Earth Day Fairfax is April 22!
Celebrate Earth Day Fairfax 2023 - the Largest Earth Day Celebration in Fairfax County! Join us on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Sully Historic Site (3650 Historic Sully Way in Chantilly).

FCPA and partners will have a fun day packed with entertainment, activities, food vendors, Touch-A-Truck, prizes, and more! Learn more about how we can all support our event theme of “Healthy Planet – Healthy People” and all that Fairfax County is doing to support environmental sustainability.
Get your 'I HEART Parks' sticker or magnet
Show your love for Fairfax County Parks by displaying the above pictured I (HEART) PARKS sticker or magnet on your computer, notebook, water bottle, fridge, vehicle, or wherever you choose.

Request your FREE sticker or magnet today!

Simply email us at ParkFoundation@FairfaxCounty.gov OR
mail your request to:
FCPF 'I Heart Parks'
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 404
Fairfax, VA 22035

Include the following three items:
  1. Your Name
  2. Mailing Address
  3. Preference for a Sticker or Magnet (sticker is the default)

Voluntary donations are welcome, but not required for this special gift.
This is our way of saying THANK YOU on behalf of the Fairfax County Park Foundation for demonstrating your love for 420 FCPA parks!
FCPA Board Chairman Concludes Tenure
Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Board Chairman Bill Bouie has decided to step down as chairman of the Park Authority Board after 14 years of distinguished leadership.

The good news is that Bill will continue representing the Hunter Mill District, as he has since 2005. 

The residents of Fairfax County, the FCPA staff, the hundreds of thousands of people that use parks, and our local environment have all benefited from his 14 years of service as chairman. Bill will remain as the Hunter Mill representative and continue his distinguished service to our community.

FCPF appreciates both Bill and his wife Regina who personally donate to make a positive difference through Fairfax County parks!
Your Park Authority Board Officers
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board Elected a New Chairman and Officers for 2023. The board elected Braddock District Representative Kiel Stone as chairman. Sully District Representative Maggie Godbold was reelected as vice chair. Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter, of the Franconia District, was newly elected to serve as secretary. Timothy B. Hackman will return as treasurer.

Professional fundraiser and FCPF Ex-Officio Director, Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter, continues as the liaison between both Park Authority and Park Foundation boards.

Congratulations, and thanks to each officer and Park Authority Board member for voluntarily serving in these important roles!  
Run or Walk Healthy Strides 5K/10K
FCPA's Healthy Strides 5K/10K & Kids Dash will take place on April 29 from 7 - 10 a.m. This is a scenic run around the beautiful grounds of Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station).

The 10k course follows along a wooded path, taking runners around the lake. The 5k follows a tree-lined road through the park, that is wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly. Both courses are USATF certified.

Sponsor Healthy Strides!
Dominion Energy helps fight invasives!
A $20,000 grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation is supporting the removal of invasive plants and replacing them with new seedlings at Blake Lane Park in Oakton, Virginia. This park – with its forested trail, dog park and fields – was chosen for this program due to the high density of Ailanthus altissima, and strong community volunteer support for the FCPA's Invasive Management Area program (IMA).

Ailanthus, also known as the "Tree-of-Heaven," is a host tree for the Spotted Lanternfly, (pictured) a rapidly spreading forest pest, a threat to both forests and agriculture in Virginia.

"At Dominion Energy, we have a strong history of environmental stewardship. We know how important it is to care for our air, water, and land--including the wonderful parks in our communities. We're proud to support the Fairfax County Park Foundation with an education and stewardship grant to enhance our local parks,” said Peggy Fox, Dominion Energy, media and community relations manager.

The IMA program has been conducting invasive removal and replanting in parkland primarily through the work of organized volunteer community members for nearly 17 years. Since the program began, some 16,441 volunteers have donated 111,236 hours to remove invasive plants from 65 park sites. Donate to IMA and Learn how you can be an IMA Volunteer!
Horse Around at Frying Pan Farm Park
Come horse around at Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road in Herndon) on April 15 for the Horse Expo!

Visit with lots of cool horses, run the kid's fun horse jump course, learn about different clubs and equestrian sports, sign up for a pony ride experience, and more. Get food at the food trucks and peruse the equestrian service and product suppliers displays.

This is a Free event but registration is required! You can also register in advance to schedule your child's pony ride experience from that page.

(This includes Fairfax County's 73rd Annual 4-H Fair & Carnival scheduled on August 4-7 which will be featured in our next Newsletter.)
Shop for Parks with iGive!
Every time you shop at any of the thousands of participating stores you know and love in the iGive network, a portion of the money you spend can benefit your parks. It's a free service, and you'll never pay more when you reach a store through iGive. In fact, smart shoppers will enjoy iGive's repository of coupons, free shipping deals, and sales!

Learn how to create your free iGive account and select Fairfax County Park Foundation as your charity. After that, all you need do is shop through the iGive.com website. Established in 1997, iGive is the first online shopping mall where a portion of each purchase benefits the shopper's favorite cause.

We at FCPF extend sincere appreciation to each of our thoughtful donors who helped Fairfax County parks through the recently discontinued AmazonSmile program over the years. In addition to iGive, here are the many ways that you can continue to help Your parks!   
Moment of Beauty
Fairfax County Farmers Markets open this month!
Upcoming Events
  • Saturday, April 15, 2023 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Horse Expo and Pony Rides at Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, VA) 

  • Saturday, April 22, 2023 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Earth Day Fairfax at Sully Historic Site (3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, VA)  
 
  • Saturday, April 29, 2023 7:30-9:30 a.m. Healthy Strides 5K/10K & Kids Dash at Burke Lake Park (3415 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA)  

  • Saturday, May 6, 2023 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Culmore Community Day 2023 at Woodrow Wilson Library (6101 Knollwood Drive, Falls Church, VA)       

  • Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Skate the Wake! Grand Reopening event at Wakefield Skate Park (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA)    

  • Saturday, August 3-6, 2023 73rd Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road. Herndon, VA) 

Register for Summer Camps and Classes and find MANY other great Spring FCPA Programs and Events online!
Go Green with E-Parktakes!