Saluting those who Serve on Veterans Day
FCPA commemorates Veterans Day by offering free admission to Rec Centers to those who serve and those have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families are invited to use FCPA Rec Centers at no cost on Thursday, November 11, 2021. The complementary entry includes admission to pools, fitness rooms, gyms and racquetball courts at the county’s nine recreational facilities. It’s the Park Authority’s way of saying “Thank you” for service to our country.

Please bring your military identification to enjoy this complimentary Rec Center access.

This program is supported through contributions made to the Fairfax County Park Foundation. Please donate to FCPF’s Honoring America’s Veterans Program.
EVEE Wins 2021 NASCOW!
On October 22, 2021 Evee, an Angus cow, was the first to cross the finish line at Frying Pan Farm Park in the 2021 NASCOW Fundrace.

There is still time to contribute to the fund that provides food and care for the animals every day of the year.

Click here to make a donation for Frying Pan Farm Park animals.
Ribbon Cutting for McLean's Holladay Field
October 30, 2021 was a day of celebration at the ribbon-cutting of Holladay Field located at 1311 Spring Hill Road in McLean. The $1.56 million project includes a full-sized rectangular soccer field with options to use the field for football, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, field hockey and mini soccer. The project also includes landscape improvement, two underground stormwater management facilities, a bleacher pad, and access trail.

Funding for the field came through voter-approved Park Bonds as well as contributions from the Embassy and Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba of the United Arab Emirates and Roger Krone CEO of Leidos. As supporters of McLean Youth Soccer, they raised more than $725,000 for Holladay Field.
McLean Youth Soccer sponsored a special bench through the Park Foundation to recognize the generous sponsors.

Pictured above are FCPF Board Chair, Michael Gailliot; Dranesville Park Authority Board Representative, Tim Hackman: Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust; Leidos CEO Roger Krone; MYS representative, Yousef Al Otaiba, and FCPA Executive Director, Jai Cole.
This bronze plaque is attached to a new park bench honoring the generous sponsors of Holladay Field.

if you would like to honor the memory of a loved one or commemorate a special event, consider donating a new park bench or adopting an existing one.

For more information visit Commemorative Benches and Trees – Fairfax County Park Foundation (fairfaxparkfoundation.org) or call Margaret Thaxton at 703-324-8532.
The Holladay field conversion project is an awesome example of what can be accomplished when dedicated people join forces and work toward a goal. The County, the Park Authority and MYS have forged a powerful partnership that has delivered about a dozen world-class, synthetic turf fields in the McLean area. No project becomes a reality without a lot of hard work on the part of many people behind the scenes. The efforts of the project team, Park Operations team and the donations from Ambassador Al Otaiba and Mr. Krone are greatly appreciated.” - Supervisor Foust
Fairfax County
Board Of Supervisors
Dranesville District
Supervisor John W. Foust
A Moment of Beauty in your Parks
‘Music at Cub Run’
photographed by Elarbi ('El') Taouil at Cub Run Stream Valley Park

'El’ has volunteered with the Cub Run Stream Valley Park Volunteer Team since 2017 using his gift for photography to inspire cleanup event participation. He led educational photography expeditions. FCPF uses his photographs in social media posts and fundraising appeals to attract support.
Forest Restoration at Frying Pan Farm Park
The following article is shared from the FCPA ResOURces Newsletter

There’s a forest at Frying Pan Farm Park that needs a bit of help. The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved a $20,000 Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant request from the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park. The grant will help restore four acres degraded by human activity, invasive species, and an overabundance of white-tailed deer.

A restored oak-hickory forest will improve the habitat for wildlife. Interpretive programs will explain the park’s forest communities, native biodiversity, and the importance of restoring degraded ecosystems.
 
The three-year project, which includes funding through the Park Foundation from Virginia Trees for Clean Water, will include the removal of invasive plant species, the installation of fencing to keep deer out, and the planting of native trees.

Can you spot the Healthy Forest?
The top photo shows invasive plants taking over the forested area.
The photo below is a healthy forest after invasive plants are removed.
FCPA's John Burke explains, "This project attempts to restore the natural community by excluding deer, promoting canopy trees, and controlling invasive plants. In some cases, the understory of Fairfax’s natural communities may appear more bare than would typically be expected. The bottom photograph shows abundant shade-tolerant invasive species that outcompete natives, alter community structure, and are not readily browsed by deer. Further, the top photograph shows shrubs and understory trees which make up an important component of the oak hickory forest. In areas where deer are overabundant, these plants may be browsed to the point where only overstory trees and invasive plants remain. "
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You are Invited!
There are thousands of individuals and many organizations that volunteer each year in local parks and support the many programs and initiatives of the Fairfax County Park Authority. In fact, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to operate our park system without volunteers. Making sure that their service is recognized is very important.

Each year we honor our outstanding volunteers at the Elly Doyle Awards Ceremony. This year due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be hosting the ceremony virtually. The 2021 award recipients will be honored on November 19, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. 

Notable Events

  • November 19, 2021 7 pm Elly Doyle Park Service Virtual Awards

  • November 30, 2021 Giving Tuesday Online Day of Giving

Check Out PLENTY OF FALL FUN Programs in Your Parks!
The Season of Giving Continues