of the Park Authority’s Planning and Development Division. The project was needed because the existing trail often flooded, … Continued
Farmers markets open in early May
Farmers market season is almost upon us. The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 10 markets. Including two in Annandale. The Annandale Farmers Market, at Mason District Park, opens May 4. The market will be open every Thursday, 8 a.m.-noon. The Wakefield Farmers Market, in Wakefield Park next to the Audrey Moore Rec Center, is open … Continued
Stream project slated for Annandale Community Park
A $3.3 million project is expected to start in mid-May to restore a stream and replace the sanitary sewer line in Annandale Community Park. A contractor for the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will restore 1,685 linear feet of Coon Branch and unnamed tributaries. The project will include the demolition and … Continued
Construction to start soon on Annandale Civic Space on Columbia Pike
Construction will start on the Annandale Civic Space within the next few weeks. The park entrance is located at 7200 Columbia Pike between the ACCA Child Development Center and the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department. The design for the park includes a civic plaza with seating, an educational garden, a “great lawn” with a topography playground, … Continued
Park Authority to manage the Annandale Greenway trails in parks
Now that the Annandale Greenway has been included in the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan, the next steps involve putting up signage along the four-mile trail. The Annandale Greenway runs between Annandale Community Park and Green Spring Gardens. It encompasses existing trails in Mason District Park, the future Annandale Civic Space, Manassas Gap Park, and the Hidden … Continued
Park Authority drops plans for a resident curator at the White Gardens
The Fairfax County Park Authority dropped plans to install a resident curator in the house at the John C. and Margaret K. White Gardens, park officials announced at a virtual public meeting on Feb. 27. Instead, the house will be torn down, and the horticultural treasures and meadow will be restored and maintained as a … Continued