Construction work is underway on a summertime effort to reinvigorate Gateway Regional Park in the City of Fairfax.
Avon Corp., which received the contract for the project, has started work that’s expected to run through September. The park will remain closed through November for the construction and subsequent fall plantings, according to NOVA Parks, which manages the site.
“We don’t anticipate any other impacts to the public during that time,” a NOVA Parks spokesperson said.
The 1-acre park at the southwest corner of Pickett and Old Pickett roads is owned by the city government but since 1994 has been leased to NOVA Parks.
A joint effort between the city government and regional park authority resulted in a plan to restore most of the site to a natural state. Efforts will include invasive species removal and flood mitigation efforts.
A new walkway with elevated boardwalks and interpretive signage are also part of the package, as is dedicated parking.
According to city officials:
“The Gateway Regional Park renovation project transforms the existing park into a resilient, environmentally focused public open space that enhances both ecological function and visitor experience.
“Central to the project is the creation of new wetlands designed to support improved water quality, habitat restoration and nature-based learning.
“The renovation also improves accessibility and creates engaging recreational and educational experiences while encouraging stewardship of the park’s natural resources.”
Improvements include the planting of approximately 48 new trees, 155 shrubs and 22,000 square feet of ground cover. Plans call for the removal of about 80 existing trees, starting around July 1, Fairfax City says on a project page for the renovation.
When work is complete, additional plantings on the site will be conducted this fall and next spring, city officials say.
NOVA Parks is “excited to get underway with the renewal of Gateway Regional Park,” executive director Justin Wilson told FFXnow in a statement.
”This partnership with the City of Fairfax will create a unique space that not only will benefit park visitors, but also bring new ecological benefits, including wetlands, native plantings, and habitat restoration,” he said. “We look forward to opening the reborn Gateway Regional Park later this year!”
During development of its 2023-2027 strategic plan, NOVA Parks identified Gateway Regional Park as an area of interest for major improvements.
The park provides access to the city’s trail network as well as Fairfax County’s Gerry Connolly Cross-County Trail, which then connects to the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail north of Vienna.
This story has been corrected after initially suggesting that Gateway Regional Park connects directly to the W&OD Trail, rather than via the Cross-County Trail.
