Congratulations!
2020 First Hike Fairfax
Winners
Here are the winners of the
2020 First Hike Fairfax Photography Contest.
We hope you enjoy the pictures of your beautiful parks!
Winter days are good opportunities for you and some of your 4-legged friends to experience the wonders of nature and benefits of exercise. Remember to share the trails with
equestrians, bicycles and pedestrians
from dawn to dusk every day of the year.
FCPF proudly sponsored the 2020 First Hike Fairfax
prizes for the six (6) winners:
- People’s Choice: 4-Month FCPA RECenter Leisure Fitness Pass
- Director’s Choice: $100 Park Authority Gift Card
- Judges’ Choice: 25-visit FCPA RECenter Discount Fast Pass
- Best in Show (Scenery/Landscapes): $50 Park Authority Gift Card
- Best in Show (People): $50 Park Authority Gift Card
- Best in Show (Wildlife): $50 Park Authority Gift Card
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Winners of the 2020 First Hike Fairfax
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Mike Crosby, Huntley Meadows Park
Nearly 1,000 people voted on the People’s Choice Winner. With 178 votes, this photo of the Huntley Meadows boardwalk received 18 percent of the vote, making it the most popular of the 18 finalists selected by the judges.
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DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
Jessica Jenkins
Burke Lake Park
Park Authority Executive Director Kirk Kincannon chose this photo of two children walking hand-in-hand under a Burke Lake Park forest canopy, saying
“It evokes a true sense of a first hike in to the woods!"
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JUDGE'S CHOICE
Jeroen van Ek
Scott’s Run Nature Preserve
Park trails are for more than just human hikers and this photo of two dogs in the park resonated with the panel of Park Authority judges. In addition to the focused dogs, judges liked that the photo had depth and showed off the park nicely in the background.
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BEST IN SHOW
(Scenery/Landscapes)
David Kravitz
Lake Accotink Stream Valley
Beauty is often in the details and that was the case with this macro photo of a common milkweed pod along the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail near Lake Accotink. It’s also a great reminder that there is plenty to discover in the parks, even in the colder winter months.
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BEST IN SHOW
(People)
Heather Rascona,
Holmes Valley Run
Parks offer us a natural playground and judges felt that this photo perfectly exemplified this idea by showing two boys exploring the great outdoors. Judges enjoyed the pop of color in the boys’ jackets and commended the photographer on framing and focusing the photo so well.
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BEST IN SHOW
(Wildlife)
Jon Taets
Burke Lake Park
This photo of a Canada goose at Burke Lake Park stood out because it offered a different perspective on a bird that we see every day. Judges appreciated the photographer’s ability to provide an up-close look at the goose taking a drink and enjoyed seeing the details beneath the ripples in the water.
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Happy 20
th
Anniversary
Park Foundation Celebrates 20 years of enriching your parks
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When the Park Foundation was established in 2000, there were no smart phones, social media, cloud storage, or autonomous vehicles.
Since the formation of FCPF in 2000, more than
$10 million
has been raised from individuals and corporate donors to support Fairfax County parks!
Over the two decades, FCPF has had many notable accomplishments, including:
- Chessie's Big Backyard: an outdoor recreation area at Lee District Park featuring an accessible sprayground, playground, tree house and trail.
- Summer Entertainment Series: featuring nearly 200 free local movies and concerts at 14 Fairfax County parks.
- Camp Scholarships: provide summer camp opportunities for children who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch.
- Environmental Education: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) programs to teach children the importance of natural resource stewardship.
- and many more!
During 2020, the Park Foundation will be announcing a new fundraising initiative to be located in the western part of the county and an anniversary event in the fall.
Keep your eyes and ears open as it is going to be an exciting year.
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Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said,
"Everyone can be great because everybody can serve."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Observing the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday on Monday, January 20
th
, through service is a way to begin each year with a commitment to making your community a better place.
Service breaks down barriers by bringing people from different experiences together – volunteering can unite Americans of all ages and backgrounds while building stronger communities.
To support the MLK, Jr. Day of Service, the Park Authority has organized three
Invasive Management Area
volunteer work sessions on January 20, 2020.
Volunteers are needed to remove invasive climbing vines and shrubs-- some with thorns -- that are
degrading the natural ecosystems. The invasive plants prevent native plants from growing that support pollinators and others in the plant and animal kingdoms.
A few hours of your time, combined with help from other volunteers and businesses, will help make significant improvements to the park forests.
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Chapel Road Park
2300 Chapel Rd,Clifton
Monday, January, 20, 2020
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Join volunteers from the
Shirley Construction Company
to help to restore the habitat at Chapel Road Park.
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Royal Lake Park
5344 Gainsborough Dr., Fairfax
Monday, January, 20, 2020
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
More volunteers are needed to join the 10 volunteers from
Brandywine Realty Trust
as they help remove invasive plants.
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Blake Lane Park
Monday, January, 20, 2020
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sign up and help the park staff
remove and control invasive plants and native plants to the park.
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The
Friends of Lake Accotink Park
, also known as FLAP, is hosting a MLK, Jr. Day of Service - Clean-Up from 10 AM until Noon on January 20, 2020.
At 10 AM friends of the lake and park will be at the Lake Accotink Park Marina, 7500 Accotink Park Rd, Springfield to distribute assign clean up assignments.
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Thank you for supporting
YOUR
Fairfax County parks!
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