Around Town

Reston’s own water park is suiting up for a new season, just in time to provide relief from a blast of summer heat.

The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole will reopen for 2026 at 11 a.m. this Saturday, May 23 at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive), giving local families an aquatic escape for Memorial Day weekend.


Around Town

Instead of the usual fireworks, a battalion of drones will light up Lake Fairfax Park this summer for the Fairfax County Park Authority’s annual Independence Day celebration.

The park authority is planning its first-ever drone light show to put a unique spin on this year’s festivities in conjunction with the county’s ongoing recognition of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary.


News

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is holding a public meeting this Saturday (May 2) on proposed renovations to the Audrey Moore Rec Center, the oldest recreational facility built by the agency.

The FCPA says the rec center has served as a community hub since its opening in Annandale in 1977. After undergoing some routine maintenance four years ago, the 76,000-square-foot facility complex is set for a major overhaul.


News

After months of renovations, Mount Vernon Woods Park is set to officially reopen to the public during a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Saturday (April 18).

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it will have activities for people of all ages, including skateboarding demonstrations with Fairfax Surf Shop, soccer and community recreation, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.


Around Town

Cherry blossoms are so last week. In Fairfax County, April is the delicate bluebell’s time to shine.

The wildflower will take center stage at the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Bluebells at the Bend celebration, which is set to return to Riverbend Park (8700 Potomac Hills Street) in Great Falls on Saturday, April 11.


News

Visitors to the Providence Rec Center will have to find another location for their workouts later this month.

The Fairfax County Park Authority announced plans yesterday to close the facility at 7525 Marc Drive in West Falls Church from Monday, March 23 to Sunday, April 5 for maintenance and upgrades.


News

Though it hasn’t served a drink since Lyndon B. Johnson was in the White House, the historic Dranesville Tavern appears to have retained its appeal as a lodging destination.

Where other sites in its Resident Curator Program might attract a single offer, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) received three proposals from community members looking to restore the 19th-century property in Herndon in exchange for a rent-free stay.


News

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will be off limits to visitors for a third consecutive spring to allow more sewer upgrades.

The park at 7400 Georgetown Pike in McLean is scheduled to close on Monday, Feb. 16 for an “urgent” project to rehabilitate a siphon facility that carries wastewater across the Potomac River to D.C. Water’s Potomac Interceptor in Maryland, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.


News

Light pollution continues to be a concern in the populous Northern Virginia region, but one Fairfax County park has taken steps to protect the night sky.

DarkSky International has designated Turner Farm (925 Springvale Road) in Great Falls as an International Dark Sky Urban Night Sky Place, a certification reflecting its efforts to protect the night sky from light pollution. The Fairfax County Park Authority noted that Turner Farm is one of a few places to view a relatively dark sky near D.C.


Countywide

Photographers braved the cold to capture moments from their New Year’s Day hikes for a chance to win the Fairfax County Park Authority’s (FCPA) First Hike Fairfax photo contest.

The annual contest invited Fairfax County residents to submit photos from their first hikes of 2026 on the park authority’s more than 420 parks and 334 miles of trails.


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