A golfing renaissance and introduction of next-generation playgrounds were among the 2024 success stories for the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA).
“We’re in the business of fun,” FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole said on May 20 at a joint meeting between the park authority board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The 70-minute event gave park leaders an opportunity to share successes and detail challenges. It also was a chance for supervisors to see how conditions have evolved since their own childhoods — which, in some cases, involved the same Fairfax County parks.
During 2024, Cole said, modernized playground equipment was installed at McLean Central Park, Lake Accotink Park, Muddy Hole Farm Park, Hogge Park, Patriot Park, Mount Vernon Woods Park and Lorton Park.
The renovations were designed with age-appropriate physical and intellectual growth in mind, Cole said.
“Those really do help with cognitive development,” she said.
In process is a study of areas in the county described by the park authority as “playground deserts” — where no playground facilities are available within a 5-minute drive.
“We want to make sure we’re hitting as many people as possible” with access to playgrounds, Cole said.
Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith said she’s “glad” to see the park authority look at the issue.
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman said he appreciates the updated playground and other new features at the 28-acre McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd), calling the renovations “a real game-changer” for the McLean community.
On the golf front, what seemed to be a possibly dying pastime prior to the pandemic has rebounded in a major way, locally and across the nation.
A total of 343,000 rounds of golf were played at the FCPA’s eight courses in 2024, up 53% from 2019 figures, while revenue jumped 85% to $17.8 million during the same period.
“Since Covid, our golf courses are just through the roof,” Cole said. “It looks like it’s continuing. People got hooked. That’s a great thing.”
The joint meeting came a week after county supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget. Some cuts to parks and recreation services that had been proposed by County Executive Bryan Hill, including funds for trail and ground maintenance, were restored in the final spending plan.
“This was a very difficult budget year. We greatly appreciate what you do,” said Park Authority Board Vice Chair Timothy Hackman, who represents Dranesville District. He was substituting at the meeting for chair Kiel Stone, who couldn’t attend.
Cole said the park authority continued to benefit last year from a robust volunteer corps, which totals more than 10,000 people providing 130,000 hours of annual volunteer service to augment the staff of 2,000.
“We could not do what we do without our volunteers,” said Cole, who grew up in Fairfax County and has been the park authority’s executive director since 2021.
On the horizon, she said, are more synthetic-turf field conversions and a study looking at ways to improve the county’s trails.
Also in the works is prioritizing projects for a parks bond referendum likely to be sent to voters in 2026.
The FCPA is still accepting feedback for a “Park Counts!” needs assessment that will inform park leaders’ decisions for future investments, including potential projects to fund with next year’s bond referendum. An online survey to identify community priorities for parks, trails, recreational facilities and open space will be open until June 15.
Golf photo via Courtney Cooke on Unsplash
