PARKS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

From tiny oases of green to acres of natural forests, parkland abounds in Northern Virginia.

Many parks have been left nearly untouched, offering rugged natural terrain for hikers. Others are dedicated to recreational sports like softball, golf and tennis. And the area's lakes and rivers afford opportunities galore for boaters, swimmers and anglers.

There's plenty to do for both adults and kids. And if you prefer to leave the activity to someone else, you can always bring a picnic and watch.

Wherever you are, an escape from the headaches, congestion and hustle-bustle of modern life is only minutes away in dozens of Northern Virginia's many regional, county and municipal parks.

Regional Parks

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority operates 19 parks, including the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park Trail along a railroad bed. The parks cover more than 10,000 acres of land.

The system includes the largest park in Northern Virginia; two of the largest swimming pools on the East Coast; the longest miniature golf hole in the region; hundreds of camping and picnic sites; miles of hiking, nature and riding trails; boat-launching ramps; children's playgrounds; and fishing areas.

Entrance to all parks is free for Northern Virginia residents, except those living in Prince William County, which is not a member of the regional authority. At Bull Run and Pohick Bay regional parks only, Prince William residents and visitors from other areas are charged $4 a carload and $8 for vehicles carrying 10 or more people.

Various fees are levied for the use of swi mming pools, golf courses, campgrounds, boat-launching ramps, skeet, trap and sporting clays ranges and group picnic reservations. Call the numbers listed below.

Here is information about some of the parks. For complete information and directions, call 352-5900 and ask for the booklet "Discover Your Regional Parks."

The Regional Park Authority's e-mail address is: nvrpa@helsea.ios.com

W&OD Regional Trail: At just 100 feet wide, this is easily the narrowest park around - and the longest. It's a 45-mile stretch from Arlington to Purcellville in Loudoun County. You can walk, hike, bike and jog along the trail. West of Vienna, a separate parallel trail is available for horseback riding. Call 729-0596 or 352-5900.

Algonkian Regional Park and Golf Course: Open all year, weather permitting. Call 450-4655. The golf course is an 18-hole, par 72 course.

Residents can rent one of 12 vacation cottages at the park, which overlooks the Potomac River near Sterling in Loudoun County. The cottages boast fireplaces, cathedral ceilings, carpeting, air conditioning and a deck with breathtaking views. You can choose from three-, four- or five-bedroom cottages.

Prices during peak summer months range from $435 to $595 per week. The prices drop from mid-September to mid-May. For a Sunday-Thursday stay, the rate is $155 for the VIP cottage.

Also available for rent are picnic shelters and conference rooms. For rental information, call 352-5900.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park: Open all year during daylight hours. Call 528-5406. The 100-acre park in north Arlington is being preserved as a nature center and wildlife sanctuary. It offers three miles of trail walks, year-round exhibits of archaeological finds, a fish tank and other live-nature exhibits.

The Occoquan Parks: Sandy Run, Hemlock Overlook and Fountainhead regional parks and Bull Run Marina, nestled along the Occoquan Reservoir in southern Fairfax County, are open spring through fall.

C all Sandy Run at 690-4392, Hemlock Overlook at 993-2059, Fountainhead at 250-9124 and Occoquan at 690-2121.

The parks offer fishing, boat launching ramps, nature trails, picnic tables and grills. Miniature golf and backpack camping are offered at Fountainhead. Occoquan has baseball and softball batting cages.

Brambleton Regional Park: 18-hole, par-72 golf course at 42180 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Loudoun County. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday tee times are taken by phone or in person on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Call (703) 327-3403.

Bull Run Regional Park: Not to be confused with Bull Run Marina. Open March 15 to Dec. 1. Call 631-0550. The park has one of the largest swimming pools on the East Coast, holding more than 623,000 gallons of water. Features include a tropical treasure island in the center of the pool and a clamshell-s haped slide in the toddlers' wading pool.

The park has three hiking/nature trails, 150 campsites (by reservation), miniature and Frisbee golf, five miles of bridle paths, children's playground, picnic shelter, tables and grills, indoor archery range, sporting clays and skeet and trap shooting. Special events such as dog shows and country music jamborees are also held there.

Upton Hill Regional Park: Straddling the Arlington-Fairfax County line along Wilson Boulevard is this 26-acre park featuring the world's longest miniature golf hole. It is open every day from dawn to dusk. Call 534-3437. The park also has a swimming pool, batting cages with baseballs and softballs, nature trail, shuffleboard, horseshoe pits, snack bar and picnic areas.

Pohick Bay Regional Park and Golf Course: The golf course is an 18- hole, par 72 course. The water-oriented recreation resort is open all year, from dawn until dusk. Call 339-6104. The park has one of the largest swimming pools on the East Coast, with more than 18,000 square feet of surface area. It has family campsites (no reservations needed), four miles of bridle paths, a nature trail, miniature and Frisbee golf, boat-launching pads and boat rental and picnic shelters, tables and grills.

Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park: The park is open year- round during daylight hours. It has three miles of trails that wind through the woods to a scenic overlook in Loudoun County above the Potomac. Call 352-5900.

Cameron Run Regional Park: The park, in Alexandria's southern end, is off the Telegraph Road exit of the Capital Beltway. The park boasts a wave pool, a 300-foot three-flume water slide, three pools that display a 20-foot floating water snake, and a rain tree.

Daily admission fees: Kids under 2 get in free; ages 2 to 11 pay $7; adults 12 to 59 pay $8; and seniors age 60 or over pay $7. The park charges reduced fees of $3.50-$4.50 for weekday evenings during the summer. Call 960- 0767.

There is also an 18-hole mini golf cou rse. Call 960-8719.

The park offers coin-operated batting cages pitching baseballs and softballs at nine different speeds, open from mid-March through November. Call 960-5714.

Meadowlark Gardens Regional Park: Close to the federal Wolf Trap Farm Park outside Vienna, this 95-acre landscaped park with natural gardens is open year-round during daylight hours. Monthly free tours are offered from April to October starting at the new visitors center.

The park also offers special programs for children and adults. Admission is free. Call 255-3631.

Carlyle House Historic Park: The home of John Carlyle, one of the founding fathers of Alexandria. Open daily except Mondays for tours.

Hours are Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sundays noon-4:30 p.m., with tours every half hour.

The museum closes at 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for youngsters ages 11-17 and free for children 10 and under. Call 549-2997.

Alexandria

Alexandria has three city pools: two outdoor pools open weekends only and one indoor pool open year-round.

It also has four mini-pools; tennis courts at some schools, community centers and playgrounds; three major parks with picnic areas and about 20 smaller parks; and about 25 baseball diamonds. Call 838-4831 or 931-1127.

Arlington County

Arlington County's park division administers about 141 individual park areas, including school playgrounds and recreation centers. Many have baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, football fields, soccer fields, playgrounds and picnic areas.

There are 36 miles of off-street hiking, running and bicycling trails, and 43 miles of on-street connecting bike routes. Call 358-3322.

Fairfax City

Fairfax City operates 21 recreation areas, including 14 parks.

It offers tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, football fields, s occer fields, playgrounds and picnic areas. Walking and bicycling trails are located throughout the city.

A basketball summer camp, children's theater and summer playground programs are offered, along with lessons in karate, ballet and gymnastics, among other activities. To rent a picnic shelter, the fee is $10 for four hours. Call 385-7858.

Fairfax County

Fairfax County has 350 parks covering more than 16,000 acres. Some of the activities available are:

Boat rental, bait and fishing tackle: Riverbend Park, 759-9018 , Lake Accotink, 569-3464, and Burke Lake Park, 323-6600. Boat rental available only at Lake Accotink and Lake Fairfax, 471-5414.

Golf courses: Twin Lakes, in Clifton, 631-9099; Pinecrest, in Annandale, 941-1061; Jefferson, in Falls Church, 573-0443; Greendale, 6700 Telegraph Rd. in Rose Hill, 971-6170; and Burke Lake Golf Course, in Fairfax Station, 323-1641.

Nature Centers: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Centr eville, 631-0013, Hidden Oaks, in Annandale, 941-1065; Hidden Pond in Springfield, 451-9588; Huntley Meadows in Hybla Valley, 768-2525; and Riverbend, in Great Falls, 759- 3211.

Tennis: There are about 240 tennis courts and practice courts in the county, some of them with lights.

Historic sites: They include Dranesville Tavern, 759-2771 or 750-1598; Historic Sully Plantation, 437-1794; and Colvin Run Mill, 759-2771.

Recreation Centers: Called "RECenters." Wakefield, Mount Vernon, Providence, R.E. Lee, Oak Marr, South Run, Spring Hill and George Washington offer a variety of activities, including lap swimming and swimming lessons, pottery classes and weight rooms.

All centers have indoor pools, outdoor sundecks, locker rooms, saunas and showers, and most have snack bars and TV lounges, but facilities vary. Olympic-size pools (50 meters by 25 yards) are Wakefield, Oak Marr and R.E. Lee RECenters.

User fees subsidize the centers. For fee information, call each center individua lly.

Discounted passes are good for 25 visits at any of the centers. Leisure fitness passes are also available, allowing unlimited use for a specific time period. There are user fees for court rentals and group rates for the use of some facilities.

To use the Fairfax County Park Authority's 24-hour recorded information system, or to talk with staff members during business hours, call 246-5700. The TDD line is 691-0324.

Detailed information is also available in the authority's magazine, PARKtakes. Subscription is free for anyone requesting it. Call 246-5588.

Falls Church

Falls Church has 12 small parks, some with picnic areas, shelters, grills, basketball courts, tennis courts and children's play equipment.

T he city operates tennis courts at four locations, three of which are lighted. Madison Park features one softball diamond and one soccer field. Athletic equipment may be rented by city residents. Call 241-5077 for more information.

Vienna

Area residents can play tennis or softball and picnic at two parks, Meadow Lane and Glyndon. Call 255-6360 for reservations and more information.

Arowpt-lg.gif (1104 bytes)Back to District Home Page