Fairfax County Park Authority
Encyclopedia
The Fairfax County Park Authority is a department of the Fairfax County, Virginia
county government responsible for developing and maintaining the various parks, historical sites, and recreational areas owned or administered by Fairfax County. Figures published as of 2003 indicate the Park Authority manages over 22,617 acres (92 km²) of parkland.
established the Park Authority in 1950 under a provision of the Code of Virginia
, with the published goal of providing 15 acres (60,000 m²) of parkland for every 1000 county residents. As of 2003, the Park Authority had at least 22,617 acres (92 km²) of parkland under Park Authority oversight for a resulting 23 acres (93,000 m²) of parkland per 1000 county residents.
s, as well as over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of trails.
Fairfax County has adopted a program to link the various trails currently under county supervision, and to acquire new land for trails to eventually link the entire county through trails suitable for pedestrian policy.
The twelve members of the Board comprise nine members respectively representing the nine magisterial districts of Fairfax County, as well as three at-large members.
Public meetings of the Board are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 in the Herrity Building of the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
county government responsible for developing and maintaining the various parks, historical sites, and recreational areas owned or administered by Fairfax County. Figures published as of 2003 indicate the Park Authority manages over 22,617 acres (92 km²) of parkland.
History
The Fairfax County Board of SupervisorsFairfax County Board of Supervisors
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, sometimes abbreviated as FCBS, is the governing body of Fairfax County; a county of over a million in Northern Virginia. The board has nine districts, and one at-large district which is always occupied by the Chair...
established the Park Authority in 1950 under a provision of the Code of Virginia
Code of Virginia
The Code of Virginia is the statutory law of the U.S. state of Virginia, and consists of the codified legislation of the Virginia General Assembly. The 1950 Code of Virginia is the revision currently in force...
, with the published goal of providing 15 acres (60,000 m²) of parkland for every 1000 county residents. As of 2003, the Park Authority had at least 22,617 acres (92 km²) of parkland under Park Authority oversight for a resulting 23 acres (93,000 m²) of parkland per 1000 county residents.
Operations
In addition to numerous small and medium-sized parks below 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) located throughout Fairfax County, the Park Authority also manages nine recreation centers (Cub Run, George Washington, Lee District, Mount Vernon, Oak Marr, Providence, South Run, Spring Hill, and Audrey Moore/Wakefield) and seven golf courseGolf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s, as well as over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of trails.
Fairfax County has adopted a program to link the various trails currently under county supervision, and to acquire new land for trails to eventually link the entire county through trails suitable for pedestrian policy.
Governance
In terms of political structure and oversight, the Fairfax County Park Authority reports an independent board including twelve members appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, although appointment of the Director of the Park Authority is subject to approval by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (the highest governing body of Fairfax County).The twelve members of the Board comprise nine members respectively representing the nine magisterial districts of Fairfax County, as well as three at-large members.
Public meetings of the Board are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 in the Herrity Building of the Fairfax County Government Center.