Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Fairfax Surf Shop Skate Team presented an opening day demonstration.
The Fairfax County Park Authority officially opened the expanded Wakefield Skate Park on Saturday. The skate park is located at 8100 Braddock Road in Annandale, next to the Audrey Moore RECenter in Wakefield park. It features a Freestyle course and a Competition course. Marie Reinsdorf, Fairfax County Park Authority board secretary, said the idea for the skate park began in May 2000, when local teenagers expressed the need. "Four years later this park opened and today there is no looking back," Reinsdorf said. "Skate parks are here to stay." Braddock District Supervisor John Cook said since the first skate park opened in 1976, there has been a cultural shift that now sees development of public areas designed to encourage skateboarding. "…
Monday, August 13, 2012
FCPA Director John Dargle will meet with area residents on Sept. 20.
Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Director John Dargle will hold a Listening Forum in the Springfield District at Hidden Pond Nature Center on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. According to the FCPA, Dargle will host an informal conversation about park-related concerns and issues. Residents are invited to exchange ideas and discuss possibilities. The forums are held throughout Fairfax County to "share thoughts and concerns and exchange ideas." Items of specific interest to Springfield District residents include the Burke Lake dam project and its effect on park users, and the November 6 Park Bond referendum which, if approved, would provide $75 million for park capital improvements.
38.773823
-77.240123
Hidden Pond Park and Nature Center
8511 Greeley Blvd, Springfield, VA
/articles/park-authority-brings-forum-to-springfield-district
1285775
/locations/7606905
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Construction on the dam is set to begin in September and last several months.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), the state agency responsible for maintaining Lake Burke, will begin required work on the dam in September in order to meet new state standards. Work is expected to last several months. The Fairfax County Park Authority reports VDGIF is currently notifying neighbors regarding the impacts and effects of the rehabilitation project. "The Park Authority is working closely with VDGIF to assess its impact on park activities and to ensure that wherever possible, public access continues," said Judy Pederson, Park Authority (FCPA) Public Information officer, in a press release. At this time, the Park Authority and VDGIF report: Repairs are required to bring the dam into compliance with …
38.75835
-77.307179
Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA
/articles/burke-lake-dam-project-to-impact-park-users
1236782
/locations/7589506
Monday, July 23, 2012
The team received the 2012 Student Honoree Elly Doyle Park Service Award.
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has selected the recipients of the 2012 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards. The annual award recognizes individuals who and organizations which contribute outstanding volunteer service to the Fairfax County Park Authority. The 2012 Hidden Pond Envirothon Team from Hidden Pond Nature Center was selected as the Student Honoree for 2012. Team members include Liam Berigan, Matt Baker, Murjan Hammad, Owen Mulvey-McFerron, Peter MacDonald. They worked under the direction of Coach Neal MacDonald (no relation to Peter). The team will receive the award at the Park Authority's November 16 ceremony. The Elly Doyle Park Service Awards were established by the Fairfax County Park Authority in 1988 in recognition of …
38.773823
-77.240123
Hidden Pond Park and Nature Center
8511 Greeley Blvd, Springfield, VA
/articles/hidden-pond-environthon-team-honored-by-park-authority
1285775
/locations/7472880
Friday, July 13, 2012
Fairfax County will use money for new facilities, renovations and expansion.
As the Fairfax County Park Authority Board prepares for the possibility voters approve a $63 million park bond this November, members are gathering input from residents on potential projects and improvements that should benefit from the money. During an approximately two-hour public input meeting Monday, more than a dozen advocates came before the Fairfax County Park Authority Board and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to promote their groups. In May, the Board of Supervisors voted to put a $75 million park bond referendum to voters Nov. 6. County parks will see $63 million of that money, and regional parks in Northern Virginia will see the other $12 million, if voters approve the referendum. Representatives from various "…
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Group to approve by-laws, elect board and submit memo of intent to Fairfax County.
Braddock Dogs, a group hoping to make an off-leash dog park a reality in Burke, is scheduled to meet next Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Braddock District Offices to elect a board of directors, formally approve by-laws, and submit a letter of intent to sponsor a dog park as part of the Fairfax County Park Authority's (FCPA) master plan for Monticello Park. "There needs to be an organization in place to take responsibility for the dog park before the county will build it," said Braddock Dogs organizer Russ Rosen. Rosen said at least 10 to 15 people are needed at the meeting to formalize the group, and he is asking residents interested in a dog park at Monticello Park to join him in Braddock Hall in the Braddock District Offices. Braddock Dogs …
38.80772
-77.27931
5315 Guinea Rd, Fairfax, VA
/articles/braddock-dogs-to-formalize-plans-for-dog-park
/locations/7146231
Monday, June 4, 2012
You'll probably be dead the next time this happens, so watch it on Tuesday evening.
A little after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, residents of our area will have an opportunity to witness one of the rarest predictable celestial events: a transit of Venus. Often referred to as the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star," Venus is the brightest natural object in our sky after the sun and the Moon. As the second planet from the sun, it's closer to the sun than the Earth is. A "transit" of Venus occurs when Venus passes between us and the sun in such a way that we can see Venus's silhouette backlit by the sun's brilliant light. It last happened in 2004, but it won't happen again until 2117. Unless you plan to shatter some human longevity records, this is probably your last chance. Were Venus either large enough or close enough to block out the…
Friday, May 25, 2012
The application period starts next week.
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Friday, May 25, 2012
The Fairfax County Park Authority is now looking for nominees for the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards. The park authority created the awards in 1988 to recognize those dedicated to volunteering at area parks. The application period starts next week. Anyone can submit an application up until June 22. Both groups and individuals are eligible for the award. Generally, the Park Board Awards Committee presents three Elly Doyle Awards, five special recognition awards and one student achievement award. Awardees will be honored at a reception in November. Award applications are available online. Or you can contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
A large field of runners participated in the first annual Healthy Strides Race held last Saturday.
More than 250 runners participated in the inaugural Healthy Strides Community Run at Burke Lake Park on April 28, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority. The 10K, 5K and Kids' Fun Run were sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation as the signature event of the Park Authority's Take 12 Steps for Community Health initiative. Charles Bowles of Boyce, Va., won the 10K with a time of 36:52. Second place went to William Robert Munroe of Cross Junction, Va., and Park Authority Director John Dargle, Jr. finished third. Dennis Billings of Woodbridge, Va., was the overall male winner of the 5K with a time of 19:25. Robyn Dryer of Springfield, Va,. was the overall female winner with a time of 23:45. Over 40 children participated in the…
38.75835
-77.307179
Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA
/articles/healthy-strides-at-burke-lake-park
1236782
/locations/6940964
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The expansion will add 6,220 square feet of concrete skating area to the park.
Construction on the expansion of the Wakefield Skatepark, located next to the Audrey Moore RECenter in Annandale, is officially underway. The Fairfax County Park Authority broke ground earlier this month — close to a year after the design project first began. Wakefield Skatepark, the Park Authority’s first skatepark, currently offers two courses (freestyle and competition) and several different facilities, including a four-quarter pipe, grind rails and boxes, for use by skateboarders and BMX riders. An additional 6,220 square feet of concrete skating area will be added to the existing 21,500 square foot facility, and a 400 square foot shade structure will be placed in the center of the new facility, according to Judy Pedersen, public …
38.8113
-77.224619
8100 Braddock Rd, Annandale, VA
/articles/wakefield-skatepark-expansion-begun
/locations/6895890
Diane Boughton
5:21 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Another topic of interest will be whether staff will be pulled out of all the lake front parks again this winter. See Patch article: http://kingstowne.patch.com/articles/residents-criticize-staffing-changes-at-lake-accotink-park more ›