FCPA Soccer Field Honors the Life of Local Hero
A special Memorial Field at Grist Mill Park in Alexandria, VA honors Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith. This civilian employee of the Army was attending a meeting at the Pentagon twenty years ago when Flight 77 struck.

Read more about this local hero’s legacy that includes service to his country and Fairfax County.

FCPF welcomes gifts made in honor Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith and others in support the Honoring America’s Veterans outreach program. 
Become a Park Steward!
Last year, we introduced the Sully Woodlands Stewardship Education Center (SW SEC), an innovative international model of sustainability to be constructed in Fairfax County Park Authority’s Ellanor C. Lawrence Park.

Click here for more information.

Groundbreaking will be scheduled later this year!


Features in need of support
  • antique mill stone
  • Archimedes screw
  • crazy maze
  • tenor tree
  • musical flower
  • playground water fall table and basin
  • hollow climbing log
  • rock scramble
  • benches
  • bicycle repair station
  • e-bike charging station 

Your donation will help fund the science, technology, engineering, art and math features in the educational Learning Observational Outdoor Pod. 

Help 8-year old Elise, pictured above, learn how to protect the environment for future generations and Help Our Land Heal.
An invitation for You and Your Best Friend
Special thanks to Webers Pet Supermarket, Aquatic Paws & Girl Scouts Group for sponsoring Dog Daze 2021 on Sunday, September 12.
At Giant Food, Giving Back is ‘In the Bag’!
In September 2021, the Fairfax County Park Foundation, Inc. will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Giant Food store located at 13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Fairfax VA.
 
Every $2.50 Community Bag comes with an attached Giving Tag. The Giving Tag provides the opportunity for shoppers at any Giant Food location to send the $1 donation from the purchase of the bag to the Fairfax County Park Foundation at any time. Just follow these easy steps on the tag or see more online.

We thank Giant Food for this additional way to support outreach in Fairfax County parks including Healthy Strides and last year's Dog Daze program!
A Moment of Beauty in YOUR Parks
Compliments of Cub Run Stream Valley Park Volunteer Team - Trail Map
What Can One Dog Do?
When we say “We Need You!” to support FCPA parks by supplementing tax dollars to meet our community’s needs for park land, facilities and services, …we usually have human contributors in mind. However, sometimes special canines, too, answer the call.
 
One such special “pup” is Tia, a regular contributor to the Park Foundation. Tia is a daily user of the park system for her walks and, in younger years, a fixture at Pirate’s Cove end of year dog swims. Her person, and no doubt Tia too, want to give back for the park pleasures they both enjoy. Tia began making contributions for her milestone birthday at age 10. That year’s commemorative bench has been followed by increasing cash contributions each year in celebration of her September birthday.
A titled Therapy Dog, with over 150 hours of service in the community, and with many appreciative canine and human admirers, Tia convinced several to contribute to the Foundation in her honor.

Perhaps she recognizes that donations make a better gift, and more lasting pleasure, than toys, or the even more fleeting delight of treats, or squeakers and toy stuffing. As a result, Tia’s five year body of Foundation contributions is noteworthy. What can one dog do? She can build a park bench and maintain trails, with just a little help from some adoring humans.

Tia, now 14 years, (pictured center with her bestie, Susan and other friends) expects to remain a park contributor for life! Consider highlighting products or services, sales or promotions, personal bios, and more. Use images that complement your message, and link your images to supporting resources.
The Season of Generosity Commences
September begins the season of generosity - a time when people are asked to freely donate money, time, or possessions in abundance to others in need.

United Way, Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) make it easy to donate funds to many needs throughout the world.

Consider naming the Fairfax County Park Foundation as your designated charity in your employer's fall giving campaign. Use the agency numbers shown above. Last year, the employer-administered giving campaigns resulted in more than $26,000 contributions to help parks through FCPF.

Becoming a Park Friend or Volunteer is another way to help your county parks.
While hundreds of people volunteer their time to improve the county parks the Park Authority continues to have many needs.

Last fiscal year the Park Foundation received in-kind gifts and services valued at nearly $34,000. If your business has in-kind goods services that may benefit Fairfax County parks, contact Margaret Thaxton, Director of Development by phone 703-324-8532 or e-mail.

Decide now how you can generously donate to make your parks better.
Enjoy a Virtual Tour of Oak Hill
Join former Fairfax County Supervisor/ Board Chairman Sharon Bulova, and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw as they explore Oak Hill, one of the oldest homes in Fairfax County.

Not only will you learn about the architecture, but also about the lives of enslaved individuals who toiled at the site. This virtual event is scheduled on Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m. More information
All you have to do is drop by the gardens and enjoy the day. There will be a plant sale, vendors, a bake sale, music, a silent auction, a food truck and, of course, blooming gardens.

The Family Fall Festival at Green Spring Gardens is Saturday, Sept. 25. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  
Bike Your Park Day
Saturday, September 25, 2021, is Bike Your Park Day! The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling is hosting a free, family-friendly ride beginning at The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial in the Occoquan Regional Park, 9751 Ox Road, Lorton 22079 VA. The ride will follow the shared use path along Route 123 and will include stops at the Workhouse Art Center and Burke Lake Park. Participants will be required to wear helmets and sign a ride waiver.
Riders will begin gathering at 8:30 am to check-in and socialize. The ride begins at 9 AM and should end about 11 AM; just in time for an early lunch and refreshments at Brickmakers Cafe. Please register here for the ride.
Seeking High Schoolers for Environmental Leadership
Riverbend Park will host a retreat for students who wish to make a difference in their communities through environmental leadership and service.

“The Friends of Riverbend Park (FORB) is pleased to support the 2021 ESLI Retreat through the Park Foundation. This contribution was approved with overwhelming support from all of FORB's Board Members. This is exactly the kind of activity that fits into our mission. We are a non-profit citizens group dedicated to the responsible stewardship and preservation of the undisturbed natural beauty at Riverbend Park on the Potomac River, and to safeguarding this park as a natural outdoor classroom for inspiration, enjoyment and education of all park visitors.”
-Hugh Morrow, III, FORB Board President

The Environmental Student Leadership Initiative (ESLI) is a Fairfax County Park Authority-supported volunteer team that seeks to empower the community through environmental action. Students learn how to teach environmental topics to elementary school-aged children, sample macroinvertebrates to determine stream health, recognize invasive organisms and more. This free, annual program is open to all motivated high school students in Fairfax County.

The ESLI Retreat will take place on Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Riverbend Park Outdoor Classroom.
Notable Events

Visit the FCPA website for more Fun in your parks!