Close to 600 racers gathered at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston over the weekend to raise money for the park’s trails.
The annual event, called 2022 Capital Cross Classic, took place on Sunday (Dec. 4) at the park, which is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive.
The Bike Lane, a Reston-based business, took over the race more than 10 years ago, according to Todd Mader, co-owner of the business.
Money raised from the fund is specifically used to restore multi-use trails that surround the parking, Mader said.
“We won’t know the final figure until we see how much grass was ruined and how much we need to reseed, but this was a good year so at least $4,000,” Mader wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
The event is a USA Cycling cyclocross event. It will benefit the Lake Fairfax Sustainable Natural Trail System. Races were divided by time and for different ages.
The Bike Lane is a family-owned bicycle shop that has locations in Reston and Springfield.
A nearly 9-acre property near Lake Fairfax Park in Reston could be the sight of future infill residential development.
SEM Fairfax Land Associates is seeking Fairfax County’s blessing to build eight single-family homes on the property and preserve a 1790s building on the land, according to the Nov. 22 application.
The building known as the Fairfax Hunt Club — a 3,064-square-foot private avenue venue for up to 300 guests — will remain on the site alongside the original log house, which was built in the 1790s after it was relocated on the property from a farm in Vienna. The venue, which incorporated the log house, was affiliated with JR Custom Catering.
The property also includes a small cemetery that is roughly 14,106 square feet in size.
To move forward with the change, the county would need to approve the zoning from the Residential-Estate District to a more intense use — Planned Development Housing District, according to he application.
The community would be called Fairfax Hunt Estates. The applicants hopes to preserve the log house “in perpetuity” by imposing covenants on the lot that houses it.
“The Applicant will require preservation of the Log House by imposing covenants on Lot 3, which will ensure that it is maintained and preserved in perpetuity, without burdening the Fairfax County Park Authority with additional facilities to incorporate into their fiscal and administrative portfolio of various parks, historical sites, and recreational areas,” the application said.
A 5-foot-wide sidewalk along Lake Fairfax Drive is planned to complement the existing path along the east side of the road. The applicant also plans to extend the sidewalk from its southern property line along the Fairfax County Park Authority’s western frontage to the existing striped crosswalk at the entrance of Lake Fairfax Park.
The application has not yet been accepted for review by the county.
Photo via JR Catering/Facebook
The popular Water Mine at Lake Fairfax in Reston is officially closed for the season after its pool filtration system failed.
The closure at the Water Mine Family Swimming’ Hole was announced yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon by the Fairfax County Park Authority, which cited “mechanical failures beyond our control.”
The closure includes this coming Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-4) and an event for dogs scheduled for Sept. 10 is also cancelled.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you next season,” FCPA wrote in a statement.
An FCPA spokesperson told FFXnow that the park authority was aware before the summer season began that The Water Mine’s 25-year-old filtration system was in need of replacement. The agency has started to plan that project with the goal of implementing it before the facility reopens in 2023.
“However, based on the information we had prior to opening this season, we made the decision to open this very popular facility for the public until this recent mechanical failure made it impossible to continue to stay open,” the park authority said.
The emergency closure comes just two weeks after staff shortages forced the water park to operate with reduced hours. It was closed from Aug. 15 through 20 due to a lifeguard and staff shortage.
Its last day is typically the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Per the park authority, The Water Mine admitted 3,358 people over Labor Day weekend in 2021, equaling $50,000 in revenue. It had sold 347 advance tickets for the weekend this year.
The park authority confirmed that those pre-sale tickets will be refunded.
Despite the mechanical and staffing challenges, the FCPA says the facility “had a great season, serving thousands of families throughout the summer.” Starting with Memorial Day weekend on May 28, the 2022 summer season drew a total of 87,000 visitors.
Angela Woolsey contributed to this report. Screenshot via Fairfax County Park Authority/YouTube
A one-day beautification project is slated to take place next month at Lake Fairfax in Reston.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking volunteers for a community stewardship celebration at Lake Fairfax Park on Sept. 24.
After a community celebration — which will feature a light breakfast and remarks by local officials — volunteers will begin beautifying the park.
Naturalists will be on site to help volunteers plant trees near the park’s core areas, remove invasive plants, and help with other beautification efforts.
“This is a great way to give of yourself and be part of something much larger,” the park authority said.
Volunteers can sign up online as individuals or as groups. Individuals 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
The event is in honor of National Public Lands Day, which falls annually on the fourth Saturday of September and encourages volunteers to help out on public lands.
The park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive and the event is part of FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole’s last stop on her parks tour this year.
Photo via Virginia Tourism Corp.
Park visitors may notice Lake Fairfax‘s waters dipping below their usual levels next month.
The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to complete maintenance work on the main spillway at the Lake Fairfax Dam in early April.
FCPA spokesperson Judy Pederson says the work is part of a routine effort to maintain the functionality of the dam.
“The work is part of periodic maintenance to reseal concrete joints in the principal spillway structure to prevent seepage and to reinstall several energy dissipators,” Pederson told FFXnow.
The lake’s water levels will be reduced about roughly 1.5 feet to facilitate the maintenance.
Noticeable activity on the spillway is planned as part of the maintenance work.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn says safety measures will be in place, and pedestrians should still be able to access the trails and pedestrian bridge above the dam.
The 476-acre park in Reston includes a 20-acre lake within fishing, a swimming hole for families, boat rentals, playgrounds, shelters, and a carousel.
Carousal and boot rentals will resume on Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
