What's Wrong with This Park Sign?

This sign made headlines on Patch this week.

This sign at a Fairfax County park has generated quite a bit of buzz from Fairfax County residents this week. Here's what Patch Facebook fans had to say about the sign: "The only way you can understand the message is if you're already drunk." "Someone must have had 1 too many!" "Don't Drink and Write!" What's wrong with this sign?  Tell us in the comments below. (Editor's note: Fairfax County was quick to fix the recycled sign after reading about it on Patch.)

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Warmer Weather Good for Fairfax County Golf Courses

The eight courses brought in more than $10 million in revenues in fiscal year 2012.

April is the biggest month for the eight Fairfax County golf courses and with warmer weather on the horizon, county officials are expecting to see a spike in rounds played. Judy Pedersen, a spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Park Authority, said April is the traditional time when golfers start thinking about and playing more golf – both because the weather is improving and because golf becomes more visible with key national events like The Master’s. According to the National Weather Service forecast for Falls Church, temperatures will be in the high 50s Saturday, mid 60s Sunday and by Monday, temperatures will hit the low 70s. “Last year, April rounds accounted for about 12 percent of total play for the fiscal year,” Pedersen said. “And …

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Fairfax County Parks Director Resigns

John Dargle cited personal reasons for leaving the Park Authority; search for a new leader will take anywhere from six to nine months.

John Dargle has resigned from his position as director of the Fairfax County Park Authority. The resignation was announced in a release from parks officials Monday. In an email to Patch, Park Authority Board Chairman Bill Bouie wrote Dargle resigned to “pursue some other personal interests.”  “The Park Authority Board wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” Bouie wrote. The Board will conduct a national search for a Dargle’s successor. Bouie said the search would likely take anywhere from six to nine months. Cindy Messigner, the authority's deputy director and chief financial officer, will serve as acting director until a successor is found. Messinger has worked in the Park Authority for more than 30 years. Parks face a $200,000 …

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Easter Egg Hunt at George Washington RECenter Saturday

Bring your kids to this traditional Easter event.

George Washington RECenter will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning.  There will be 2,000 candy-filled eggs hidden around the field behind the RECenter. The Easter Egg Hunt will be divided into three age groups: No pre-registration is required. Please bring a basket for collecting eggs.  The Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. The cost is $3 per child. For more information, please call 703-780-8894.

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Fairfax County Parks Director to Host Listening Forum

Fairfax County Park Authority director will meet Thursday with residents in Lorton.

Fairfax County Park Authority Director John Dargle, Jr. will host a "listening forum" Thursday night at the Laurel Hill Golf clubhouse. Residents are invited to ask questions about parks in their communities and to share any concerns they may have. Dargle has been meeting with residents bi-monthly for the past few years. He values the opportunity to hear feedback directly from park users. The information he receives is shared with his leadership team and helps guide future park planning decisions, according to a release sent by Fairfax County Parks. The forum will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. The Laurel Hill Golf Course is located at 8701 Laurel Crest Drive in Lorton. For more information, call the Fairfax County Park Authority 703-324-…

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Route 1 Dispatches: Children Evacuated from St. Luke's School After Crane Collapse

Take a look back at this week's top headlines from the Route 1 corridor.

Children Evacuated from St. Luke's Day School Tuesday After Crane Collapse Students in classes at St. Luke’s Day School at St. Luke’s Church in Fort Hunt were evacuated and sent home Monday after a crane collapse occurred while workers were attempting to work on a cell phone tower on the church steeple. Two workers sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The church re-opened Wednesday afternoon after it was deemed safe to enter by Fairfax County inspectors. New Parkland Acquired in Mount Vernon District The Fairfax County Park Authority recently acquired several parcels of parkland with new properties located in Mount Vernon, Braddock, and Springfield districts. John McPherson donated 14 acres within the Paul Springs Stream Valley in the …

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New Parkland Acquired in Mount Vernon District

John McPherson donated 14 acres within the Paul Springs Stream Valley.

The Fairfax County Park Authority recently acquired several parcels of parkland with new properties located in Mount Vernon, Braddock, and Springfield districts. These new acquisitions include donations and property transfers. The seven parcels total more than 32 acres and bring Park Authority land holdings to 23,228 acres. John McPherson donated five parcels within the Paul Springs Stream Valley in the Mount Vernon District. The parcels are unimproved Resource Protection Areas within the flood plain and are located next to Paul Spring Parkway, according to a press release issued by the Park Authority. They are located next to existing Park Authority holdings and will increase connectivity within the stream valley park. The donation will …

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Park Authority Seeks Input on Grist Mill Park Turf Field

The Park Authority is accepting public comment on converting Field 5 to a turf field.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is now accepting public comment on the conversion of Field 5 at Grist Mill Park in Mount Vernon. Earlier this year, the field was renamed to honor Ret. Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith, who perished at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The Smith family is currently working with the Fairfax County Park Foundation to facilitate the conversion of the field to a turf field. The Fairfax County Park Authority has applied for a federal grant from the Virginiia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund to fund part of the project cost. The work involved in the conversion of the field include the following: excavation and fill to achieve design grades, the installation of a storm drainage …

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Dyke Marsh and Beyond

Wetland Restoration Focus of Upcoming Public Meeting

Huntley Meadows Park wetland restoration plans will be presented at two upcoming public meetings.

After 18 years of worrying, planning, meeting, debating, designing and redesigning, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) will restore and stabilize Huntley Meadows Park’s central wetland, Huntley Meadows Park manager Kevin Munroe said on a recent walk in the park. Park officials will hold two public meetings to present restoration plans. Park managers and the contractor, Wetlands Studies and Solutions, will explain the proposed design and purposes. The “crown jewel” of the 1,500-acre park, according to many of its 200,000 annual visitors, is the 50-plus-acre, non-tidal wetland, the largest of its kind and a rarity in the Northern Virginia suburbs.  Accessing it by the boardwalk that winds over the water, many visitors delight in seeing…

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Wynne Kelch

8:27 am on Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering about the status of the intervention.   more ›