Regional Parks

This is the blog of Paul Gilbert the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. This blog focuses on news related to NVRPA some of the themes covered include: energy conservation, reducing carbon footprint, strategic planning, organizational culture, living history, reenactments, natural interpretation, waterparks, pools, golf courses, nature centers, boating, camping, hiking, cycling, and much more.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

2015 - NOVA Parks in Review

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Cate Magennis Wyatt 2015 was another excellent year for NOVA Parks, with progress and achievement in many areas. Here are a few of the ...
Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Budgets are Good!

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I like organizational budgets. There, I said it, judge me if you must. And for our 8th consecutive year NOVA Parks has won the top honors ...
Friday, December 18, 2015

Innovation Lights the Way in Premier Light Shows

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Winter Walk of Lights The innovative holiday light shows of both Bull Run Regional Park and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens have transfo...

Tinner Hill Historic District

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January 2015 Grand Opening of Tinner Hill Historic Site The Tinner Hill Historic District was just approve to be on the Fairfax County ...

A new park on the Potomac!

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Yesterday we completed the acquisition of another future park! We will call it Springdale, and it is 150 acres on the Potomac River. Th...

Thank you PHTA

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Below is a report on the activities of the Potomac Heritage Trail Association over the last year. I highlighted all the parks that are ...
Monday, November 02, 2015

The NOVA Parks Difference seen in national data

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The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has a powerful data base that can compare park systems nationwide. They just released t...
Thursday, October 15, 2015

PATC Trail Success

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Every year I get a letter like this with the total house of volunteer time that the PATC has donated to maintaining the trails. It is bac...
Friday, August 21, 2015

Customer Service Wins the Day!

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Pirates Cove staff enjoy their well earned reward for selling the most mugs Customer service wins the day! There is a huge difference i...
Wednesday, July 01, 2015

Parks lead on Sustainability

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Inherit the Earth, or borrow it from our Children? As park and recreation agencies, what is our role in solving the world’s environment...
Friday, May 22, 2015

Korean Bell Garden

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Last weekend we celebrated the third anniversary of the completion of the Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna Virginia. This...
Wednesday, March 25, 2015

2015 Employee Achievement Awards

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Most people sit through too many meetings. But there is one meeting each year that I can not get enough of. It is our annual "All-Staff...
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About Me

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Paul Gilbert
I am the Executive Director of NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority). Prior to that, I was the President of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. NOVA Parks is a regional park system made up of three Counties and three Cities in Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church). NVRPA operates 30+ park and owns over 11,000 acres. My family moved to Fairfax County when I was 1, so I am close to a native. I have a bachlors degree from St. Andrews University in N.C. and a masters degree from George Mason University. I also have a Certificate of Professional Development from the Wharton School of Business at UPA. I served on the Board of Regents for the NRPA Revenue Development and Management School, and am on the Board of Directors for Visit Fairfax.I am an Executive in Residense at George Mason University for their Recreation Management Program. I also published two books one on leadership and the Civil War called "Lead Like a General." The other book is "High Performance Agencies: The Entrepreneurial Model for Public Park, Recreation and Tourism Organizations."
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