Regional Parks

NVCT's Breakfast Highlights Conservation Efforts

2012-01-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

NVCT President Michael Nardolilli speaking at Conservation Breakfast

This morning was the 11th annual Conservation Breakfast hosted by the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. This is always a great event where many of the most active people in land conservation in this region gather, network and share ideas. Many prominent elected officials from around the region make this breakfast an annual "must do" event.

The Northern Virgina Conservation Trust is one of the best regional land trusts in the nation. As their President Michael Nardolilli reported today, 11 of their many projects have resulted in expanded parkland, and many more have been conservation easements buffering parkland. The public value of this kind of land conservation work is remarkable. In addition to expanded public lands, they have conserved habitat for rare and endangered species, historic sites, and other areas of great conservation value.

The guest speaker this morning was the Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton, who previously served as the Chairman of Prince William County.

For more information on the good work of NVCT see: Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

Top Mountain Bike Course Gets Better

2012-01-03T15:26:00.003-05:00

The mountain bike trail at Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station, is known as one of the best mountain bike course on the the East Coast.

Recently a great great course has gotten better. Funded through grants, a great deal of work has recently been done to take this highly technical course and make it more sustainable and environmentally balance. Grading, switch backs, and other erosion controls have both improved the course and the surrounding environment. Currently around 8-9 miles long, when the work is complete it will be nearly ten miles.

YouTube had some great videos of riding the trails that you can see on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfJlVPtBRaE

Largest All LED Lightshow in the Universe

2011-12-21T11:04:00.001-05:00

Tis the season to visit the Festival of Lights at the Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville VA. This acclaimed show features over 100,000 LED lights with great animation, and themes throughout the 2.5 mile drive through show. It is a huge hit with kids of all ages and those that are young at heart. In just the last two days the two articles below came out about this great holiday tradition.

Article from the Chantilly Patch:
http://chantilly.patch.com/articles/a-holiday-drive-through-bull-run-festival-of-lights

Article from the Fairfax Times:
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20111216/ENTERTAINMENT/712169601/1063/lighting-the-night-at-bull-run&template=fairfaxTimes

Barbara Tulipane inspires the next generation of professionals

2011-11-16T13:40:00.001-05:00

Barbara Tulipane talking to Park & Rec. College Students

Barbara Tulipane, the CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association was a guest speaker at George Mason University talking to college student studying in the School of Recreation, Health & Tourism.

Barbara engaged the student in a discussion about the future of the Park & Recreation field, and where they may want to apply their talents in the coming years.

When covering what it take to be a successful CEO she had the following points of wisdom (paraphrased):

A good CEO must...

be a leader and a follower (in different settings).
be a futurist.
be a relationship builder.
have industry knowledge.
be a spokes person.
have a good understanding of financials.
be motivational.
be an able operator.
have courage to make decisions.

It was a great opportunity for these future professionals to be able to engage and learn from a top national leader in the field of Park & Recreation.

High praise for park district forum

2011-11-14T11:23:00.001-05:00

The conference that the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority hosted this fall for park districts was a great success, and a wonderful team effort. Below is a letter from the General Manager of East Bay Regional Park District in California. East Bay is likely the largest regional park system in the country, and one of the very best. Praise from East Bay is high praise indeed!

I am very proud of all the NVRPA staff and board that played a role in making this event a success.

Great fall colors

2011-11-10T16:42:00.001-05:00

It is a spectacular fall! We have had several recent years when the leaves have not turned their peak color, bu this year the colors have been fantastic. Below are two images I have taken in the last week.

Gilberts Corner Regional Park across from Mt. Zion on Rt. 50

Pohick Bay Regional Park in the Lorton/Mason Neck area

Budget Message for FY'2013

2011-10-31T11:03:00.001-05:00

In October of every year the Northern Virginia Regoinal Park Authority (NVRPA) adopts its budget for the next fiscal year. This early adoption allows this information to be considered as the six member jurisdiction develop their budgets for the coming year. Below is the cover letter of the budget. Budgets, and audits are posted on www.nvrpa.org to provide maximum financial transparency.

NVRPA is one of the most efficient public agencies in the country. And providing regional attractions that are central to the tourism economy of Northern Virginia.

October 2011

Budget Message from NVRPA’s Executive Director

I am pleased to present the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) Budget for Fiscal Year 2013 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013).

Despite three years of economic recession, a focus on efficiency and a commitment to our mission and strategic plan have kept NVRPA in a positive position. Our continued focus on achieving results that support our mission and enhance our community drove the development of our FY2013 budget, which represents a total Operating Budget of $20,748,582, and a Capital Budget of $4,940,253.

Efficiency:

NVRPA is one of the most cost effective park agencies in the nation. For FY2013, NVRPA will support 83% of its operating costs with enterprise operations (non-tax revenues). The percentage of taxpayer support for operations has gone from 20.01% in FY2005 to 17.11% in FY2013.

% of operating costs covered by enterprise revenues
(2005, 2009, 2013)

These remarkable statistics reflect several factors. First, the taxpayer support from our member jurisdictions has not kept pace with either inflation or population growth over the last several years. Due to the recession, we have not adjusted the per capita appropriations rate to keep pace with inflation since 2008, and we have not updated the appropriations to account for population growth for three years in a row. Secondly, during the same time we have continued to work on enhancing our services to the public, which has resulted in the growth and diversification of our enterprise revenues.

Salaries as a % of operating expenses
(2005, 2009, 2013)

Another important indicator is our significant gain in productivity. In FY2005, salaries made up 54.9% of our operating costs, and, in the FY2013 budget, salaries are only 49.2% of operating costs. This represents at least a 5.7% increase in productivity. We have grown our services and operations significantly faster than our staffing and related expenses.

NVRPA has a long history of delivering conservation and recreation facilities and programs in a very business-like manner, with a high focus on innovation and efficiency. Continuing this trend into FY2013 will be a 1.23% decrease in General Fund revenues, and a 4.26% increase in Enterprise Fund revenues.

Focus on Mission:

“Conservation of regional natural and cultural resources” is a central part of our mission. Over the last few years we have added over 450 acres of new parkland. We anticipate that new parks like White’s Ford and Gilbert’s Corner will have basic facilities to allow greater public access in FY2013. By FY2013 we also anticipate that we will add two new properties to our operations, the Webb Sanctuary in Clifton and the Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg, as a result of a new partnership with the Audubon Naturalist Society. The operational revenues and expenses for these two sites are included in the FY2013 budget.

Providing “diverse regional recreational and educational opportunities” is another important part of our mission. In support of that, we are anticipating a more than 20% increase in special events revenues for FY2013. Included in this increase is a new holiday light display that will be installed at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, as well as projected increases at the Bull Run annual Festival of Lights and a variety of smaller increases related to events in a number of parks. Our plans for 2013 include creating a “diverse regional recreational” experience at Upton Hill Regional Park with a high adventure ropes course. Regional “educational opportunities” will be expanded with War of 1812 interpretation at the Carlyle House Historic Park. And, we hope to better connect the region’s trail network in a number of ways, including a connector trail between the W&OD Trail and Meadowlark Gardens, and a trail development partnership involving the City of Fairfax and other partners.

Our strategic plan, which was adopted in late 2007, has been a driving force in all that we have done over the last few years. Integration of this plan with our annual budget, and our high focus on budget transparency, have resulted in our budgets winning the Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards for the last four years. Early in FY2013, NVRPA will adopt a new strategic plan that we are currently working on, and that will guide our actions and promote further accomplishments in the years to come.

Economic Engine for the Region:

While some local parks are designed to primarily serve the needs of their neighborhoods, the Regional Park system is focused on “destination sites.” As such, we contribute to the backbone of the tourism economy for Northern Virginia. Tourism is the Number Two industry in Virginia. In FY2012, NVRPA hosted a national conference that contributed around $350,000 to the local economy, and organized the Battle of Ball’s Bluff re-enactment, attracting thousands of people to travel to our area and contributed more than $1,000,000 to the region’s economy. In FY2013, NVRPA will contribute millions to the local tourism economy, helping the region recover from the recession. These contributions will include the following:

• Over 400 premier events, receptions and weddings at NVRPA locations

• First full year of the internationally unique Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Gardens, attracting visitors from around the world

• Attracting over 15,000 spectators from all over the east coast to the rowing regattas at the world class facilities at Sandy Run Regional Park

• 22,000 camp site rentals, serving tourists from all over the nation

• Continued leadership role in promoting the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, with numerous programs, exhibits and activities to attract visitors

• Events and exhibits to attract historic tourism for the War of 1812

• Promotion of the W&OD Trail as a cycling tourist destination of national significance

• Continued growth of numerous destination events at the Bull Run Special Events Center and numerous other parks within the NVRPA system

The NVRPA Board and staff have been working on a series of new facilities to be constructed over the next several years, which will expand the great attractions our region has to offer and contribute more to our economy.

For a public investment of just $4.63 per capita ($2.0626 for operating & $2.57 for capital) the citizens of our region benefit from nearly 11,000 acres of regional parks, much of which buffer our major rivers, and provide remarkable nature and historical experiences. This investment also supports and enhances the local economy, and is leveraged by one of the most efficient and entrepreneurial public agencies in the nation.

Sincerely,

Paul Gilbert

Ball's Bluff Re-enactment Huge Success

2011-10-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

October 22, 2011 Ball's Bluff Battlefield Park in Leesburg Virginia saw a conflict between blue and grey clad forces like it had not seen in 150 years. The re-enactment of the 150th anniversary of the battle included 1,000 re-enactors and 2,000 spectators.

Spectators parked at Morven Park and there were able to see living history camps, sutler shops, vintage photography, as well as the Morven Park mansion with an exhibit of Civil War relics many of them from Ball's Bluff.

Spectators were transferred by buses to the battlefield park which is owned and operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Park staff and volunteers managed all the logistics in a seamless manner.

The battle itself took place in the same 12 acre clearing in the woods where the battle in October of 1861 took place. This event is one of the hallmark events of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and quite possibly the best battle re-enactment in recent history. It is the best for the following reasons:

• It took place on the actual battlefield. This is extremely rare since the National Park Service does not allow this and they own most of the major battlefields. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is not bound by those rules, so you had the rare occurrence of a 150th anniversary battle re-enactment taking place on the actual battlefield.

• Because Ball's Bluff took place in a relatively small clearing in the woods, you have a very intimate setting for a battle re-enactment. Since many Civil War battles took place on vast open fields, it can be hard for spectators to get a good feel for what took place, while looking through binoculars at units in the distance. At Ball's Bluff all the action took place just a matter of tens of yards in front of the spectators.

• All the considerable logistics of transporting 3,000 people from one site to another, and having everything work smoothly went off with great precision.

In addition to the re-enactment and the other attractions mentioned, on Sunday a delegation from Oregon presented a resolution passed by the Oregon State Legislature recognizing Senator Edward Baker who was killed in this battle. That evening there was an illumination commemorating the fallen in this battle.

It was a spectacular weekend of events commemorating one of the important early battles in the American Civil War.

For a nice video on the historical significance of Ball's Bluff see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR9vsK6VIo0&feature=player_embedded

Reviews of Lead Like a General

2011-10-12T09:08:00.001-05:00

My book on Leadership and the Civil War has now been reviewed in a number of media outlets. The latest is the Connection Newspapers that just came out with a great review. Below are the links to the newspaper and magazine reviews that have been published.

The book is Lead Like a General and is available on Amazon Book at http://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-General-Paul-Gilbert/dp/0615434460, and numerous historic sites including:

Carlyle House, Alexandria
Historic Blenheim, City of Fairfax
Manassas Museum, City of Manassas
Oatlands, Leesburg-Loudoun

Leading Like a General

Lessons from Civil War leaders inspire parks director to write book

By Victoria Ross

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=354885&paper=72&cat=104

Lead Like a General: An Interview With Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert talks about his new book that offers leadership advice using examples from some of the good, and bad, leaders during the Civil War era.

By Mike Conway
August 24, 201
http://centreville.patch.com/articles/lead-like-a-general-an-interview-with-paul-gilbert

Lead Like a General: Modern Research on Leadership as seen through the Civil War
July 2011
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201107/#/25/OnePage

Park Authority Chief’s Book Looks at Leadership Through Eyes of Generals

by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer

Monday, May 23, 2011

http://www.sungazette.net/multimedia/videos/park-authority-chief-s-book-looks-at-leadership-through-eyes/article_7883915b-9e39-53fb-a4c3-d2ecd82417f8.html

A video of a lecture on Board Goverance and the aftermath of the Battle of Ball's Bluff is at the link below. This content is taken from Chapter 7 of "Lead Like a General."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjTmyJDlQJ8

Steve Jobs on Marketing

2011-10-07T18:57:00.000-05:00

In the class I am teaching at GMU yesterday the lesson was on developing a marketing plan. With the news of Steve Jobs passing, I started the class with a great video clip of Jobs talking about marketing (link below).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmG9jzCHtSQ

We proceeded with the planned lecture on marketing plan development but with the measuring stick of "what would Steve say about this?" Jobs was a genius on many fronts. Most people focus on the many technology developments, but he was just as brilliant in understanding the essence of marketing. A key component was marketing values, and not getting caught up in the spec sheet for the product. People are seeking out experiences and values, not products.

The world needs more people of Steve's vision, and billiance! More people that "think different."

Nature Nuts in the News

2011-10-05T11:54:00.000-05:00

Last week the Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton version of the Connection Newspaper ran a feature article about the Nature Nuts program of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

This is a region wide program that aims to provide half a million children with a meaningful outdoors/nature experience over the next five years through the regional park system.

A link to this article can be seen at:

http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2011/092111/Lorton.pdf

In the August issue of Park and Recreation Magazine (a national publication) the NVRPA Nature Nuts program was also featured in an article.

In Richard Louv's best selling book, Last Child in the Woods he coined the term "nature deficit disorder" for the lack of time that children today spend in nature. This disconnection from nature is at the root of many physical and mental health issues. The Nature Nuts program aims to address this issue in very tangible ways.

From programs focused on children to efforts aimed at encouraging families to spend more time in natural settings like camping, boating, and hiking, this initiative expands successful existing programs and facilities to have a better effect on this national issue.

Conference of Park Officials Helps Economy

2011-10-04T08:32:00.000-05:00

Sun Gazette Newspaper

Park Officials Use Fairfax for National Conference

Posted: Friday, September 30, 2011 7:13 am

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority hosted the 40th annual Special Parks District Forum from Sept. 25-28, an event that brought nearly 120 parks officials from the U.S. and Canada to visit the local area.

Participants toured Mount Vernon, Manassas Battlefield, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Pohick Bay and other local facilities as part of their trip.

The forum included topics “like how best to connect children and nature, the latest in environmental land management and exciting new trends in creating recreational experiences that are drawing more of the public than ever before to our parks,” said Paul Gilbert, executive director of the regional park authority.

The event generated an estimated $348,300 for the local economy, according to an analysis by Visit Fairfax.

Special Park Districts Forum

2011-09-29T15:38:00.001-05:00

We just completed a 3.5 day conference of park officials from all over North America. This gathering has been going on for 40 years, and this year it was our honor to host it. With over 100 people as excited about parks as we are, it was a great time. A time of learning, networking, sharing successes and for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority a little showing off.

From the perspective of NVRPA it was a great teambuilding process. Today as I reflected back on the last few days I sent the following message to all of our employees:

Dear NVRPA Staff,

I would like to express how proud I am of everyone!

We just completed the Special Park Districts Forum, a conference for 100 park leaders from all over North America. We had participants from as far away as Vancouver Canada, and many points along the way. These people all came from agencies with great facilities and employees. Everyone was impressed with the amazing park system that is NVRPA!

Every one of you that helped out in any way brought your A game to the task. Our parks, facilities, programs and staff have never looked as good as we did this week! We showed a large cross section of some of the best park agencies in the field that NVRPA is among the best park systems in the world. I think we may be the very best!

I could make a very long list of all of you that did a great job. You all know what you did, and your contribution was fantastic. I saw our team working together in new ways. I saw a lot of initiative being taken to make every element of this conference just as great as it could be. And I saw a lot of very proud staff!

Thank you all so much for what you do everyday, but particularly for stepping up and making this conference such a shining moment for our organization.

Paul Gilbert

Below are some of the images from this great event:

At Brambleton

Board Members, Barry Buschow, Jeff Tarbert & Michael Nardolilli at Brambleton

Bryan McFerren on pesticides

Kieth Tomlinson on connecting children and nature

Matt Woods showing Pirate's Cove Waterpark

Participants from Califoria visiting Mt. Vernon

Dustin Betthauser & Eric Ferguson on Campground Management

Hiking the Bull Run/Occoquan Trail

Learning new things about American history

Discussing regional opportunities

paddling Pohick Bay Marsh

Touring Manassas Battlefield

Civil War Re-enactors at Bull Run

Barry Biggar on the Tourism value of parks

Jim Morgan on the Battle of Balls Bluff

Giant pumkin blasters at Temple Hall Farm

Touring the river front cottages at Algonkian

Learning about the Suffragist Memorial at Occoquan

Thanking our sponsors

A few of the many, many people that worked to make it a success

3 new awards for NVRPA

2011-09-20T15:05:00.000-05:00

The judges have tallied their scores and the awards are in. At the 2011 Virgina Recreation and Park Society Conference in Norfolk this week, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority came away with three top awards.

The awards were won for our renovations that resulted in creating Volcano Island Waterpark at Algonkian. This waterpark features the only semi-functional volcano in Northern Virginia, and has attracted many more park users than ever before.

We also received recognition of a great promotional flyer made for Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run Regional Park.

And finally our 2010 Annual Report that doubled as a 2011 calendar won the gold.

It is a great honor to work for such a great organization and to have such an innovative and motivated team to work with.

Park, Health & Tourism Professional of Tomorrow

2011-09-15T12:26:00.001-05:00

Todd Hafner Speaking to Students from GMU

This fall I am teaching a class at George Mason University on the administration of park, health & tourism organizations. Several expert guest speaker are schedule to share their real life experience is the great class. Today Todd Hafner, Director of Planning and Development spoke to the class about capital budgeting, and the development of capital projects. As someone with over 20 years of experience in park related capital development, Todd brought a world of great experience to the class.

Todd Hafner covering the challenges of large captial projects

The students, most of them Juniors and Seniors at GMU were engaged by his great presentation and gave him a warm round of applause at the end of class.

These students are thinking, writing and learning a great deal about organizations and how they operate this term.

Storms impact W&OD Trail, Occoquan and other parks

2011-09-09T14:49:00.002-05:00

The record rain fall over the last few days has created a number of issues within the parks of the Northern Virginia Regional Park System.

In the Vienna area Piney Branch has eroded the bank and created a situation where the end of the pavement has a steep drop off in places. The damaged areas are marked. Please use caution riding or walking through this area to stay away from the eroded bank.

Occoquan Regional Park is open, but the entrance road is down to one lane due to storm damage.

Use great caution on any and all trails, because bridges and crossing may be damage. Near Algonkian Regional Park the bridge over Sugarland Run on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is damaged and will need repair in the weeks ahead.

One area of W&OD Trail damage

Nature Nuts gets National Recognition

2011-08-22T07:58:00.001-05:00

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation, are working together help get children outside and in nature. The physical and mental health benefits as well as the learning that children are able to do when they spend time in nature is well documents. Just as well documented is the fact that children are spending less time outdoors.

To address this issue the Nature Nuts program has been developed with a goal of facilitating a meaningful nature experience for half a million children over the next five years through the Northern Virginia Regional Park System.

This program just received national recognition in the form of a great article in Park and Recreation Magazine. This is the publication of the National Recreation and Park Association and features the Nature Nuts program on pages 23 and 24 of the newly released August 2011 issue.

Link to the article:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201108/#/25/OnePage

Addressing what best selling author Richard Louv called the "Nature Deficit Disorder" is one of the great challenges for organizations involved in managing public lands and engaging the public in the appreciation of nature. Engaging children with nature is the subject of one of the session at the 40th annual Special Park Districts Forum that the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is hosting next month for park officials from all over North America. We will be highlighting the challenges and opportunities of this effort during this session.

With a limited number of days that registration is open for the Special Park District Forum, register soon and join us on September 25-28 as we work on this and other issues.

The registration link is: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=929774

Reflections on Vikings

2011-08-19T14:43:00.000-05:00

Around this time last year, I wrote a piece for Park and Recreation Magazine about the need to develop bold, innovative organizations in our field. With the recession, a business as usual attitude would not work. I used the metphor of Vikings vs Farmers. The article prompted a lot of thinking about how organizations can thrive in hard times. Three other articles playing off this them were written in the months that followed, all with interesting perspectives.

As I am preparing to teach a class this fall at George Mason University in the administration of Park, Health and Tourism organizations, one of the assignments will be to write a paper on these four articles.

Gilbert, Paul (September 2010), Are You a Viking or a Farmer, Park & Recreation Magazine

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201009/index.php?startid=22&qs=vikings#/24

McCarthy, Michael (October 2010), Valhalla, Park and Recreation Magazine

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201010/index.php?startid=28&qs=#/30

Lovell, Tom (January 2011), A Crisis of Knowledge, Park and Recreation Magazine

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201101/index.php#/30

Ferris, Randolph (April 2011), Secrets of Farmers and Vikings, Park and Recreation Magazine

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201104/index.php?startid=26&qs=vikings#/28

New Ways to Experience Ball's Bluff Battlefield

2011-08-18T08:28:00.000-05:00

The students of Smarts Mill Middle School in Leesburg became historians and movie producers and stars as part of a project sponsored by the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.

In the spring the student studied the Battle of Balls Bluff. They did primary research and then wrote directed and stared in their own historic movies. These movies can be seen at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0D99647BBAA15CF2

This link is also on the web site for Balls Bluff Battlefield Park, a property of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. This project was a fantastic way to engage young people in the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and make it fun and engaging for them.

Another great way to experience the history of this site will be the battle reenactment that will take place on the actual battlefield this fall on October 22nd. The link to this event is: http://www.nvrpa.org/events/view/1463, on this site is a link for even more information on this event.

Planning for the battle reenactment has been underway for over a year. It will be a one of a kind event, 150 years in the making. If you would like a glimps at what it must have been like during the Civil War, this is an event not to miss.

Waterparks are more popular than ever

2011-08-15T09:32:00.000-05:00

Waterparks of the Northern Virginia Regional Park System are more popular than they have ever been. Over the last five years we have renovated every one of them, and the public have flocked to them. With great theme that are fun for the whole family, and convenient locations throughout Northern Virginia, these waterparks offer a great close to home alternative to a larger vacation. As such that are a fantastic value. In many cases a day at one of these fun filled waterparks is the same or less than going to the movies.

In the summer of 2010 we hit a new high in waterpark popularity. But now that we are most of the way through the summer 2011 season, we can see that the popularity of these great waterparks keeps climbing. Below are the numbers indicating the year to date increase in waterpark attendance compared to the record breaking 2010 season. If you have not tries all of these waterparks yet this summer, do not miss your change.

Cameron "Great Waves Waterpark"
6% increase

Upton Hills "Ocean Dunes Waterparks"
5% increase

Algonkian "Volcano Island Waterpark"
12% increase

Pohick Bay "Pirate's Cove Waterpark"
6% increase

Bull Run "Atlantis Waterpark"
9% increase

Financial Transparency!

2011-07-05T13:58:00.000-05:00

For the 4th year in a row, our ace finance team at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has won the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Financial Officers Association. This is the highest award for an excellent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) or audit.

This award come just about a week after getting the news that our Budget also won top honors from GFOA.

Both our audits and our budgets for several years are available on-line at: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/main_site/content/financials

Financial transparency (how easy it is for the public to understand your numbers) is essential for public agencies. If you find a public agency that does not have clear financial documents that can be easily accessed, demand more. It is essential for our economic and political systems to have public agencies with understandable financial documents.

Happy Birthday America

2011-07-05T07:48:00.000-05:00

The photo above is of Balls Bluff Battlefield in Leesburg Virginia. The stone was in the background is the smallest National Cemetery. The cannon in the foreground is a replica of the 12 pounder that was modified to fire James Shells (exploding shells). This, plus two Mountain Howitzers we taken across the Potomac River is small row boats and pulled up a narrow path that went up to the battlefield that is about 80 feet above the river.

The battle took place in October 1861 being one of the early battles of the Civil War. In the end the Union forces were positioned with their backs to the 80 foot drop off to the river. The Confederates pushed the Union forces back and many of them were driven off the cliffs to the river below.

For more information on Balls Bluff see: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/ball_s_bluff/

Top Awards for Budget

2011-06-27T14:21:00.002-05:00

I am proud to announce that for the fourth year in a row the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has won the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award represents the highest honors in public sector budgeting, and is given by the Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA). When one applies for this award, a team of budget experts from around the country review the document and grade it. Most of the categories they look at really boil down to how transparent and understandable is the budget?

One of the reviewers commented this year:

"This is a fine, highly rated document with a relatively small budget and shows what can be done by a small, hard working staff with the goal of producing an Award-winning budget."

Our budget has become THE central document of our organization. We have worked to connect our budget and our strategic planning goals and express many of the measurable results we track in the budget.

In the spirit of financial tranparency we post both our budget and annual audit on-line:

NVRPA Budget:

http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/AdoptedBudget2012.pdf

NVRPA Audit:

http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/NVRPA%20CAFR.pdf

Our audit or CAFR has also won the top GFOA award for several years in a row.

I am extremely proud of our ace budge and finance team for winning these honors.

PTAs win big with Waterpark Shout Out Program

2011-06-27T07:41:00.000-05:00

The academic year might be over, but thanks to a new program, area elementary kids will have a chance to help there schools out while having fun at their favorite waterparks this summer. That’s because the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is sponsoring a “School Shout Out” this summer at its five area waterparks!

It’s easy. At the admissions window as you buy your entry ticket, simply mention School Shout Out to the attendant, and let them know which elementary school you currently attend. Your submission will be added to the list of schools, and at the end of the summer, the school with the most Shout Outs at each of our five waterparks will receive a $300 check for its PTA program!

The Falls Church Patch reported on this program:
http://fallschurch.patch.com/articles/give-falls-church-elementary-pta-the-chance-to-win-hundreds#photo-6688267

We have already seen many messages from area PTA and kids getting into the spirit of the Shout Out program. Since each one of the five NVRPA Waterparks will have three winner, there is an opportunity for many area schools to take advantage of this.

NVRPA Waterparks include:

Great Waves at Cameron Run - Alexandria
Pirate's Cove at Pohick Bay - Lorton
Upton Hill - Arlington
Atlantis at Bull Run - Centreville
Volcano Island at Algonkian - Sterling

Pirate's Cove

Get kids from your elementary school organized and tell the attendant at your area NVRPA Waterpark what school you are from as you enter the waterpark this summer.

Cameron Run

Upton Hill

Volcano Island

Atlantis

60 miles at 102 degrees!

2011-06-10T17:36:00.001-05:00

My wife and I just finished a two day ride on the W&OD Trail. Yesterday it was 102, and today it only got up to 95. We drank a LOT of water and needed every drop of it. We covered 30 miles each day and had a great time. At the mid point in our get away, we stayed in a bed and breakfast in Leesburg, and soaked up the history and charm of the town.

I was struck by how friendly all the other trail users were. Today we had two conversations with other bikers as we cooled off. Each came from a very different background, but they were both charming and friendly and helpful people. Many other people, we said hello to along the way. It is a great community that uses this wonderful trail.

The W&OD Trail is an amazing resource stretching 45 miles from Shirlington to Purcellville.

Is recreation too competitive?

2011-05-17T18:20:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I had a conversation with Dean Tice, and he reflected that recreation may be loosing it primary purpose by becoming too competitive.

First a bit about Dean Tice. He is a former head of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). He is also a retired three star general, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. He is a brilliant person with interesting insight on the field of park and recreation. You can read more about General Tice at the link below.
http://www.aapra.org/Pugsley/TiceDean.html

The central point of General Tice's comment is that recreation has a real purpose, and that purpose is to relieve stress. In his military experience, when soldiers were burnt out, recreation was used to provide the mental relief needed to help them recover.

With people working more and recreating less, stress is a serious issue in modern life. While a little competition can be fun and exciting. Perhaps we should focus more on activities that are truly stress relieving.

I just recently read a study that compiled the increasing volume of scientific research on the mental and physical benefits of spending more time in a natural environment. My own experience is that time in nature is one of the best stress relievers that I know of.

Celebration of the Korean Bell

2011-05-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

On Saturday the rain held off and we had a wonderful celebration of the Korean bell that was installed last week. Nearly 200 people showed up to be part of this historic moment. Five of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors were on hand for the occasion including: Sharon Bulova, Cathy Hudgins, Penny Gross, Pat Herrity, and John Foust. Other elected officials included State Senator Chap Pertersen, as well as Mark Keem and Vivian Watts from the House of Delegates. Former Governor and Senator George Allen was also there.

Bill Folsom took the following photos of the event:

Ms Hyunae Lee, the Master of Ceremony

Brian Knapp, Vice Chair of NVRPA

Cathy Hudgins, Hunter Mill Supervisor

Jin-Soo Nam, Director of Culture and Tourism for the Korean Embassy

Sharon Bulova, Chair of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Dr. Mathew Lee, Executive Committee of KACC

Supervisor Penny Gross hugging Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi, President of KACC

Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi, President of KACC

Delegate Mark Keem

Sharon Bulova, Penny Gross, Pat Herrity, John Foust, & Chap Petersen

People in line for Korean food

Korean Bell Has Arrived!

2011-05-06T13:22:00.002-05:00

The bell is here!!!!!!!

This week the three ton bell from Korea was installed in the custom built bell pavilion at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna Virginia. This is the crowing Jewel of the Korean Bell Garden that has been taking shape over the last year.

This is the only traditional Korean garden with bell in the western hemisphere, and the only Korean bell on the east coast.

The bell combines images of nature from both Korea and Virginia as a true symbol of the Korean-American population in this region.

May 14, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. is a free dedication event for the bell. This event will include free Korean food and cook books, as well as Korean artists. Please join us.

Spring Clean Up at NVRPA Headquarters

2011-05-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the annual clean up day at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Headquarters. It was a beautiful spring day and everyone was working together to clean out old stuff that was not needed and spruce up the grounds with trimming and mulching and much more. It was a great team effort! And we all shared a great lunch together as well.

Blythe Russian, Superintendent of Operations wrote the following in an e-mail to Headquarters and Central Maintenance staff. She captured the best of the day.

Thanks to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and pitched in yesterday for the most successful Cinco de Mayo Cleanup yet! With a heavy task list, everyone truly performed miracles on the inside and outside of the building! Take a few minutes to see the handy work of your co-workers today. A special thanks to Central Maintenance for their back breaking work on the trees and trash removal- who knew we could have THAT MUCH to throw away!! We could NOT have done it without you!

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did working alongside different people and doing projects outside our normal comfort zone. Here are are few "superlatives" from yesterday that I hope you enjoy:

Best Mulcher- Becky Reynaldo (she was a non-stop machine with those HUGE bags and her scissors!)

Best Box Mover- David Zickafoose tied with Jake Bumbrey and Casey Pittrizzi

Best Thrower Awayer- Kathy Brooks and Edna Scott (we took no prisoners!)

Best Makeover- the closet by the board room- you can walk in, have a picnic, do a dance (I saw you, Edna) and it is even ready for MORE stuff- put away neatly, please!!

Best Coordinator of the Throwing Away- Charlie Anderson

Best Mulch Mover- Chris Pauley (150 bags, to be exact)- it was a close race with Paul Gilbert who also put a big dent in that pile!

Best Griller- Bobby Clark (and the best pulled chicken cooker!) What would we do without you?

Best Awards Room Cleaner- Sue O'Reilly and Todd Hafner (if you haven't taken a look, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Best Attitude- Jenny Hofler (even when her area was threatened by snakes, she powered on!)

Best Enforcer of Personal Protective Equipment- Derric Bolton (he HAD to- its his job!)

Best Chicken- Getters- Susan Chidakel and Linda Butterworth- who knew there could be that funny of a story just getting a bucket of chicken:)

Best Dessert-maker- Heidi Bates (requests for more cherry cheesecake and the hornets nest have been submitted)

Best Shoes- Azeana Roehn (what a beautiful pedicure!)

Best T-shirt- Cindy Hudson (Go Grave Digger!!)

Best Watchers of a Jazzercise Tape(yes, tape)- Kate Rudacille, Dan Iglhaut, and Susan Chidakel

For those of you that didn't get a superlative, you still deserve a big pat on your back for the great work you did yesterday, your positive attitude, and your delicious cooking (or buying of food) skills! Make sure to stretch tonight because tomorrow will be the big day when all of those new muscles you found yesterday will be screaming!

Thank you for bringing the delicious food and for all of your hard work! It is truly appreciated! I think we need to institute a Cinco de Diciembre to continue our hard work on the inside of this building....

Blackburn's Ford

2011-05-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

Monday July 18, 2011 join us at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville Virginia for a special event to commemorate the first land battle in Northern Virginia during the Civil War, the Battle of Blackburn's Ford.

More information about the event:
http://www.nvrpa.org/park/main_site/events/view/1597

In addition to the commemoration we will also be dedicating replica winter quarters built at Bull Run Park to demonstrate how both Confederate and Union forces lived in semi-permenent camps in this area at different times during the war. This event is part of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.

winter quarters cabin

About Blackburn's Ford:
Several days before the First Battle of Manassas, Union forces under General Irvin McDowell attempted to cross the Bull Run to engage the Confederate Army under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard. The two forces met and fought at a stream crossing called Blackburn’s Ford in Centerville.

This was the first land battle of the war. But within a few days the forces had met again in the First Battle of Manassas. Soon the Battle of Blackburn’s Ford with its 151 casualties was over-shadowed by larger conflicts in what would become the bloodiest conflict in American history.

Nature Nuts!

2011-04-26T10:04:00.000-05:00

Nature Nuts Kick-Off With a Goal of Half a Million Kids Outdoors

On the eve of Earth Day week (April 22nd), The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and its Foundation formally kicked off its newest program, Nature Nuts, at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park on Friday, April 15th. Over 100 fifth graders from Herndon Elementary School joined NVRPA, the Foundation, Supervisor Pat Herrity and Dominion Virginia Power to kick-off this program, which focuses on engaging children with nature. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation subsidized the trip for Herndon Elementary as part of the Nature Nuts program, and each child received a Nature Nuts t-shirt.

Richard Louv launched a national movement to better engage children with nature through his best-selling book Last Child in the Woods. Nature Nuts is a regional program that seeks to provide a meaningful outdoor experience to half a million children over the next five years throughout Northern Virginia. “A big part of the mission of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is to ‘foster an understanding of the relationship between people and their environment,’ and the Nature Nuts program is going to be central to our efforts in this area,” remarked Paul Gilbert, NVRPA Executive Director. “Children today are spending less time in nature and far too much time in front of a screen. Our goal is to counter this trend,” continued Gilbert.

By engaging this many children in nature, this program will have a positive effect through education, health benefits and interaction and education of the environment. The Foundation has set up the Nature Nuts fund, which will support activities that further the goals of the program, including:

Grants to help elementary schools defray the costs of field trips to Hemlock Overlook;

Grants to help send kids to camps like the Junior Naturalist Camp at Potomac Overlook or Camp Grow at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens;

Expansion of NVRPA’s Roving Naturalist Program;

Facility improvements at youth camping sites;

Expansion of rental kayak and canoe operations;

Promotional materials and efforts to get children involved in Nature Nuts.

Nature Nuts will offer great programs and opportunities to reconnect children with the outdoors. Supervisor Pat Herrity reminisced that when he was a child they would spend all day riding their bikes and exploring and playing in parks and natural areas. Times have changed, but the need for children to have unstructured time in nature is just as strong today, but with fewer opportunities.

Currently 85,000 children a year explore nature through the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Through a combination of child-focused programs and family outdoor activities, children are exploring the natural world at the regional parks. This program will build on this base and address barriers that keep children from having these opportunities.

48,000 children camp in NVRPA parks, nearly 3,000 through youth organizations like scouting and 45,000 through family camping.

Close to 10,000 connect with nature while boating in Regional Parks, over 1,200 local high school students row on the Occoquan Reservoir, and over 8,500 use rented kayaks or canoes or are boating with friends and family on boats they launch at a Regional Park.

Over 15,000 children go through the adventure course run by Adventure Links at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park.

Over 13,000 children learn about nature from an NVRPA naturalist or park staff as part of a children-focused nature education program.

Lead Like a General

2011-04-11T14:14:00.002-05:00

I just published my first book. It is a leadership book that takes examples from the American Civil War. Most of the examples were also drawn from local history focused in the Northern Virginia Region. Although not explicitly about the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, many of NVRPA's parks figure into these storys.

Combining the best in modern research on leadership with real life examples from the American Civil War, Lead Like a General will help people in any field hone their leadership abilities. Using many engaging and untold stories of a day-in-the-life of a Civil War leader, this book shows how the research on leadership styles, organizational structure, brain dominance and other related fields can be seen in the actions of these historical figures. A must read for those interested in developing their leadership abilities, as well as those looking for new insights into some of the leaders, both north and south, from this pivotal period of history.

Here is what some leaders are saying about this book:

"Paul Gilbert has captured the essence of the best leadership, merging his personal experience with seldom-heard histories of Civil War generals. He offers powerful precepts for those who must lead today."

Donald S. Beyer, Jr. U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Former Lt. Governor of Virginia

"The American Civil War shaped modern America more than any other event since the American revolution. The length and scope of the civil war tested the leadership of Americans from both the North and South. Both sides learned that leadership is an essential foundation to success. Paul Gilbert's new book explains how leadership shaped events in the war and how these lessons apply to life today."

Brig General John W. Douglass USAF (ret) Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy

“Paul Gilbert’s Lead Like a General combines some of the best thinking on leadership with some of the tactics and strategies of the best Generals in the Civil War. So if you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy the read. If you’re interested in leadership you’ll also enjoy it. And if you’re a bit of both, as am I, you’ll love it! ”

Dr. Steve Gladis Executive Coach, Leadership Development & Motivational Speaker and Professor, and author of 16 books on leadership and communication

“Paul Gilbert is a leader in public lands, and historic preservation and in Lead Like a General the sites of Civil War actions are part of the story. Gilbert does a great job of capturing the drama of this time, the key lessons and the important places that helped make America what it is today.”

Cate Magennis Wyatt President of Journey Through Hallowed Ground

“Paul Gilbert closely examines universal leadership traits, and offers sound advice for what it takes to be a successful leader. He reminds us that effective leaders focus on their natural skills and use them to their best advantage.”

Dennis H. Treacy Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, and Chief Sustainability Officer Smithfield Foods, Inc.

For more information on this book, or to order your copy go to Amazon Books:

http://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-General-Paul-Gilbert/dp/0615434460/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302548540&sr=1-1

News Release on the Book: http://northernvirginiaregionalparkauthority.createsend5.com/t/ViewEmail/y/75E46C160E9650D1

News on Occoquan Park Visioning

2011-04-01T10:42:00.001-05:00

Mike Devine Wins Tourism Award

2011-03-31T14:54:00.000-05:00

Visit Loudoun the tourism and marking organization for Loudoun County, presented Mike Devine with an award for the great work he has done at Aldie Mill to promote tourism. Mike is the miller at Aldie Mill and offers weekend milling demonstrations and tours from April - October.

Mike's wealth of knowledge about milling, and local history inform and entertain everyone that visits this great 200 year old grist mill along Rt.50 between Gilbert's Corner and Middleburg. Everyone at NVRPA is proud of the great work that Mike does!

Also receiving an award was the Aldie Heritage Association for the work they have done to host Aldie Harvest Festival. This same group is an important partner with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority with our programs and activities at both Mt. Zion Historic Park and Aldie Mill Historic Park.

Algonkian Regional Park was also nominated for the North Face endurance run that they host each year on the trails along the Potomac.

Tourism is one of the great value that great regional parks offer a community. Facilities and events that attract visitor from outside the area results in big tax dollars to help fund local priorities. We are proud to be part of the collection of attractions that make our area a great tourism destination.

2011 Employee Achievment Awards

2011-03-08T16:58:00.001-05:00

Today we had our annual All Staff Business Meeting for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
In addition to presentations on every aspect of our operations, the high point of this meeting is recognizing some of the great accomplishments from our staff through the Employee Achievement Awards. Every year staff are asked to think about who should be nominated for an award and submit those nominations. Then we create a cross-functional committee with different employees each year to serve as the committee to review all the nominations and make the selection of the achievements that deserve special recognition. This year we had a great group of award winners.

Below are the 2011 NVRPA Employee Achievement Awardees:

Amporn Ringenbach – Algonkian

Above and Beyond

From going the extra mile in providing home cooked meals for large groups cleaning the pool, to providing planters and flowers at her own expense to make the park beautiful.

Jake Bumbrey – HQ

Customer Service

Jake has shown the highest professionalism in serving the customers in all our parks. His attention to detail and consistent follow-through have helped countless projects reach a good outcome. All those who work with Jake say he has earned their appreciation for being such a solid team player.

John Houser – Occoquan

Community Partnership

From the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial to the Occoquan River Communities, to OWL and much more, John dedicates his time and great partnership skills to building NVRPA’s connections with external groups, in a way that is unprecedented in the history of the agency.

Robert Clark – Catering

Customer Service

Taking responsibility for the Catering Department’s picnic service has not only expanded revenue for the agency, but has provided seamless service to customers using many different parks. In addition to outside customers, park staff have benefited from the complete and self sufficient service that Bobby has provided.

Laurie Short – Meadowlark

Team Player

Through a period of great staffing changes and new initiatives at Meadowlark Gardens, Laurie has led the horticultural staff with calm and confidence that has been a unifying force.

Everett Shepherd – Occoquan

Above and Beyond

With enthusiasm and love for the park, Jack has set the standard of dedication, helping with park events on his own time, and taking on every task, large and small, with a positive attitude, while he looks for the next opportunity to make the park better.

John Woods – Pohick

Safety

Spending five days in the park to clear downed trees that posed a hazard to park patrons and staff is one of many ways Matt continues to put safety first in everything he does. When training other staff in safety sensitive jobs like propane tank operation and use of chain saws, Matt is always methodical in making sure the safety procedures are followed exactly.

Mike Devine – Aldie Mill

Programming

Team Player

Continually doing research about issues related to Aldie Mill, Mike educates and delights the public every weekend during the season with mill tours and demonstrations. He kept the mill and programming to the highest standards during a transition in management. During the construction of replacement milling wheels, Mike met with contractors and oversaw much of the installation of the new wheels.

Chris Stoudt – Temple Hall

Versatility

A favorite of the public for his great farm tours, and a favorite of his co-workers for cheerfully taking on dirty jobs and being there to work even unpopular shifts. Chris brought new energy and enthusiasm to the Corn MAiZE this year, including his lead on the pig races.

Kate Rudacille – HQ

Innovation

When the W&OD Trail was at risk of having a two mile section closed for a year, Kate took the lead in finding and negotiating a detour trail that kept all 45 miles open. This herculean effort included in depth work with county staff, VDOT, Dominion Power, a home owners’ association, as well as negotiations with public and private land owners. What seemed at times impossible, Kate was able to accomplish.

Axel Boy – Fountainhead

Programming

Versatility

As a seasonal ranger, Axel has taken personal initiative to do significant historical research into both the Davis-Lewis Family who owned the area of Fountainhead Park as well as the history of this area during the Civil War. Axel then has used this research to lead interpretive hikes for the public. In addition to the historical interpretation, Axel has led night fishing tournaments, kids fishing derbies, paddle tours and many other programs that have raised the profile of Fountainhead Regional Park.

Dan Iglhaut – HQ

Versatility

Cost Savings

From the widening of the Capital Beltway, Dulles Toll Road, Battlefield Parkway, Claiborne Parkway and Pacific & Atlantic Boulevards to cell transmitters on the W&OD, Dan is a one man show in representing NVRPA’s interest in these projects. Where most comparable agencies would have three or four staff to handle this complicated workload, Dan has the skills and dedication to handle an incredible array of projects, with great professionalism.

Award for the greatest % increse in net revenue went to Cameron Run Regional Park.

Award for the greatest % decrease in carbon footprint went to the Carlyle House Historic Park.

Rewarding success in both applying good business tools to improve the bottom line, as well as rewarding conservation of energy is part of what makes NVRPA such a model organization. We are both one of the most efficient park agencies in the nation, generating 82% of our own operating revenues, and at the same time one of the leaders in environmental protection among park agencies.

Occoquan Re-visioning

2011-02-17T14:28:00.001-05:00

The creative juices where pumping when a group of nearly thirty local citizens and community leaders started coming up with great ideas for the future of Occoquan Regional Park. This was the first step in a redevelopment effort that will make Occoquan Regional Park a wonderful destination location in Northern Virginia.

The ideas from this frist meeting are posted on the website for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority at: http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/Occoquan%20Public%20Planning%20Meeting%20Idea%20List%202-10-11.pdf

The community input meeting was truely a great experience. Everyone was positive and engaged in the task of creating a new vision for the future. The Lorton Patch did a great article about the meeting that can be seen at: http://woodbridge-va.patch.com/articles/occoquan-regional-park-looks-to-a-bright-future

Whatever combination of creative ideas take shape at Occoquan Regional Park, the future has never looked brighter.

2011 Special Park Districts Forum

2011-02-09T16:49:00.000-05:00

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is hosting the 2011 Special Park Districts Forum an annual meeting of independant park organizations from all over North America. Registration for this conference is now available through this link: https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=929774

A Look at the Forum Themes

With registration now available, we wanted to offer you some insight on what you can expect in regards to course content. Essentially, we’ve laid out the Forum in a series of different themes, each meant to try and emulate the major areas of interest of our attendees. Each theme has certain classes that fit, creating a more complete experience for the attendee. Please note that these themes and subsequent class selections are merely suggestions. Attendees can choose to follow any path they choose, including a random class schedule.

The themes for the 2011 Special Park Districts Forum include Nature/Environment, Organizational Issues, Park Management, History and Recreational Opportunities. Here’s a look at the class subjects being offered for each. During the online registration process, we ask that you choose the classes you’d like to take. This list is not binding, and may very well change between now and the actual event. By completing the agenda form, we’ll know what classes most interest you and be able to tailor our offerings accordingly.

Nature/Environment

► Connecting Children with Nature (Roving Naturalist Program & REI)

► Fertilizer/Pesticide Use Policy & Golf Course Certification

► LEED Certified Buildings

► Reducing the Carbon Footprint of your Agency

Organizational Issues

► Multi-Jurisdictional Opportunities and Challenges

► Trends in Public Sector Retirement Plans

► Public/Private Partnerships

► Repositioning Your Agency Towards Tourism

► Connecting your Budget to your Strategic Plan

► Park Agency Liability

► Cultural Partnerships

Park Management

► Watertrail Management

► Aquatic Theming

► Campground Management

► Tours of 5 Regional Parks

History

► Tour Manassas National Battlefield

► Tour Balls Bluff Battlefield

► Tour Mt. Vernon

► Tour Carlyle House

► Leadership Lessons from the Civil War

Recreational Opportunities

► Canoe the Marsh at Pohick Bay

► Temple Hall Corn MAiZE

► Guided Hike of Bull Run/Occoquan Trail

► Guided Hike of Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

► Tour Udvar Hazy- Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

► Golf Outing at Brambleton

If you have any questions, suggestions or remarks, please feel free to email one of our session coordinators Blythe Russian (brussian@nvrpa.org) or Chris Pauley (cpauley@nvrpa.org). If you experience any issues with the registration site, please contact Brian Bauer at bbauer@nvrpa.org

See George Washington Live...Almost

2011-02-08T09:47:00.002-05:00

This Saturday, February 12th, from noon until 4:00 p.m. you are invited to Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria (on Fairfax Street, across from City Hall) for an amazing historical re-enactment. Colonel George Washington and his family will be visiting the Carlyles for the day.

The year is 1760, when the real Washington Family spent the day with the real Carlyle family. While we do not have a time machine like Jules Verne or Dr. Who, the re-enactment is the next best thing.

All over the house you will encounter men, women and children all doing what they would have been doing on that day in 1760. Virginia is still a colony of England, slaves and indentured servants are still a big part of society. While some things have changed, others are the same. People still gossip, talk politics, and try to impress their neighbors and friends.

Usually 400-500 people come through the Washington Comes to Carlyle House re-enactment each year. It is a fantastic experience where people young and old can learn and be entertained at the same time. Enjoy all the fun of Old Town Alexandria for the day and make this annual re-enactment a new tradition for you.

http://www.nvrpa.org/park/carlyle_house_historic_park/

Special Park Districts

2011-02-01T15:54:00.000-05:00

The January 2011 issue of Park & Recreation Magazine has an article written by me on how to set up a Special Park District and what are the issues a local park agency might want to consider before seeking to be an independent park agency. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nrpa/201101/#/26

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is in a class of park agencies called "Special Park Districts." What makes them "special" is that they are not owned by a state or local government, but are independent. They are much like port or airport authorities. These are special purposes governmental agencies that are authorized by a state government.

In the fall I gave a presentation on this with two others (Tom O'Rourke from Charleston County Park District, and Larry Blackstad from Three Rivers Park District) at the National Recreation and Park Association's annual Congress. Many local agencies were interested in exploring this option, and the article grew out of that presentation.
Park & Recreation Magazine

Park Fees

2011-01-28T13:16:00.000-05:00

Today the Washington Post had an article in the Fairfax Local Living section called "Park fees may increase." This was written by Kali Schumitz who writes for the Fairfax County Times. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012506438.html

This story was about proposed fee increases that the Fairfax County Park Authority is considering for Rec Centers, golf, weddings, and a range of other areas.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is not the only agency with parks in Fairfax County. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority owns and operated numerous large parks in Fairfax County as well as Arlington, and Loudoun Counties and the Cities of Fairfax, Falls Church and Alexandria. There are also State and National parks in Fairfax County, each with a different mission and focus.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority was established over fifty years ago primarily to preserve large natural areas along the major rivers of our area. As a result, NVRPA today owns over 14 miles of Potomac River front and over 25 miles of river front along the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers (and Mason Neck). NVRPA is not so much focused on local recreation as it is having destination parks with unique features.

In December of 2010 NVRPA adopted its fee schedule for 2011. Some of the notable features of this fee structure are as follows:

Golf - Our daily greens fees remain unchanged for the third year in a row. Golf usage is down nationwide, and has been for several years. With a desire to bring more players into the game we looked for creative ways to offer a higher value for many of our customers these include:

A new Heron Club membership that goes for $195 a year and provides three free rounds of golf along with free range privileges, and daily play discounts. This is an outstanding value designed to build more club loyalty to NVRPA's three great courses (Pohick Bay, Brambleton, & Algonkian).
A new Round Card that offers 10%, 15%, and 20% discounts for those that buy golf rounds ahead of time in bulk.
A new program for Twilight Pricing. This offers bargain basement pricing for those that want to tee off 3 hours or less before sunset. This is a great offer for those that want to get in a little golf after work.
A new Senior Gold Membership that offers the ability for seniors to play unlimited golf 7 days a week.
The only increase was for the standard Senior Membership that offers five day a week unlimited play. For this membership we increased the price less than 10% based on the statistics of very high rates of play in this category.

Four of our five Waterparks saw not fee change. The one that did was Great Waves with a modest $.25 - .50 increase to offset some new features offered.
An all new climbing play feature that will be open this spring at Great Waves at Cameron Run, will be available even when the pool/waterpark is closed. There will be a daily fee of $3.95 -$4.95 for children 2 - 12 to play on this 30 foot feature.
Miniature Golf rates will be unchanged at most of our mini-golf, but we will be reducing our rate at Algonkian to encourage greater play.
Kayak & Canoe rentals at Pohick Bay and Fountainhead will go up $1 per hour, or $4 per day. This fee has been flat for years and we have seen a huge spike in demand for these rentals. The increased fee will help us expand our fleet. Pohick Bay will also become the first site in the greater Washington DC region to offer stand on top paddle board rentals this summer. These will rent for the same price as a kayak.

Kayak Rentals at Fountainhead Regional Park

Camping at Bull Run and Pohick Bay Parks has seen significant increases in popularity over the last several years with improved facilities. The price for a campsite will go up a modest $1 per night.
Wedding Venues like the Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens, and the Meeting Center at Alongkian are staying unchanged in their fee structure.

Most of the changes in the fee structure for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority are designed to increase the value that our customers are getting and encourage higher levels of participation. Parks remain one of the best values for people to do a wide range of activities. And the more people use their parks the more they value them.

Stamps commemorate the start of the Civil War

2011-01-12T13:51:00.000-05:00

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War the Post office is going to release their first of a series do Civil War stamps in April. The first one out are of the shelling of Fort Sumter which was the first fighting of the war, and of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) which was the first large battle of the war.

Northern Virginia was a 'front lines' area of the War for most of the four year conflict. Several days before the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), a lesser known battle took place in and around the stream known as Bull Run. This was the Battle of Blackburn's Ford. Today this site is where Rt. 28 crosses from Fairfax to Prince William County. There is a small parking lot for access to the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail, and a historic marker that tells the story of Blackburn's Ford.

The background of the commemorative sheet that these two stamps will be on shows a photo from 1861 of Union Soldiers in formation near Falls Church, Virginia. It will be interesting to examine this photo closer when it is released. It well could be that this is a photo of Upton Hills. Today Upton Hills is a Regional Park on Wilson Blvd, in Arlington on the Fairfax County/Falls Church boarder. During the Civil War Upton Hills was strategic high ground. In the early days of the War, the Confederates built a fort here that included Quaker guns (wooden logs painted black to look like cannons). The Union Army took over this site and built Fort Ramsay that included real cannons and an observation tower.

The First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas) go the war started in a big way. It is interesting to note that the last shots of the war were fired very near that first big battle.

One day after Lee surrendered at Appomattox, some of Mosby's Rangers went into Fairfax County to attack the Burke Train Station. They found themselves in a retreating fight against Union cavalry. The fast moving fight ended on the banks of Bull Run at Wolf Run Shoal.

Lieut. James G. Wiltshire of Mosby's Rangers later remarked to a friend: "Has it never struck you as being a notable fact that the first big fight of the war occurred on Bull Run and the last shots of the war in Virginia were fired on the banks of that same stream?"

Today Manassas National Battlefield Park protects the site of the First and Second Battles of Bull Run (Manassas). The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority owns the area of Bull Run where both the last shots of the war were fired and where the Battle of Blackburn's Ford was fought. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority also owns Upton Hill in the Falls Church/Arlington area.

Sesquicentennial - Vocabulary word of the day

2011-01-03T08:57:00.002-05:00

OK, the vocabulary word for the day is Sesquicentennial

ses·qui·cen·ten·ni·al Adjective /ˌseskwisenˈtenēəl/

1.Of or relating to the one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of a significant event

ses·qui·cen·ten·ni·al Noun /ˌseskwisenˈtenēəl/

sesquicentennials plural

1.A one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary

Now that we are in 2011, what was happening around here in 1861?.. The American Civil War. The greatest conflict in American history, and a war that helped shape the United States in many ways.

Did you know that before the Civil War people would most commonly say "the United States are," and after the war people started saying and writing "the United States is?" This minor change in the way we used language indicates a big shift from a perception that the U.S. was a collection of autonomous states to the U.S. being one singular nation.

The next one to four year will see many events designed around marking the 150th anniversary of this great conflict. For more information on some of these events see the following sites:

Virginia Sesquicentennial Site:
http://www.virginiacivilwar.org/

Civil War Trails - Virginia
http://www.civilwartraveler.com/EAST/VA/

Financial Transparency is Important

2010-12-22T11:23:00.001-05:00

After the scandals of Enron and WorldCom Congress enacted Sarbanes Oxley, legislation that put a lot more focus on financial accountability for publicly traded corporations.

While Sarbanes Oxley does not directly apply to government agencies, financial accountability is every bit as important. The public should be able to know that publicly funded agencies are using their resources wisely. While it is not required, many agencies post their audited financial statements and budgets on-line so all can see. If you find an agency that does not do this, I would encourage you to ask for this level of transparency.

The idea of financial transparency is that nothing is hidden. If organizations are well run, there is no need to hide financial information.

We recently concluded our Fiscal Year 2010 audit, and our auditors met with both our Audit Committee and Board to report their findings. Once again we received an "unqualified" report, meaning that our books and financial controls were in good shape. In addition to our auditors saying we are running a tight ship, the Government Financial Officers Association has for a number of years awarded us with the "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting," their highest award for financial reporting.

As great as it is to have such a good audit, a second challenge is to make financial information accessible and understandable to all. Six years ago our budget consisted of spreadsheet which while they were accurate, were not very easy to understand and use. We undertook a several year process of creating a budget that was easy to read, conveyed the strategic priorities of the organization, and could be used as a tool to record and track performance measures. The result of this process was great. Our budget today is a "go to" document for all kinds of organizational issues. If you want to know how many children went to the Carlyle House Historic Park as a part of school groups (1,182), or how many boat launches took place at Pohick Bay Regional Park (6,365), or what the goals and objectives of any park are, the budget is the place to find the information.

As a result of all the work we put into making our budget an understandable and useful document, we have also won the "Distinguished Budget Presentation" award from the Government Financial Officers Association for several years. This is their highest award for budgets.

If you would like to see either our Audited Financial Statements or Budgets for the last several years they are available at the following link: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/main_site/content/financials

Financial transparency is important for society.

Largest All LED Lightshow in the Universe

2010-12-20T16:35:00.002-05:00

The 2.5 mile drive through holiday light show at Bull Run Regional Park has been a mainstay of the Northern Virginia area for 12 years. Five years ago the show became all LED, and since that time we have added new LED light displays every year. This year there is a new element of the show that is animated to music.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest all LED light show in the UNIVERSE!!! A big claim for a big light show. And until we hear from another planets that they have a larger all LED show, we will stick to our claim.

LED lights use only a 10th of the electricity that normal incandescent bulbs use. So in addition to being the largest all LED show on earth, it is also good for the earth.

Around 100,000 people go through the show each year. And this year may be the biggest year ever. With a light snow on the ground the light show is more magical than ever.

This year the show is open until January 9th so it is not too late to pack up the family and take in the great holiday show.

For more information see: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/bull_run_festival_of_lights/content/home

Kayak Rentals Continue to Soar

2010-12-17T09:40:00.001-05:00

Kayak Rentals at Fountainhead Regional Park

For five years in a row kayak rentals have increased dramatically at both Foutainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station and Pohick Bay in Lorton Virginia. 2010 saw an increase of over 20%.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has rented Kayaks at Pohick Bay Regional Park for almost 10 years, but it was just over 5 years ago they were introduced at Fountainhead, and just this last year that kayak rentals were introduced at Occoquan Regional Park.

Canoes have always been popular, but this popularity has been flat for many years. Today kayaks out-rent canoes by over two to one. We ramped up the kayak offerings a few years ago, because we saw statistics that kayaks were outselling canoes significantly. We realized if this is a measure of popularity of these boats we need to offer more of them at more locations.

For the 2011 summer season we will introduce the latest addition to paddling sports the stand-on-top board. This is similar to a surf board or sit-on-top kayak that one stands on and paddles with a single paddle with a long shaft. The stand-on-top paddle boards will start at Pohick Bay Regional Park.

I have been asked by a number of friends what kind of kayak they should buy, and while I always have free advice, one of my suggestions is always to rent some different boats and see how you like them. This will give the new kayaker some idea of what they should look for. Some of the great advantages of renting boats when you want them is that your cost is much lower, you do not need to find a place to store the boat when it is not in use, and you do not need all the roof rack attachments that go with transporting a boat. You just show up, get your gear and launch the boat that is already by the water's edge.

With snow on the ground as I write this, I thought it would warm you up to think about next summer and gliding along in the paddle craft of your choice at one of your favorite Regional Parks.

Parks = Tourism = Strong Economy

2010-12-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

Tourism is big business and one of the best kinds of economic activity to strengthen an entire community. When people visit a place for leisure or business they stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, and shop in local stores, all while seeing the sights of the area.

In Northern Virginia tourism contributed $7.597 Billion to the local economy in 2008! This is why tourism is Virginia's #2 industry (behind agriculture) and why Northern Virginia is one of the most important engines for tourism in the Commonwealth.

What makes people select an area for travel is mostly affected by what there is to do in that area...what are the attractions? And this is where parks come in. Particularly National, and Regional Parks which make up some of the most important historic sites, and unique features in the Northern Virginia region. The list of sites is extensive but a few examples include:

Carlyle House

Mt.Vernon, home of George Washington and the biggest tourist magnet in Northern Virginia, while not technically a park, it functions much like one and has set a new standard for engaging the public in history.
Carlyle House in Alexandria is another fantastic colonial era mansion that saw George Washington as a frequent guest, and was the site where the French and Indian War was planned by General Braddock. This site is owned by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
Manassas Battlefield, site of two of the most important battle of the Civil War, this is a property of the National Park Service. This and other sites will be the focus of more attention as we remember the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War in 2011.

W&OD Trail

Balls Bluff Battlefield outside of Leesburg is another of the sites of early conflict during the Civil War. The political fall out of this battle had a lasting effect on the Union Army's command structure. This site is also owned by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
Truly unique features like the 45 mile W&OD Trail also attract thousands of people from outside the area to come and ride what many consider the best rails-to-trails trail in the nation. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority developed this attraction during the 1970s and 1980s.

Developing new attractions continues. At Meadowlark Gardens, work is well underway creating a Korean Bell Garden that is unique in North America. This attraction should help attract tourist both nationally and internationally. Studies have found the some international tourist spend up to 10 times as much as domestic tourist.

Another project in development that will be a tourist attraction is the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial at Occoquan Regional Park. This will be the only real memorial to the sacrifices of the women that were imprisoned in 1917-18 for protesting in favor of the right to vote for women. This unique memorial will be an attraction for tourist from around the country.

Jean R. Packard Wins Top Environmental Award

2010-11-24T09:33:00.003-05:00

Jean R. Packard just won the Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award, presented to her by the Fairfax County Park Authority. This is the highest environmental award in Fairfax County. [Pictured above is Jean Packard receiving the award from Congressman Gerry Connolly, last years award winner.]

No one could be more deserving of this high honor than Jean Packard. She is a truly amazing person who has dedicated her life to improving the environment and quality of life in Northern Virginia.

Jean is on the Board of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. She is also Chair of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, the local land trust for Northern Virginia. She is also Chair for the Soil and Water Conservation District Board for the region. She has served on the National Board of Directors of the Sierra Club, the Interstate Commission of the Potomac River Basin, and the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations.

In the 1970s Jean served as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and as a result of her leadership thousands of acres of land in the southern part of the County along the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers were down zoned to protect one of the primary drinking water sources for the region.

On a national, regional and local level, and through governmental and non-profit organizations Jean has done, and continues to do amazing work. Jean Packard is a model of how to have a positive impact on your world. In her crusade to make a better world, wisdom, civility and persistence have been among her most effective tools.

Way to go Jean!!!

Korean Bell soon to be at Meadowlark Garden

2010-11-05T14:53:00.003-05:00

By the spring the first phase of the Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens will be complete. For several months artists from Korean were on site at Meadowlark building the beautiful pavilion in the photo above. This traditional structure was all made from hand carved wood, with the tiles shipped directly from Korea.

Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi the President of the Korean American Cultural Committee just returned from another trip to Korea this week. On this trip she met with the Governor and other senior officials from Gyeonggi Province. This province of Korea is going to fund the bell that is being cast there. The first two images below are of the actual bell that is being made for Meadowlark Gardens, and the bottom one is of another bell that is of a similar size. This bell will feature images of Cardinals, Great Blue Herons, and Dogwoods, all natural images from Virginia.

The Republic of Korea (federal government) has already contributed to this project, as have numerous private donors. When complete this spring this will be the only Korean bell pavilion in a public garden in North America. Last spring volunteers helped plant 100 trees native to Korea around the site the pavilion stands today. A winding trail and large stones help create a scene very similar to what you find in the palaces of Korea.

This extremely exciting project has been made possible by the great donations of the Korean American Cultural Committee, and the amazing dedication and hard work of Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi.

Korean Pavilion Complete

2010-10-20T08:05:00.001-05:00

I have written a lot about the Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Gardens on this blog as it has moved through the stages of an agreement with the Korean American Cultural Committee to raise the funds for this garden, to the donation from the Republic of Korea, to various ceremonies, and finally to the construction phase where craftsmen from Korea built the pavilion on site much the way they would have done 1,000 years ago.

Well as you can see from these photos, it has come together in a fantastic way! The pavilion is nearly complete, and the bell is being cast in Korea. It will arrive by ship in the first few months of 2011, and by spring we should be ready to celebrate the completion of phase I. I say phase I because there are plans for further development of this area if funds allow.

I was at Meadowlark Gardens last Sunday, and you could see a stream of people making their way to see this great sight. It is a fascinating and beautiful garden to any one's eye. But to those from the Korean American community, it has much greater meaning to see a little of their old country in the midst of their new country.

It has been a great project and a great deal of the credit goes to Jeung-Hwa Elmejjad-Yi the President of KACC who have been at the center of all of these efforts.

Like trails? thank a volunteer!

2010-10-12T13:27:00.000-05:00

My last post was about hiking the entire Bull Run/Occoquan Trail. Today I got a memo from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club that helps to maintain this 18 mile trail. In the last year they have donated 1,565 hours to this task!! With a full time job being around 2,000 hours, you can see that the collective efforts of these volunteers equals 78% of a full time position. This is a great donation to the public good.

If you would like to read more about the work of this great club see there site at: http://www.patc.net/PublicView/

Bull Run/Occoquan Trail

2010-10-08T11:35:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I hiked the 18 mile Bull Run/Occoquan Trail, or as many hikers know it the "blue trail." I had hiked most sections of this before, but this was my first through hike of it.

It is a truly amazing resource in the heart of Northern Virginia the end points are Fountainhead Regional Park and Bull Run Regional Park, with Bull Run Marina and Hemlock Regional Parks in the middle. At 18 miles it is perfect for a serious day hike, and a good day hike alternative to those that are thinking about a day hike on the Appalachian Trail. The AT is fantastic, but this is closer for many people and just as nice in many ways.

The trail runs along the river and in some areas you are in low areas next the bank and in other areas the trail is along high bluffs. The area around Hemlock Overlook Regional Park is perhaps the most beautiful with its stunning rock outcroppings.

Hiking this trail is literally walking in the footsteps of history. Between Fountainhead and Bull Run Marina is the point where the armies of Washington and Rochambeau crossed the Occoquan River on their way to Yorktown in 1781, to bring the Revolutionary War to an end. Rochambeau was the General in charge of the French troops that were critical to the success at Yorktown. For more information on this chapter in history see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%E2%80%93Rochambeau_Revolutionary_Route

In this section of the trail we also saw many small groups of people walking briskly along the trail for a few miles to get their exercise.

Between Hemlock Overlook and Rt. 28 there is a fascinating Civil War artillery battery next to the trial that is a reminder that during the war between the states, this area was the outer defenses for Washington and an area that saw many battles and skirmishes. Many soldiers spent months camped along the banks of the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers manning batteries and forts like the one next to the trial. At Rt. 28 is the site of the Battle of Blackburn's Ford that took place shortly before the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas).

There is also great wildlife to be seen along this nature trail, and a varied environment.

Today with sore feet and great memories, I would highly encourage anyone to start early in the morning and make a day of exporting the hidden natural and historic resources of the "blue trial."

Giant Corn Maze and More

2010-10-05T15:27:00.002-05:00

Fall is here and it is time to visit the largest (24 acre) corn maze in the greater Washington metropolitan area at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park outside of Leesburg VA. This years maze theme is 100 years in scouting, but as much fun as the maze is it is just a small part of the fun.

"Fort Cornumpkin" at Temple Hall features both corn Cob cannons and giant pumpkin blasters, that hurl pumpkins at targets in a field. Cow-train rides, wagon rides, play features and good food service are all part of the day of fun you and your family can have.

Pig races is another feature that is a big hit with the whole family. Something that should not be missed.

In the last year we have added huge bouncing pillows. These are like large built-in trampolines. Kids of all ages love the bouncing pillows. We also have new this year a paint ball shooting gallery.

The Temple Hall Corn MAiZE is a remarkable value for all day fun for the whole family. If you have not been to Temple Hall in the last year, you have not experience all that this fall festival has to offer. It runs every weekend from now until November 7th.

All of these great events are in the setting of a 200 year old farm with heritage breed animals and a interesting history.

For more information go to: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/the_maize/content/home

Good Economic News - Parks

2010-09-20T16:07:00.003-05:00

Because the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority self funds over 80% of our operating expense (a remarkable deal for the tax payers) we are very focused on making our parks and programs appealing to the public.

Every four months we do some detailed analysis of exactly how we are doing compared with similar periods in previous years and compared with our current budget, a higher level of analysis than our monthly financials. Since our park offering change by the season, this methods works well for us.

We just finished this process for our key summer season May -August. And the bottom line was that we were up in our Enterprise Fund by 4% compared with the same time last year. Some of the notable differences between the summer of 2009 include:

Pools/Waterparks were up by 13.5%
Golf was down by 7%
Cabin rentals in our campgrounds were up by 10%
Overall campgrounds were down by 2% (but historically near the high water mark)
And most other areas up slightly including:

boat rentals
picnic pavilions
Event venues for weddings and receptions
Large outdoor festivals and concerts

And overall attendance at all of our parks from gardens to museums, nature centers, and natural areas.

Part of this success story has been our business like management of parks. We do not just assume the public will find our facilities and use them. Over the last few years we have put a concerted effort into upgrading and improving our facilities, and we have then worked to market what we have to offer. We are competing for peoples leisure time.

With much bad economic news on the headlines it is nice that people are still getting out and having fun in parks, engaging with nature, getting exercise, and enjoying themselves. Good stuff!!

The other seasons:

Not too many years ago, most of the parks would be quite during the non-peak season, but now we are busy all year. Now that the pools have closed we put a lot of our attention to the fall activities at the Temple Hall Regional Farm Park near Leesburg. We host the annual Corn MAiZE, a 23 acre maze that features the theme of 100 years of Boy Scouts this year. In addition to the maze you can bounce on giant bouncing pillows (like a trampoline) shoot pumpkins from two pumpkin cannons, go for a hay ride, see farm animals, and have a great time with family and friends.

After the fall season our attention again shifts to the Bull Run Holiday Light Show (the largest all LED light show in the universe - as far as we know). With each of these different seasonal events we are able to efficiently pull in staff from other part of the park system to help make each of these a great experience for the public.

Kayaking and Canoeing on Pohick Bay

2010-09-15T08:26:00.000-05:00

The following is the first two paragraphs of a great blog post about Pohick Bay that appears on Lorton Patch blog. For the full story see: http://lorton.patch.com/articles/kayaking-and-canoeing-in-pohick-bay

"On the north side of the Mason Neck peninsula, the mouth of Pohick Creek enters into a body of water known as Pohick Bay. Adjacent to this bay is Accotink Bay, the mouth of Accotink Creek. These tidal estuaries—bays receiving fresh water from rivers and salt water from the ocean—are home to an amazing array of wildlife and flora, accessible for exploration in kayak and canoe.

Pohick Bay Regional Park offers rentals by the hour or day of Jon boats, pedal boats, sunfish sailboats, canoes, single kayaks and double kayaks. From the boat rental beach, paddlers may choose to stay in the open bay waters, or venture back into the wetland areas closer the mouth of the creeks. The kayaks and canoes are best for an up close and personal look at the diverse offering of flora and fauna throughout the park."

Are You a Viking or a Farmer?

2010-09-09T16:01:00.001-05:00

Below is an article I wrote that was published in Park & Recreation Magazine, September 2010.

Legendary Norsemen didn't conquer the known world by doing things the way they had always been done. Nor should park and recreation administrators.

The Park and Recreation field is undergoing great change. With state and local government budgets in great distress, a business as usual attitude is not a strategy for success. With many economists predicting that an end to the current recession will not come until sometime in 2013, what will parks and recreation look like at that point? Almost certainly, the agencies that survive and thrive will be those that chart new areas. These will be agencies with lean overhead and an entrepreneurial spirit. Agencies that show their value to the community in new and exciting ways and are less dependent on traditional sources of tax revenues will succeed. They will be Viking agencies.

From the late 8th into the 12th centuries, Vikings from Scandinavia were a dominant force in the world in and around Europe. They conquered vast areas and promoted trade. In the east, they set up the nation of Russia, and in the west they were the first Europeans to explore North America. Then, over time, they stopped exploring to become farmers, and the age of Vikings came to an end.

Most larger park agencies went through a Viking era, a period of time when leaders with foresight and a “can do” attitude created opportunities which resulted in rapidly expanding lands and operations. Over time, any organization can become so focused on managing what they have that they forget to grow.

Management is much like farming. You have a set of operations, and you tend to those like a farmer tending his fields. There is a great tendency to do the same thing every year. It seems to work and it becomes “how we always do things.” There is nothing wrong with being a competent manager or farmer, so long as external forces do not change too rapidly. But, when the way things have been done no longer addresses the changing circumstances, it is time to take to the “long boats” again.

While the farmer is focused on the management of a certain set of fields, the Viking is looking to the horizon for new opportunities. Successful Vikings were willing to take strategic risks and stretch themselves and their group to find the new opportunities. While they were seeking these new opportunities, they were not alone. Leif Ericson did not row to Newfoundland by himself, he had a team of Vikings willing to try new things and take risks together for a shared reward.

So, “Going Viking” is not a matter of becoming an individual maverick, but a process of adopting an organizational culture of growth and exploration. The stronger your team of Vikings, the more successful you will be at thriving in an era of change.

Thinking beyond your field is more than a catchy theme for this article. We need to think beyond the traditional park and recreation field to find new opportunities and achieve excellence. If you want to take the best of business principles and apply them to your world, you need to study the best in the business world. I would strongly suggest reading Harvard Business Review to get a handle on what the leaders in management, marketing and strategy are thinking about. For practical knowledge that will help the bottom line of your park agency, send your agency’s best and brightest to NRPA’s Revenue Development and Management School at Oglebay. This business school for park and recreation has been instilling entrepreneurism in park officials for over 45 years, with constantly updated course material.

Think about what Richard Louv and his book Last Child in the Woods did for outdoor/nature experiences. He changed spending time in nature from a nice thing to do for some, to a social imperative for all. And, as a result, nature programming and acquisition of open space have bloomed.

Think about new ways of positioning your park agency. If you are just considered the “fun” agency, you will be the first to be cut in economic hard times. But, if your facilities and programs are a big reason why tourists spend money in your community, or businesses locate there, you are no longer discretionary but have become essential.

These are examples of thinking beyond your field, looking for new markets and new worlds to explore. You can think like a Viking in looking for new revenue sources, new programming opportunities, new financing options and new marketing methods. And, to thrive in an unsettled world, you need a strong team of Vikings to row that long boat to new opportunities.

Final beam goes into Korean Pavilion

2010-09-07T10:24:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, the master craftsmen from Korea that have been carving each piece of wood to make the traditional pavilion that will house the large bell at Meadowlark Botanical Garden finished their work. The final step for the carpenters was to hand paint in Korean "Bell of Peace and Harmony" and the date, and put the top beam in place.

Master Carpenter Lee did the honors of painting the bell's name on the beam, before it was lifted by cloth ropes up to the top and set in place. Except for the concrete foundation, the entire pavilion was constructed by hand with each piece of wood being carved from raw lumber. It all fit together tongue and groove without any nails or screws.

The bell is being cast in Korea by another master artist, and will be shipped here in early 2011.

When complete this unique feature of Meadowlark Gardens will be a tourist attraction, a symbol of the partnership between our two countries, and a cultural hub for the Korean American community in the Washington Metropolitan area.

90 Years Ago Women Won the Right to Vote

2010-08-31T15:56:00.003-05:00

It is hard to believe that is was less than 100 years ago that women got the right to vote after a very long effort.

At Occoquan Regional Park we have Turning Point Plaza with interpretive signs that tell the story of the women who were imprisoned near there for seeking voting rights in 1917-1919, prior to the 19th Amendment being passed in 1920. In addition to the markers next to the historic brick kiln, the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Committee is working to raise funds for a much grander monument. We have a great design from architect Bob Beach, and the plan is to create this memorial before the 100th Anniversary.

A week ago, we had a nice ceremony at the plaza to mark the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and at this event we also put a time capsule in the ground with information on the plans for future generations to find some day.

Time capsule

Girl Scouts fill in the hole

Virginia Wine Festival

2010-08-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

If you like fine wine, great music and fun with your friends you need to go to Bull Run Regional Park for the Virginia Wine Festival on Saturday September 18th.

The Virginia Wine Festival is the oldest wine festival on the East Coast. Each year, the festival features 50 of VA\'s best wineries, craft exhibitors, seminars, and incredible music. At the Virginia Wine Festival you can celebrate and taste from more than 300 Virginia Vintages plus attend seminars on tasting, pairing, and winemaking, all at a beautiful outdoor venue while shopping and listening to authentic sounds of stellar regional performers. Performers: Over the Rhine, Robert Jospe Quartet w/ John D\'earth, Juggle This! & Stiltwalker and more!

The Special Event Center at Bull Run Regional Park is a great location of concerts, and festivals, and hosts some of the premiere events in Northern Virginia.

Cost: $25: Advance Tickets, $30: Tickets at the Gate

For more information go to www.vawinefest.com or call 1-888-VA-FESTS

Great Location Right Off of I-66

Del Keam meets with Master Craftsmen

2010-08-18T09:37:00.001-05:00

Delegate Keam with Master Craftsmen

Yesterday Delegate Mark Keam (35th Virginia House District) visited Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna Virginia where the Korean Bell Garden is being create. Delegate Keam saw the site of the garden where the foundation is already in place for the traditional pavilion that will hold the large cast iron bell in the center of a uniquely Korean garden.

He also met with the special carpenter/artists that have come from Korea to build this pavilion in the same way traditional structures have been built there for thousands of years. These craftsmen have shaped every piece of what will be the pavilion from raw wood. It will all fit together without the assistance of a single nail. Beautiful carvings of birds and flowers have all been formed by hand, and it will be topped with special tiles shipped in from Korea.

The pavilion will be complete sometime in late September and the bell should be on site in early 2011. Already over 100 Korean trees have been planted and stone brought in to create an area that looks like the gardens seen in ancient Korean palaces.

This project is being funded by the Korean American Cultural Committee, with private donations and financial support from the Republic of Korea.

When complete this site will be a tourist destination for the Northern Virginia area. Already tourism is the #2 industry in Virginia. There are direct flights everyday from Dulles Airport to Korea, this bell garden will provide an important draw to encourage people to come to Meadowlark Garden and see this unique site, and will certainly help the business community in the surrounding area. There are two similar bells on the West Coast, but this will be the first Korean Bell Garden in North America.

Working with Temple Hall/White's Ford Neighbors

2010-08-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

Last week we had a meeting with a number of the neighbors that had opposed the establishment of White's Ford Regional Park. It was a great opportunity to update them on how we are progressing on a wide range of issues, from getting a contractor to help with the various traffic studies we agreed to, to starting work fixing up the Col. White house, and doing more archaeological work on the site.

This park will not open to the public until sometime in 2011. But for those that were involved in the permit process it was a good time to get together and start laying out a productive course for the future.

We met in the main barn with free range chickens wandering though as we talked. We also reviewed the Endowment Plan for Temple Hall Farm and talked about how the entrance on Rt. 15 could be looked at if further charitable donations provided the development funding. I believe that while not everyone agreed on all issues, most people felt better about the plans and our partnership after the meeting than before.

Relationships are built through small positive steps, that over time create mutual trust, respect and appreciation. This I hope is the path we are on.

I would like to thank Supervisor Sally Kurtz, who facilitated this meeting and through the permit process sought to strike a balance.

Holly Morris Reports Live from Great Waves Waterpark

2010-07-28T15:07:00.000-05:00

Today Holly Morris from Fox 5 Morning Show did another live broadcast from a Regional Park. This morning she was at Great Waves Waterpark in Alexandria. She did two segments on the giant wave pool, one on min-golf and some on the batting cages. To see the video footage see: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/mornings/holly_live/holly-morris-great-waves-water-park-072810

Strategic Plan Success

2010-07-27T09:40:00.000-05:00

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die."- Daniel Burnham

Daniel Burnham was an architect and urban planner in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries who built great buildings in Chicago, but also left us with this great quote on planning.

Much of the business literature quote a number that 90% of strategic plans are not successfully implemented. Much of that is because it is easy to have a big disconnect between the plan and the realities of what the organization is doing.

At the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority we adopted our first real strategic plan at the end of 2007. This five year plan is now at the midway point, and the good news is that we have made tremendous progress in every area we set out to.

This success is one that the whole organization shares, in that making this plan a reality has taken the actions of hundreds of people all moving in the same direction. I am tremendously proud of all the staff, Board Members, and volunteers that have played a role in this implementation.

The details on this implementation can be seen at: http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/StratPlanNewsletter.pdf

While there is, and always will be much more work to be done, it is great to see that the goal we set are taking place and as a result the organization is able to serve the public in more ways than ever before.

Rewarding Excellence

2010-07-26T09:36:00.003-05:00

One of the most important events of the year at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is when we recognize some of the great achievements that have been accomplished by our amazing team of professionals. The employee achievement award winners are all nominated by their peer and then selected by a cross functional committee that changes every year. This year we presented these award in the spring of 2010.

In the photos below the award recipient is the second from the left. I am on the left, and to the right of the awardee is Su Webb, NVRPA Chair, and Brian Knapp, NVRPA Vice Chair.

Heather Dunn has achieved recognition in the area of Programming. Heather developed new Scout programs and school tours attracting many younger visitors to the Carlyle House. She stepped into the role of Curator of Education in 2009 and seamlessly took over the volunteer docent program. Heather has also developed new materials for a number of existing public programs offered at the site.

Eric Ferguson has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. The last year was a challenging one for all of our operations and Eric had more than his share by transitioning from the busy season at Cameron Run to the busy season at Bull Run - just as the Festival of Lights was gearing up. Eric worked at both parks simultaneously, turning the Cameron operation over to a new manager while learning his new duties. When the snows hit, Eric stayed in his park the whole time plowing, shoveling and getting back open to the public as soon as possible. He also volunteered to help at other parks throughout the year including the Carlyle House and Algonkian.

Paul Hecky has achieved recognition in the area of Innovation. Paul brought a wealth of knowledge and new ideas to Brambleton which have resulted in improved playing conditions, new ways of caring for the course and new amenities that improve the golfer’s overall experience.

Ashley Kiser has achieved recognition in the area of Above-and-Beyond. Ashley quickly learned the installation procedures for the light show displays and became a leader for both the installation and tear-down processes. Once the lights were installed, he worked as the light technician after his normal park maintenance duties were through each day and provided the most trouble free Festival of Lights we’ve had so far. Ashley’s duties as light technician took on a whole new meaning after the heavy snows damaged many displays and much of the pathway lighting, which Ashley repaired in time for the show’s reopening.

James Short has achieved recognition in the area of Safety. Over the last year, James has improved the pre-season training and testing for coaches who use the Occoquan Reservoir for scholastic rowing. He has improved the procedures for monitoring of water and weather conditions and has worked with other rowing facilities to pass along safety protocols he has developed. James has even been able to reduce the instances of speeding by students and parents along the road leading Sandy Run Regional Park reducing the impact of the facility on the surrounding community.

Bryan McFerren has achieved recognition in the area of Cost Savings. The golf course at Algonkian has always been challenging to maintain due to the wet and flat conditions which exist. To deal with this, Bryan converted the rye grass fairways at Algonkian to Bermuda grass which needs less maintenance, water, fertilizer, fungicide and ultimately, less cost while providing the benefits and playability of a warm season grass.

Rich Bailey has achieved recognition in the area of Programming. Rich has displayed great creativity and skill in running the Junior Naturalist and Explorers day camps at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. All spots book each year at these popular camps which feature a varied and ever-changing set of indoor and outdoor activities, both within and outside the park. The camps enjoy many repeat campers each year and some even return as “Counselors-in Training.”

Becky Reynaldo, Azeana Roehn, Diana Lancaster, Kim LaPorta

The Finance Department has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. For the first time ever, our external auditors were unable to document any significant flaws or errors in the NVRPA financial records for 2009. This reflects the diligence these staff members have shown in tracking down inaccuracies in our finances and looking for ways to avoid mistakes made in past years. A fault free rating from auditors is a rare thing for any agency and ours’ is due to the hard work of these staff members.

Kevin Ruuska has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. Kevin is always taking on tasks not in his job description and does it with enthusiasm and a smile. As Chef at the Atrium, he can often be seen outside the kitchen helping clean the facility, setting up the rooms for upcoming events and helping with whatever tasks need to be accomplished.

Adam Melton has achieved recognition in the area of Versatility for his service to staff and NVRPA. Adam has taken on many new responsibilities in the IT department one being the task of setting up new types of equipment. Adam has also worked closely with the Operations and Marketing staff to provide technical support and insight on website development plans.

Charlie Anderson has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. Charlie volunteered to drive the NVRPA float in the George Washington’s Birthday parade in Alexandria and the proceeded to do the same each time we participated in a parade. In each case he gave up a holiday and his skill at maneuvering the truck and trailer through typically crowded street conditions was exceptional.

Casey Pittrizzi has achieved recognition in the area of Programming. Casey’s work as our Roving Naturalist has brought nature interpretation to facilities and park visitors who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn about the wonders of our environment. Casey scheduled and marketed the more than 99 programs he hosted through out the season. Casey obtained his own materials and delivered quality programs to almost 5000 people throughout the spring, summer and fall. He even brought his programs to the Holiday Village at the Festival of Lights adding a fourth season to his schedule.

Tony Blevins has achieved recognition in the area of Above and Beyond. Tony lost several staff members at a tough budget time when we had a hiring freeze in place. He was able to maintain the high standards of care that Pohick Bay Golf Course is known for by creatively managing his staff time and taking on more of the daily operations himself.

Steve Bergstrom

As Director of Finance and Budget, Steve has transformed those departments into award winning, vital operations within NVRPA. The Finance Department has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Budget Department has won the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, each two years in a row. His departments are recognized by other staff as being exceptionally helpful in supplying information needed in our decision making processes and they are seen to be especially nimble and flexible in providing services. For the first time in NVRPA history, our outside auditors were unable to find any flaws in our 2009 financial records. Steve has provided informative, easy to understand financial reports to the NVRPA Board, thereby inspiring confidence in our management and operations.

Master Carpenters Build Korean Pavilion

2010-07-23T15:10:00.000-05:00

In the center of the Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna Virginia will be a traditional pavilion that will hold an enormous bell. Almost every element of this project is being done much as it would have been done a thousand years ago, except for the aid of power hand tools.

Right now a group of carpenters from Korea that have built such traditional structures before are working away forming each piece of wood by hand. They purchased large sections of White Pine that they are working on.

In today's world of modern construction, it is fascinating to see master craftsmen at work. The end result will be stunning. The main pavilion should be complete by October of 2010 and the bell which is also being cast in the same way it was done 1,000 years ago will be in place by the Spring of 2011.

A prescription for better health: go alfresco

2010-07-20T10:31:00.001-05:00

The following article comes from Harvard Health Publications

Spending time outside might have some health benefits — and the ‘greening' of exercise might have some more.

Summer is the time when the outdoors beckons. We go to the beach in droves, have picnics and barbecues, paddle and fish and swim. Some hike, others bike, and a few do both — although not at the same time.

But these good times in the out of doors are really an exception to the rule, which is that most of us spend the vast majority of our time inside. According to one government estimate, the average American spends 90% of his or her life indoors, and as we get older we become even more inclined not to venture out.

When we do, there's a gantlet of precautions: slather on the sunscreen; take it easy — or head indoors — if air quality is bad; watch out for ticks, mosquitoes, and other creatures that might bite. It's all very well-meaning but it also reinforces indoor ways.

So it's back into the bunker — but that might not be good for you. The study results are ticking up: spending time outdoors seems to have discernible benefits for physical and mental health. Granted, some are merely by association and can be achieved by other means, perhaps while indoors, but often only with a good deal more trouble and expense. Here are five potential benefits of spending more time outdoors:

1. Your vitamin D levels will go up

Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because sunlight hitting the skin begins the circuitous process — the liver and kidneys get involved — that eventually leads to the creation of the biologically active form of the vitamin. Over all, research is showing that many vitamins, while necessary, don't have such great disease-fighting powers, but vitamin D may prove to be the exception. Epidemiologic studies are suggesting it may have protective effects against everything from osteoporosis to cancer to depression to heart attacks and stroke. Even by conventional standards, many Americans don't have enough vitamin D circulating in their bodies. The good news is that you'll make all the vitamin D you need if you get outside a few times a week during these summer days and expose your arms and legs for 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, it has to be sunny out.

There are some snags. Vitamin D production is affected by age (people ages 65 and over generate about a fourth as much as people in their 20s) and skin color (African Americans have, on average, about half the levels of vitamin D in their blood as white Americans).

Another problem: sunscreens are most effective at blocking the ultraviolet B (UVB) light, the part of the spectrum that causes sunburn, but UVB also happens to be the kind of light that kick-starts the generation of vitamin D in the skin.

The either-or of sunscreen and sunshine vitamin has stirred up a lot of controversy and debate between pro-sunscreen dermatologists and the vitamin D camp. But there is plenty of middle ground here: some limited sun exposure on short walks and the like, supplemented with vitamin D pills if necessary, and liberal use of sunscreen when you are out for extended periods, particularly during the middle of the day.

2. You'll get more exercise (especially if you're a child)

You don't need to be outside to be active: millions of people exercise indoors in gyms or at home on treadmills and elliptical trainers. Nor is being outside a guarantee of activity. At the beach on a summer day most people are in various angles of repose.

Still, there's no question that indoor living is associated with being sedentary, particularly for children, while being outdoors is associated with activity. According to some surveys, American children spend an average of 6� hours a day with electronic media (video games, television, and so on), time that is spent mainly indoors and sitting down. British researchers used Global Positioning System devices and accelerometers, which sense movement, to track the activity of 1,000 children. They found that the children were more than doubly active when they were outside.

Adults can go to the gym. Many prefer the controlled environment there. But if you make getting outside a goal, that should mean less time in front of the television and computer and more time walking, biking, gardening, cleaning up the yard, and doing other things that put the body in motion.

3. You'll be happier (especially if your exercise is ‘green')

Light tends to elevate people's mood, and unless you live in a glass house or are using a light box to treat seasonal affective disorder, there's usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to relax and cheer people up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles and laughter.

Researchers at the University of Essex in England are advancing the notion that exercising in the presence of nature has added benefit, particularly for mental health. Their investigations into "green exercise," as they are calling it, dovetails with research showing benefits from living in proximity to green, open spaces.

In 2010 the English scientists reported results from a meta-analysis of their own studies that showed just five minutes of green exercise resulted in improvements in self-esteem and mood.

Mind you, none of the studies were randomized controlled trials. The intuitive appeal of green exercise is its strength, not the methodological rigor of the research supporting it. It's hard to imagine how a stroll in a pretty park wouldn't make us feel better than a walk in a drab setting.

4. Your concentration will improve

Richard Louv coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" in his 2008 book Last Child in the Woods. It's a play on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers have, in fact, reported that children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. A study published in 2008 found that children with ADHD scored higher on a test of concentration after a walk through a park than after a walk through a residential neighborhood or downtown area. Other ADHD studies have also suggested that outdoor exercise could have positive effects on the condition. Truth be told, this research has been done in children, so it's a stretch to say it applies to adults, even those who have an ADHD diagnosis. But if you have trouble concentrating — as many do — you might see if some outdoor activity, the greener the better, helps.

5. You may heal faster

University of Pittsburgh researchers reported in 2005 that spinal surgery patients experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications during their recoveries if they were exposed to natural light. An older study showed that the view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) had an effect on patient recovery. Of course, windows and views are different than actually being outside, but we're betting that adding a little fresh air to the equation couldn't hurt and might help.

Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2010/July/a-prescription-for-better-health-go-alfresco

© 2000-2010 Harvard University. All rights reserved.

Northern Virginia Waterparks

2010-07-13T08:50:00.001-05:00

It has already been a summer season for the record books with temperatures in the 90's all the time.

In the last few years the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has become increasingly know as the place to go for summer fun, with all five of our waterparks sporting a new look, and new features. Enhancing the fun factor, NVRPA's waterparks all have themes that transport you to new, exciting places. The result of fresh newly renovated waterparks and record heat equals places that are more popular than ever before.

Collectively we have seen 40,000 more waterpark visitors this year than we have ever seen, and the summer is only half over!

Great Waves at Cameron Run is the waterpark that you can see from the Beltway, right off of exit #174 on Eisenhower Road in Alexandria. In addition to speed slides, and twisty slides and many other features, the centerpiece is a giant wave pool (the only one in the area). Like ocean waves you can body surf, or ride one of the free inner tubes that are available. When you are hungry the Riptide Cafe has what you need. If you want to shop for some summer essentials, the Shark Shack has you covered. If the best waterpark in the region was not enough, Cameron Run also has mini-golf and batting cages, in addition to areas for your favorite events.
Volcano Island is the newest waterpark to get a face lift and new features. This polynesian paradise is at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling. Complete with giant dumping bucket, waterslides and a volcano on the roof, attendance at this site is up 70% from last year. This is a must see waterpark.
Atlantis was lost for thousands of years and then we discovered it at Bull Run Regional Park in Centerville. Atlantis is an ancient Greek themed waterpark for those that like mermaids, Neptune, and lots of fun features including waterslides, buckets and more. As more people are discovering this great place the word is spreading and attendance is up over 50% for the second year in a row.
Upton Hill in Arlington was revamped a few years ago with wonderful features including slides and more. Upton has an Outer Banks feel, for a laid back and fun summer day. This is a very popular destination.
Pirate's Cove is a favorite for buccaneers of all ages at Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton (Mason Neck). Cannons bristle and menacing flags fly as you approach Priate's Cove. Inside the fun continues and even includes buried treasure. The popularity of this great site has gone up 40% this summer.

One of the most popular ways to explore all of these great waterparks is with the Bounce Pass. This is an annual membership that allow you to use these waterparks as much as you like. Less expensive and much more fun than most community pool memberships, the Bounce Pass is a remarkable deal. For more information on the Bounce Pass see: http://www.nvrpa.org/content/pool_passes/

Permitting for White's Ford is Done

2010-07-13T07:49:00.000-05:00

Last week the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approve the permits for White's Ford Regional Park. This is a process that took 20 months from start to finish.

After a number of steps including additional traffic studies, we will be able to open White's Ford Park (in 2011). In the initial phasing it will be a place where those with canoes & kayaks can do a car top launch. No trailers and no motorized boats, just a beach area to launch and paddle. The public will also enjoy the natural beauty and historical significance of this great property.

It is not open yet. And will need a number of further steps including creating an internal road, and the launch area, the end of farming, before it will be ready to launch boats and explore. In the next year we plan to plant many trees and convert some of the open fields into meadows that will attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Historically, this is the site where the Confederate Army crossed the river on their way to Antietam in 1862.

Gaining almost 300 acres of new parkland along the Potomac River is a huge deal for the environment and the public good.

Volcano Island Errupts at Algonkian

2010-07-02T14:39:00.000-05:00

The waterparks of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority have become known and loved for their great theming. We have Pirate's Cove at Pohick Bay, Great Waves at Cameron Run, Atlantis at Bull Run. Even Upton Hill has new themeing elements that will transport you to the Outer Banks. But now the Pacific is closer than ever before with the opening of Volcano Island at Algonkian.

Complete with a smoking volcano, palm trees, thatch, Easter Island heads, and much more, Volcano Island is the cool place to spend hot summer days.

The renovations have already brought record numbers of people to the waterpark and the word of mouth is just starting. Come see for yourself.

Korean Bell Garden Ground Breaking

2010-07-02T14:23:00.000-05:00

The Korean Bell Garden project at Meadowlark Gardens is progressing ahead of schedule thanks to the great work of Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi the Chair of the Korean American Cultural Committee (KACC). We now have the building permit in hand to build the pavilion that will hold the bell, and carpenters from Korea are coming soon to start carving raw wood into the pieces that will be used in this traditional pavilion.

This spring we planted over 100 trees native to Korea, put in stone terracing and steps, and a path through this area of the garden.

Earlier this week we had the ground breaking. One of the things that made this event even more meaningful was that this was the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Many Korean War veterans attended as well as Mrs. Han the wife of the Korean Ambassador, Congressman Moran, State Senator Peterson, Fairfax Chair Sharon Bulova and Fairfax County Supervisors Penny Gross and Cathy Hudgins, and many others.

This will be the first Korean Bell Garden in North America. The pavilion is expected to be complete this fall and the bell should be on site by next spring.

In addition to be a place of great beauty, it will be a cultural icon for tens of thousands of Korean Americans in our area, and a tourist attraction for Northern Virginia.

Holly Morris Reports Live from Fountainhead Park

2010-06-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Holly Morris with Fox 5 news pictured above paddling hard, reported live from Fountainhead Regional Park on the first day of summer. She did three segments, one on boating, one on mountain biking, and one on hiking.

Here is a link to the video of Holly's morning of fun at Fountainhead Regional Park on the Occoquan Reservoir. http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/mornings/holly_live/holly-morris-first-day-of-summer-062110

Fountainhead is a great place to rent a boat and explore the reservoir. It also boasts the best mountain biking trail in the mid-Atlantic. And it is the trailhead of the Bull Run/Occoquan Trail that goes 18 miles to Bull Run Park. If you love the outdoors, Fountainhead is the place for you!

Challenges for White's Ford Regional Park

2010-05-17T12:32:00.007-05:00

White’s Ford is a nearly 300 acre property on the Potomac River in Loudoun County that we hope will become one of our new parks. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has been engaged in a local permitting process that has gone on now for over a year and a half. After 14 months of review by the Planning Department including hearing and work sessions, the Loudoun County Planning Commission recommended approval of our permits by an 8-1 vote.

Recently, the Board of Supervisors approved the “Commission Permit,” which allows it to become a public facility, but sent two other permits, one for a boat launch for canoes and kayaks and one for camping, back for further review by the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the Board. Since then we have agreed to further reductions in use and other conditions.

Park Uses:

Most people would think that a park is a universally good thing. The issue is park uses. There is a group of around thirty people who are landowners near the site and friends and family of those neighbors who are opposing the public uses.

All that has ever been proposed for this site is boat launching, picnicking, camping, occasional special events, trails and historical interpretation - all uses that are considered by most to be “passive.” This is opposed to athletic fields, water parks, performing arts venues and other recreational uses that draw large number of people at certain times.

The road leading to the park, Hibler Road, is a rural gravel road. Much has been said about the transportation challenge that this poses. One of the challenges is that the permitting process for a park is the same as it is for a residential or commercial development. The big difference for a park is the pattern of road usage. Parks are not used heavily on weekday mornings or evenings (rush hours) like other uses. Parks are used mostly on weekends when other road travel is more spread out. The uses we are proposing are also not the kind of uses that will draw large groups at the same time.

It is important to think about why we create parks. We do this to offer places for the public to go and engage in wholesome outdoor activities. Fishing, boating, camping and hiking as well as historic tourism are all important.

In 2007, we asked a firm to poll/survey Loudoun County residents about park uses, and the results strongly support a White’s Ford Park with the uses we have proposed.

- 59% had a need for natural areas.
- 59% had a need for historic sites.
- 58% had a need for picnic shelters and areas.
- 46% had a need for unpaved trails.
- 30% had a need for campgrounds.
- 25% had a need for boat launch & rental sites.
- 21% had a need for cabin rentals.

The smallest of these percentages represents nearly 20,000 households in Loudoun County, yet around 30 citizens interested in keeping people out are having a disproportionate influence. Unfortunately, since the park does not exist yet, it does not have a constituency that has grown to use and love the park, and is willing to speak up for it.

History and Archeology:

During the process, some people have suggested this is a bad location because they are looking at it from the perspective of roads. But roads are not the most important factor in selecting land for parks. When we analyze properties for parks, we look at factors like access to water, historic significance, trail potential and others. White’s Ford is an outstanding property from a park perspective.

The biggest historic event to take place there was the crossing of the Confederate Army from Virginia to Maryland, shortly after the Second Battle of Manassas, on their way to the Battle of Antietam. General Stonewall Jackson and Colonel Elijah White scoped out all the potential crossing points along the Potomac and selected this as the best site. In addition, the site still has the house where Elijah White and his family lived before and during the war. We specialize in historic sites at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and are always looking for locations with rich history to preserve and interpret.

We have also done extensive archeological work on the site and discovered evidence in a number of locations that tell the story of Native American people who lived near the river. We have carefully planned park amenities to avoid these locations, yet the opponents like to suggest we are insensitive to the history. It is precisely because of these features that this land should be a park.

Environmental Protection:

The opponents have also made a lot of noise about how this park will somehow be an environmental problem. This line of thought is without any merit. Currently, the land has two uses. Next to the river it is plowed and planted in row crops, and the upland portion of the land is being used to graze cattle. There are very few trees on the property, other than directly along the river bank and along the one stream valley on the property. One can assume that the row crops by the river are likely being sprayed with fertilizer and/or pesticides. In short, the current condition of the land is less than ideal.

We are proposing to convert most of the land to forest and meadows that will substantially improve the habitat value of the land. We have worked with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on this plan, and they are supportive of our plans.

Along the river, we have agreed to a 200 foot riparian (forested) buffer. This is twice the buffer that would be required under Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas.

Some of the neighbors have spoke at every opportunity about the threat of shoreline erosion that they believe will come with trails and park usage. While the concern about erosion is noble, there is a great misunderstanding about cause and effect on this issue. In November of 2009, Williamsburg Environmental Group studied the impact on shoreline impact from boating and trail use and found that the shoreline was in good condition at numerous park locations along the Potomac, and there was no evidence that trails or boating posed a threat to the shoreline. I am sure no amount of research will convince some, but it is important that the broader community have a clear understanding that well managed hiking trails and boat launch areas pose no threat to the integrity of the shoreline.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has over 100 miles of trails; 35 of those miles are hiking/equestrian trails that parallel the Potomac, Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers. We own and manage over 8,000 acres of river front property.

Making White’s Ford a park will have tremendous ecological value.

Conclusion:

The Regional Park Authority has managed parks for over 50 years. We are a regional leader in conserving historic resources, and a national leader among park agencies in progressive environmental policies. We have extensive experience managing trail networks, family campgrounds, water access points and other features.

Up to now, we have kept our focus on the legal and land use issues related to the permits we were seeking. As public officials, it is our job to have thick skins and not worry too much if a few choose to oppose what is going to be good for the general public. However, by not addressing the issues the opponents have been putting out, some may think that those claims have merit. The purpose of this piece is not to disparage any individual who chooses to oppose White’s Ford Park or the uses of the park (everyone has a right to an opinion), but to set the record straight on a number of issues that we have not addressed as clearly before.

Making Parks Look Great

2010-05-14T14:40:00.002-05:00

From time to time I get out and help maintain the W&OD Trail. This week I spent some time on a mower. It is always a great experience. It is a side of parks that many park users do not focus on. but every week our staff are cutting grass, painting buildings, cutting up fallen trees that are blocking trails in the woods, or other tasks. These efforts make your expedience in the parks great.

I am very proud of the efforts of our park staff and I think all the hard work is very apparent. In the last 3-4 years all of our parks have seen a significant improvements in their appearance.

If you enjoy your parks, thank a park employee when you see them doing their job.

Bike to Work on May 21st

2010-05-12T10:14:00.001-05:00

Bike to work day is coming up and according to the Washington Area Bike Association around 1,000 people a year are joining this annual day which sees in excess of 8,000 people a year peddling to work.

Nearly 6% of the population of Portland Or commute on their bikes on a regular basis (and it rains a lot there). As more people in our area choose to the bike instead of the car to go places, the social and personal benefits are great. On the community level our road become less clogged, and our air becomes cleaner. On the person level, cycling is fantastic exercise.

The Fairfax Times just ran a great story about the bike to work trend which you can see at: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1493

In this story Charles Strunk Fairfax County Bicycle Program Coordinator notes "the Washington & Old Dominion Trail sees the highest commuter traffic, and even experiences a "rush hour" effect on weekday mornings and evenings. "The W&OD is like the I-66 for bikers," Strunk said of the 45-mile trail that extends from Purcellville to Arlington."

We are very proud to be able to offer the backbone of so many cycling trips that use the W&OD Trail as part of the journey.

For those interested in biking places, Google Maps has just recently added a feature where you can search out the best route between point A and point B that would work for a bike.

Whether your trip is to work, the local store, or an area park, plot out your course and go there via peddle power. In addition to being good for you and the world, it is a lot of fun!

Loudoun County Could Add Park At Potomac River

2010-04-26T16:04:00.003-05:00

White's Ford is the land on the left side of the river.

Below is a link to an article from Civil War News about the efforts to create White's Ford Regional Park on the banks of the Potomac River.

Loudoun County Could Add Park At Potomac River Civil War Ford - By Scott C. Boyd (May 2010 Civil War News) FAIRFAX STATION, Va. — A multi-jurisdictional park authority in Northern Virginia is busy acquiring new land related to the Civil War.

Women Golfers

2010-04-08T12:42:00.004-05:00

The Wall Street Journal recently published and article by John Paul Newport on women and golf. The article was called Golf Searches for Its Feminine Side.

This story is about new studies that look at what women are looking for in golf, and how courses could change to attract more women to this sport that is currently made up of about 22% women golfers.

The article states:

"The new research details a disturbing disconnect between what golf facilities perceive as important to women and what actually is. For example, course operators vastly underestimate the significance to women of top-notch conditions, speed of play and length of holes. They tend to trivialize concerns such as having adequate drinking water and clean bathrooms on the course, clear directional signage and tee markers, well-stocked women's merchandise sections in the pro shop and friendly, welcoming staff atuned to women's needs."

We operate three golf courses at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority: Algonkian, Brambleton, and Pohick Bay. I am sure we can improve the experience for women golfers at our courses, and we will be looking at these studies to see what we can do.

In the last few years we have been improving our courses with an eye to attracting more women golfer in addition to retaining our current base of golfers. We have improved the forward tees at some of our courses, and encouraged more leagues to make the game more social. While not specifically a female golfer issue, we have significantly ramped up our environmental commitment at all three of our courses. We were actually the first publicly owned courses in the Mid-Atlantic region to obtain Wildlife Sanctuary status for our courses through Audubon International. This greening of our greens can can give our golfers and the general public peace of mind that we are proactively protecting water quality, reducing chemical usage and enhancing wildlife habitat.

to read this Wall Street Journal article click on: www.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094104575143772046834464.html

Virginia is For History

2010-04-06T12:58:00.005-05:00

Images from Balls Bluff Battlefield

What do you think of first when it comes to Virginia as a travel destination?

If you are like the hundreds of travelers that were interviewed by the Virginia Tourism Corporation in their 2009 Attitude Study the answer was History. 37% of those asked responded with historic sites, the highest ranked category for this question.

This presents a huge opportunity for tourism in 2011 which is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Already groups and individuals are booking their reservations to come to Northern Virginia to see the many sites of significance to the Civil War.

This was not only America's most deadly war, it did as much to define America as the Revolution had. To understand American history means to understand the Civil War.

Particularly during the first half of the war, Northern Virginia was at the center of the conflict. The first battle of Manassas was the first real battle of the war. Ft. Sumter where the first shots were fired was an artillery bombardment with on casualty that happened after the main bombardment was over. Manassas was the first time the armies of the north and south face off against each other. A few months later the Battle of Balls Bluff near Leesburg brought home the political reality that this was going to be a long hard fought war.

Then in 1862 there was the Second Battle of Manassas, the Battle of Ox Hill (or Chantilly). There was also the Battle of Dranesville and the Battle of Aldie, all in Northern Virginia. Arlington and Alexandria Virginia were armed camps with forts ringing the Nations Capital. All along the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers were numerous forts and camps that were used by both sides as the lines of control shifted.

Northern Virginia was the base of operations for the most famous scout and partisan ranger of all times, John S. Mosby, who carried out his hit and run raids all over the region from 1863 -65.

60% of the combat of the Civil War was fought in Virginia. And with so much of the action centered in the Northern Virginia area outside of Washington D.C. this is one of the best possible destinations for historic tourism.

Beyond the Civil War, this area also boasts some of the best colonial historic sites anywhere with places like Mt. Vernon, Gunston Hall and the Carlyle House and many other sites to educate and entertain visitors.

With all of these resources it is little wonder that Virginia is for History.

Revenue Development & Managment School

2010-03-29T10:16:00.006-05:00

I recently returned from the NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association) Revenue Development and Management School at Oglebay Resort in West Virginia. This is a professional development school that is celebrating its 45th year. What it really amount to is a business school for park professionals.

It is a week long school with a two year curriculum. To assure that it maintains high academic standards Dr. Phil Rea, the former Director of the Park & Rec Program at North Carolina State University, advises the school.

In the course of the two year program students learn everything they need to put together a comprehensive business plan for a new or significantly changed park, or program. The capstone project is a written business plan that teams of 5-6 students put together and then they stand before a mock City Council and do a power point presentation where they lay out their plan and field questions. It is fantastic real world experience.

I have the honor of being one of seven Regents for the school. The Regents are park directors that serve as both the board of directors for the school as well as the instructors. The Regents are greatly helped by two leading professional that are selected as "externs" as well as Dr. Rea. This year I taught classes on developing marketing plans, innovation, as well as co-taught a class in contracting services and co-lead the first year student’s project.

Both first and second year classes were great. The parks professional that are sent to this program by their agencies are the top notch go-getters that are looking to hone their business skills to advance their agencies and invest in their own careers, and professional development.

In my planning for the course on marketing, I ran across a quote from Dr. John Crompton a leading thinking in the park field. Crompton was recounting how shortly after he came to the US from England, he was asked to give a presentation on marketing at one of the national conferences for park officials and almost no one showed up, not understanding what marketing had to do with parks. That was 1976.

Today the successful park agencies are the ones with good business acumen. In addition to the greater need to generate non-tax dollar funds for operations, there are simply many more ways for the public to spend their leisure time than in the past. If we are going to attract the public to spend more time outside engaged in healthy activities, we need to sell what we have to offer and not assume that the public will simply “find” our parks and facilities as they have in the past.

Interestingly even in a year when most public park agencies have been cutting their training budgets in reaction to the recession, the Revenue School saw significantly increased attendance this year. I think this reflects the understanding that many park agencies are developing that to succeed they need to know how to run their operations in an increasingly professional and business like manner.

For more information on the Revenue Development and Management School see the web site for the school at: http://www.revenueschool.org/about.html

Udall and Regional Parks

2010-03-25T08:55:00.013-05:00

Stewart Udall Looking for Future Parkland from a Helicopter

Stewart Udall recently passed away. The Secretary of the Interior during the Kennedy/Johnson years is best know for saving large areas of the West and expanding National Parks.

A story that has not been told is his role in growing regional parks outside of Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia.

Walter Mess Chairman Emeritus of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority who is now 97 years old told me some of this story just this week. And Rob Hartwell, son of our former Vice Chair Elizabeth Harwell confirmed the details.

Udall often traveled via helicopter because it offered such a great view of the land. Around 1964 or 65 a group of dignitaries were going to meet Secretary Udall at Ft. Belvoir in Fairfax County Virginia for a helicopter tour of Northern Virginia. Walter Mess and Elizabeth Hartwell who was the Vice Chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority at the time were determined to get Udall's ear about land conservation.

Walter served in both the European and Burma/China theaters of WWII in the OSS (predecessor to the CIA) so he had military credentials to get Liz Hartwell and him on the base. They got on the helicopter before the rest of the group and as they began flying around Northern Virginia, Hartwell and Mess began telling Secretary Udall all about the land that they there flying over and their efforts to acquire the most sensitive areas as regional parks. A bond was formed and Stewart Udall went on to help the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority with millions in land acquisition funding that helped purchase many of the Regional Parks like Pohick Bay, the land along the Occoquan and the W&OD Trail, in the years that followed.

As we enjoy these places today, it is interesting to think that we may only know a little about the perseverance, dedication, and energy that it took to make these areas parks in the first place.

Just about every park has a story and a hero or two that helped to make that area a place where the public can engage with nature.

Elizabeth Hartwell and Walter Mess

New Parkland at Gilbert's Corner

2010-03-05T08:54:00.003-05:00

At the January Board Meeting of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority the new parkland that NVRPA has been acquiring in Loudoun County received its new names.

The historic Mt. Zion Church property on the south side of Rt. 50 will be called "Mt. Zion Historic Park." This building was built in 1851 and served as a hospital after the Battle of Aldie during the Civil War. It was also the first rendezvous site for Mosby's Rangers and one that they used numerous times.

The land to the North of Rt. 50 is called "Gilbert's Corner Regional Park" and includes 155 acres of rolling country side.

Less than one mile away is Aldie Mill Historic Park which NVRPA acquired in 2006 from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation.

Reflecting on the Park Needs survey we did in 2007, it told us that the number one park and recreation desire of the public was to acquire more parkland and open space. In the same survey 75% of the public express a great need for trails and 59% had a need for historic sites. In a similar study conducted by the Commonwealth in 2006 (Virginia Outdoor Survey), "walking for pleasure" and "visiting historic sites" were to two most popular outdoor activities of the public. We certainly are preserving a lot of important history with these properties and one of our goals is to expand our trail network in this area. Building on the system of over 100 miles of trails we currently have.

2010-02-24T08:43:00.003-05:00

Providence Smith of Wakefield High School is the winner of the annual contest for the photo that will represent Arlington County on their vehicle sticker. The image is that of a snowy day on the W&OD Trail. I am sure the record snow fall this winter helped influence the judges.

The W&OD Trail is a wonderful symbol for Arlington. Arlington County was one of the founding members of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority fifty years ago. The W&OD Trail which the Regional Park Authority created from the old Washington and Old Dominion rail line was developed in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Today this trail runs through the heart of Arlington County and far beyond. At 45 miles, the W&OD Trail is one of the longest parks. As a paved path for biking, walking, rollerblading and horseback riding, this trail through some of the densest areas of Northern Virginia offers one of the best options for non-motorized transportation.

Arlington County has long been a leader in environmentalism and a big part of the mix is to encourage people to make more trips without their cars. With the W&OD Trail these trips become more practical.

We congratulated Providence Smith on her wonderful photo, and we thank Arlington County for seeing the value of making the W&OD Trail a symbol of what is best about the County.

Mosby & Forbes July 6, 1864

2009-12-22T16:18:00.012-05:00

24 Hours of Loudoun County History

On the 5th - 6th of July, 1864, Union and Confederate cavalry forces played a game of “cat and mouse” across Loudoun County and ended in a deadly confrontation at Gilbert’s Corner. The events of this 24-hour period bring in the interconnected histories of Regional Parks, including Temple Hall Farm, Aldie Mill, Ball’s Bluff, the new Regional Park in and around Mt. Zion (Gilbert’s Corner), and White’s Ford, which may be the next park in the Northern Virginia Regional Park system.

From the summer of 1863 to the summer of 1864, the dynamics of the war had changed. In the summer of ’63, Lee’s Army was on the offensive and seen as largely invincible. The Battle of Aldie had occurred that summer, as a result of the Confederate Army moving north towards Gettysburg. Gettysburg changed everything, and Lee’s Army was now in trench warfare outside of Petersburg, with Grant using the superior resources of the Union to crush Lee’s Army.

In an effort to shake up the dynamics of the war and cause the Union to pull troops away from Petersburg, Lee sent General Early on a mission to attack Washington.

So, it was in this setting that Col. John S. Mosby, famous Confederate Ranger, received word to assemble his force and disrupt communications between Washington and Harpers Ferry to assist with Early’s offensive. When Mosby put out the call for troops, he never knew whether he would wind up with fifty soldiers or three hundred and fifty. While he had a small group of regulars, many of those that came to join him were Confederate soldiers on furlough that were in the area. When he assembled his group in Upperville on July 3rd, they were 250 strong and even had one cannon. On the 4th and 5th of July, they attacked the Union base across the river at Point of Rocks. They cut the telegraph wires that ran between Washington and Harpers Ferry, and left with a number of wagons full of Union supplies. The battle at Point of Rocks included a victory by Mosby’s forces over the Loudoun Rangers, a group of Union Cavalry that came largely from the Waterford area.

On the evening of the 5th of July, Mosby ate dinner at Temple Hall Farm, home of Henry Ball. Ball had fought at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff three years earlier at the beginning of the war, and was unboundedly familiar with many in Mosby’s party. Elizabeth White, wife of Confederate Cavalry officer Elijah White, was living with her neighbors at Temple Hall Farm.

One of the interesting events of July 5, 1864 is that at the same time Mosby’s troops were camped in and around Temple Hall, the women of Temple Hall, Elizabeth White, Bettie and Kate Ball and their friend Annie Hempstone, went across the river at White’s Ford and were arrested. These women had been identified crossing the river the previous fall and summer without permission and were suspected of being spies. Major Thompson of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry noted “these ladies are bitterly hostile to the U.S. Government, have near relations in the Rebel Army, and are eminently disposed and capable of doing much injury to the Union Cause.” These friends were taken to Washington and held in the Capital Prison. Annie Hempstone wrote years later that they were actually on a mission to smuggle clothes and boots for some members of Elijah White’s 35th Battalion of the Virginia Cavalry who had family in Maryland. And, that after being released from prison, these women came back into Virginia with the boots and clothes tied up in their hoop skirts.

A Photo of the Women of Temple Hall Farm shortly after they were released from Prison. They are Posing with Col. Elijah White (with sword) and some of his officers.
A few hours after the women were arrested on the Maryland side of White’s Ford, Mosby heard the news that Union Cavalry forces under the command of Major Forbes were nearby in Leesburg.

Forbes’ forces, based out of Falls Church, were on a scouting mission of the Aldie area. After riding up Rt. 50 (known at the time as Little River Turnpike) and finding all quiet in Aldie, they proceeded up Rt. 15 to Leesburg, where they heard the news of Mosby’s raid on Point of Rocks, but did not know where his forces were.

John S. Mosby

Mosby moved his group to the Waterford area for the night and laid his plans to engage Forbes the next day. Knowing that Forbes was likely to retrace his steps and go back to Aldie before turning east to head towards their base, Mosby headed out in the morning of the 6th to get ahead of Forbes and ambush him along Rt. 50. From Leesburg, Mosby took the Carolina Road following the path of modern day Evergreen Mill Road. On the south side of Goose Creek, he took a route that brought him to Rt. 50, near what is Lenah Farm Road today.

Forbes’ group stopped at the field across the road from Mt. Zion Church (the property recently acquired by the Regional Park Authority) for several hours to make dinner. Growing impatient for the Union Cavalry to move towards his trap, Mosby’s force moved west to find Forbes.

The two forces were roughly equally matched with about 150 mounted cavalry each. As the Union forces saw the approaching Confederates, Forbes lined most of his group up on the south side of the road, with his advance guard on the north side. The first shot was fired by the one cannon Mosby had, which was in the middle of the road. The Union forces returned fire with rifles. Then the Confederates gave a yell and charged.

William H. Forbes
The fighting lasted about an hour, and in the course of the hand-to-hand combat that ensued, Mosby and Forbes fought each other with Forbes cutting through Mosby’s clothes with his sword. In the end, Forbes’ horse was shot by Mosby and pinned his leg, causing him to be captured. The Union line broke and fell into a disorganized retreat, with some of the Union Cavalry being chased for miles.

Three days later, General Early and his 15,000 Confederates attacked the City of Washington at Silver Spring, Maryland, and a nervous President Lincoln witnessed the fighting. As a result of the attack on Washington and, to a lesser degree, the skirmish at Gilbert’s Corner, General Grant ordered additional troops posted around Washington to help secure the Capital, pulling forces away from the front lines. The events of July 5th and 6th, 1864 in Loudoun County did not change the course of history, but do illustrate the important role our area played in the Civil War. The addition of public parkland at Gilbert’s Corner, where this skirmish took place, and the efforts to gain approval for new parkland at White’s Ford, will help round out the system of historic parks in Loudoun owned by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, that preserve today the important places and events of the Civil War in Loudoun County and help to make this area a center for historical tourism.

Addressing the Causes of Global Climate Change

2009-12-21T12:30:00.003-05:00

With the climate summit in Copenhagen winding down, it is a good time to reflect on the environment. As disappointing as it is that no agreement was reached on reducing greenhouse gases, it is important to remember that agreements and targets alone do very little to get results. The real focus needs to be on actions. With carbon reduction, we need to change the way we have been lived and approached many issues for the last 100+ years. Since the dawn of the industrial age we have focused on burning fossil fuels to run our economy. We are now in a transition time where we are trying to both consume less fossil fuel and shift to more sustainable alternatives.

Some of the steps the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has taken include the following:

Since 2005 we have been tracking all of our energy consumption and working to conserve where ever possible.

We have an annual award that goes to the park that has had the largest percentage reduction in energy consumptions (carbon emissions). And every park has a site specific energy conservation plan.

NVRPA was the first park agency to sign on to the Cool Cities/Cool Counties initiative. These programs follow the guidelines of Kyoto Protocol, with no increase in carbon emissions past 2010, and a 2% reduction for every year from 2010 – 2050.

For years Bull Run Regional Park was the site of the largest holiday light show in the region. In 2006 NVRPA invested to create the largest all LED light show. This show uses just 10% of the energy of the old show and is hugely popular.

We have put electric utility vehicles at 5 of our parks. These vehicles have replaced gas vehicles.

NVRPA has an energy conservation policy that encourages us to look at the life cycle cost of any energy consuming equipment. This has led to the use of high efficiency pumps, heating systems and other equipment that has been replaced over the last few years.

The public looks to parks for environmental information and education. We want to lead by example and be early implementers of some of the new technology that will help us transition to a more sustainable model. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is either using or in the process of implementing the following technologies:

Photovoltaic Solar Energy Generation

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Electric Vehicles

Hybrid Vehicles

LEED Certified Buildings

Solar Hot Water Heaters

Recycling rain water to flush toilets

As managers of over 10,000 acres of forests and other natural areas we are seeing the affects of global warming on our natural environment and we want to be on the leading edge of addressing the causes of global climate change.

No Child Left Inside

2009-12-21T11:19:00.005-05:00

Richard Louv's best selling book Last Child in the Woods brought national attention to "nature deficit disorder." In brief children are spending less time outdoors, and particularly less time in unstructured interaction with nature.

At the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority we have been working to engage children with nature through the following actions:

NVRPA was one of the first park agencies to sign onto No Child Left Inside a coalition that is working to advocate for outdoor/environmental education.

In 2009 we initiated a program that would allow area youth to volunteer some of their time and effort in our parks in exchange for access to park facilities that have fees associated with them. This program was to reduce potential barriers that some youth might have to using facilities like waterparks, and hopefully provided some insight into the fields of park management and maintenance.

In 2009 we renovated the Nature Center at Potomac Overlook to enhance its appeal. It is now the only nature center we know of that is focused on energy, where it comes from, how it is used by people and the natural world, and what are the impacts of its use.

For the last several years we have had a roving naturalist program during our peak months. This program brings nature education to thousands, whether that is a waterpark, campground, or special event. In terms of reaching the largest numbers of public with environmental education this is our most effective program.

With the generous donation from a long-time park supporter, we are embarking on building a children’s garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens that will initially focus on Native American and early colonial settlers, mixing fun, imagination and historical and environmental education.

In the end the issue of children spending less time outdoors is less a child issue and more of a parent issue. As parents we need to look for opportunities to get our children outdoor and engaged with nature. If parents would make a new years resolution to take their child for a walk (hike) in the woods this year it would be a great start. Walking along surrounded by nature is a great time to bond and have the kind of conversation about school and life in general that it is hard to have during the hussel and bussel of daily life.

155 acres Battlefield Preserved

2009-12-09T16:57:00.003-05:00

Fairfax, VA (December 9, 2009) – The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) is pleased to announce the addition of 155 acres of new parkland. This land is made up of two adjacent parcels along Route 50 near its intersection with Route 15 in Loudoun County.

Eighty-eight acres of the land is property directly across Route 50 from Mt. Zion Historic Church. This property was owned by the Mt. Zion Church Preservation Association, and financed by the Virginia Resources Authority.

“At the urging of Supervisor Jim Burton and Delegate Joe May, we purchased this property so it could become public parkland,” remarked Su Webb, NVRPA Chairman. The second property is 67 acres that was purchased this year by Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) and is being leased by NVRPA to make a combined parkland area of 155 acres.This new area of parkland is rich with Civil War significance and is part of the study area for the Battle of Aldie which took place on June 17, 1863. It is an area that saw a lot of troop movements during this period.

The most heated action in this area happened nearly a year later on July 6, 1864 when a cavalry skirmish took place next to Mt. Zion Historic Church between the forces of Col. John S. Mosby, Confederate Rangers and Union forces (13th New York Calvary) under the command of Major William H. Forbes. Both sides had nearly 150 mounted soldiers.

The Union forces were on their way from Leesburg back to their base in Falls Church. They were unaware that Confederate forces had heard about them in Leesburg and were looking for an opportunity to engage them. The Union forces had stopped in this area to take a break when Mosby’s forces attacked.

During the course of the one hour battle, Mosby and Forbes came into direct contact. Forbes tried to strike down Mosby with his sword, but the blow was blocked by Thomas Richards, one of Mosby’s Rangers. Mosby shot Forbes’ horse from under him and in the end Forbes was one of the 57 Union prisoners captured that day by Confederate forces. Thirteen Union soldiers were killed and thirty-seven wounded in this battle, while the Confederate forces had one killed and five wounded.

This new parkland is also significant as the home site of Alexander G. Davis, a farmer originally from Connecticut who lived on this property during the Civil War. On October 18, 1861 he was attacked and beaten because he was a northerner. He was considered too old for active military service, but after this attack he served as a civilian scout for the Union throughout the war. At one point in the war Davis organized and led an unsuccessful attempt to catch Mosby with a wagon train that appeared to be unprotected.

In addition its Civil War history significance, the new parkland includes part of the Carolina Road which was an active route between Frederick, Maryland and the Virginia/North Carolina border. It was originally a Native American trail used by the Algonquin and Iroquois Indians and a popular north/south route during the 18th & 19th Century. It roughly follows the course that Route 15 is today.

In September 2009, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors took action to transfer the Mt. Zion Historic Church property to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. The Church property as well as the new 155 acres of parkland will be managed out of Aldie Mill Historic Park, also owned and operated by NVRPA.

“This deal to expand parkland in the Gilbert’s Corner area included a lot of partners and stakeholders. We worked closely with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Loudoun County, PEC, and the Mt. Zion Church Preservation Association,” commented Su Webb, NVRPA Chairman.
“The primary goal of this new parkland is to preserve the historic and scenic values of the area. With this general goal in mind, we will be working with community groups and stakeholders like Journey Through Hallowed Ground, PEC and others to help create a vision and plan for the area,” continued Ms. Webb.

A great day for History

2009-11-22T09:10:00.008-05:00

Sharon Bulova, Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Addresses a crowd at the dedication of historic exhibits on the W&OD Trail

From tales of the role of the W&OD Railroad during the Civil was to tales of General Braddock and the his launching the French & Indian War from the dinning room of the Carlyle House, Yesterday was a big day for history at regional parks.

First, over 100 people showed up for the dedication of six historical displays along the W&OD trail. The turnout included half the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors including: Chairman Sharon Bulova, Cathy Hudgins, Linda Smyth, Michael Fry and John Foust. Congressman Gerry Connolly and Delegate Ken Plum were also on hand to mark this special event.

The Hunter Mill Defense League did most of the research on the historical markers, funded some of the signs and organized the event. The Friends of the W&OD and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority also payed for some of the exhibits. These displays focused on the role of the rail and the Hunter Mill Road area during the Civil War.

In 2007 the National Recreational Trails Association gave an award to NVRPA for the many (nearly 60) historical markers along the W&OD Trail. The new signs help tell new stories that will add to the experience of the over 2 million trail users every year.

From the Civil War, we stepped back in time over 100 years to the French & Indian War (1750's) and a book signing by author Thomas Crocker of his new book "Braddock's March" that gives considerable focus to the campaign preparation that took place at the Carlyle House Historic Park in Alexandria. Riding next to General Braddock, an arrogant British General, was a young George Washington, Col. in the Virginia Militia. Crocker makes the point that the seeds of the American Revolution were planted during this under-studies campaign.

Northern Virginia is an area that is steeped in our Country's early history, and a central focus of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is to both conserve our regions most significant natural areas as well as to preserve many of the most valuable historical resource of our area.

One of the goals of NVRPAs Strategic Plan is to make every park into a center of learning about our natural or historic resources, a goal that was advance during yesterday's events.

Take a hike and call me in the morning

2009-11-18T10:11:00.006-05:00

This week the Health Section of the Washington Post had a great story about the health benefits of not just exercise, but being outdoors in natural surroundings (article is below). This makes so much sense, it is surprising more of the medical profession has not made this connections earlier.

Working out with weights or exercise equipment is great for your muscles but does only a little to bring peace of mind, relieve stress and ground you. If you can go for a hike in the woods, a bike ride along a wood lined trail, or a paddle on a scenic body of water, the result is both exercise and a relaxing and grounding connection with nature.

In addition to the story below, the Post had a side bar on some of the great trails in our area including the W&OD, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and others. Link to this section is below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111602913.html?sid=ST2009111603014

A trail they did not mention that is one of the very best for a nature hike is the Bull Run/Occoquan Trail that runs 18 miles along the southern boarder of Fairfax County along the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers. More information on this trail can be found at: http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/fountainhead/?pg=trails.html

Take a hike and call me in the morning

By Daphne Miller

Special to The Washington Post Tuesday, November 17, 2009

"I have a StairMaster right in my own basement, but honestly it's been there for years gathering dust and making me feel guilty," said Miriam, one of my patients. "It wasn't until I started walking the three-mile trail in the park near my house that I got serious about exercising. I do it now rain or shine. I love the fresh air. The best part is that I get a great workout and don't even mind sweating."

At this point, I have heard enough variations on Miriam's story that I have started to make formal "park prescriptions." The prescribing instructions are considerably more detailed than ones you might get with a medication; they include the location of a local green space, the name of a specific trail and, when possible, exact mileage.

It turns out I am not alone. I've begun hearing about doctors around the country who are medicating their patients with nature in order to prevent (or treat) health problems ranging from heart disease to attention deficit disorder.

Eleanor Kennedy, a cardiologist in Little Rock, helped create a downtown "Medical Mile" with the support of local funders and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. "If my patients feel that they can get outdoors, they are more likely to be consistent about exercise," she told me. "Whether you are waddling, walking or running, going out and exercising will help build your confidence, flexibility and adaptability." And it will also be good for your heart -- a particular benefit in Arkansas, where rates of heart disease and stroke, as well as obesity and diabetes, are among the highest in the country.

Other physicians, from New Hampshire to Texas, are sending their patients out to wade through streams and walk on beaches and trails. Earlier this year the city of Santa Fe, N.M., launched a Prescription Trails program to target the high rates of diabetes in the community. The program, partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, includes a trail guide that physicians can hand to their patients.

"Of course, this is not the only answer to the obesity epidemic," said Michael Suk, an orthopedic surgeon and former health adviser to the NPS, "but it sure is a good start. All these insurance companies focus on prevention, but no one thinks of the free public land resources that we have at our disposal."

Richard Louv, author of the best-selling book "The Last Child in the Woods" and coiner of the term "nature deficit disorder," is all for these prescribing patterns. "I think that physicians can do more [to get people out into nature] than any other professional," he said. Louv's book and Web site (http://www.childrenandnature.org/) cite dozens of studies documenting the positive impact that wilderness outings can have on mental and physical health. The fact that the American Academy of Pediatrics has invited Louv to deliver the keynote address at its 2010 annual meeting indicates that the larger medical community is starting to recognize the therapeutic value of time spent in the woods.

Fortunately, the custodians of nature are also on board. Howard Levitt, chief of interpretation and education at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, an NPS site in California, loves the idea of park prescriptions. In the near future, he and his colleagues hope to create a prescription "tool kit" for doctors, possibly in partnership with a large health organization such as Kaiser Permanente. "I see this as a mutually beneficial arrangement," Levitt said. "We know what parks exist to do and . . . doctors want to care for their patients."

Rick Potts, the Park Service's chief of conservation and outdoor programs, echoed Levitt's enthusiasm: "Science is validating what moms have known for generations: Being outside is good for your health.

"I've never known a ranch kid on Ritalin," added Potts, who comes from rural Montana.
He expects support from the newly confirmed NPS director, Jonathan Jarvis. "We all see that the role of national parks in the 21st century is evolving. They are becoming more critical to our well-being as a society." As Potts continued talking, using such terms as "affordable prevention services" and "increasing access," he sounded more like a government official discussing health reform than one explaining park systems.

In fact, it's not too much of a stretch to think of our national park system as an integral part of our health care system; the NPS is already offering wellness services that are free and accessible to all, regardless of preexisting conditions. And according to Suk, the NPS wants to to expand that access by supporting public open space developments such as Little Rock's Medical Mile in communities around the country.

So don't be surprised if, at your next visit to the doctor, you are handed a trail map and itinerary along with your lab slip. In fact, if you are not offered one, you should demand it.
And once you set foot on the trail, how hard should you exercise? I like what Dr. Kennedy tells her patients: "Hard enough that you can still talk in sentences but not in paragraphs."

Miller is a family physician and an associate clinical professor at the University of California at San Francisco.

Korean Bell Garden @ Meadowlark

2009-11-06T15:59:00.008-05:00

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has an MOU with the Korean American Cultural Committee(KACC) (a non-profit group out of the Annandale area) to build a bell garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna.

KACC has been working for several years to raise the funds necessary to build the bell pavilion and gardens that will be built on a hillside overlooking the main lake at Meadowlark. It is a very exciting project with the bell and pavilion being designed by Professor David Chung from the University of Michigan.

Recently I had the opportunity to go to Korea with several others that are working on this project. Our trip was funded by the Korea Foundation and included tours of many historic palaces, gardens and museums, in addition to meetings with numerous branches of the federal government in Seoul as well as officials from GyeonGi Province, which is a sister state to Virginia.

The trip was truly fantastic, and from it we all gained a much deeper appreciation for traditional Korean gardens and architecture.

These enormous cast iron bells have been made in essentially the same way since around 770 AD. I particularly like the rugged and natural look of Korean gardens.

2010 and 2011 are going to be the big years for developing this garden. Next June we will hold a ground breaking ceremony to correspond to the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

More information on this project can be seen at: http://kacc.us/

The partnership with KACC and its Chair, Ms Jeung Hwa Elmejjad-Yi has been fantastic. Our trip to Korea resulted in strong pledges of support from the Korean Government and others. That combined with the good local fundraising efforts of KACC are going to make this project not just a success, but a significant tourist attraction and symbol of the partnership between Korea and America and of the great contributions that Korean/Americans continue to make to our society. Virginia has around 45,000 people of Korean decent and nearly 35,000 of those live in Fairfax County, making Meadowlark Gardens an idea location of this bell garden.

Images of the trip can be seen on the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42732056@N02/sets/72157622563883469/

America's Greatest Idea

2009-10-02T09:54:00.003-05:00

With the Ken Burns documentary on the National Park System running this week on PBS, it is a great time to reflect on parks. One point that comes through is the politics of parks, that these are common lands owned by and open to all people to enjoy.

Historically wealth meant land ownership. To provide large areas of land that is owned by the people and for the people is one way we demonstrate our democratic values.

Our National Park System is truely a national treasure.

Recently at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority we have been in the process of acquireing several sites with significant Civil War history. One is the site of the opening shots of the Battle of Aldie near Gilbert's Corner, across Rt 50 from this site is Mt. Zion Historic Church (pictured above) that served as a hospital after the battle. Another is White's Ford property on the Potomac where Confederate forces crossed the river on their way to Antiedam. These are important places in American history, and important to our common heritage as Americans.

Not just National Parks, but parks in general, the common lands we all share, is the great idea. It comes from Medieval Europe where some land was set aside as "the commons" to be used by anybody to graze animals. Teddy Rosevelt took this ancient idea of open land that we all have a claim to and used it to create the National Park System. City parks had existed before that.

At their core, parks serve much the same purpose today that they did 100 years ago, a place where people can go to relax, explore, and play.

This summer that has just ended saw great use of parks. Our family campgrounds at Pohick Bay and Bull Run witnessed their best and busiest years in decades. Boat rental were up, picnic pavilions were booked, waterparks saw record turnouts, and our trails were heavily used.

When people spend time in parks, they value parks. You can not gain a deep connection with nature or history if you do not experience these things first hand, and parks is where this happens.

National Park, State Parks, Regional Parks and Local Parks, they are all part of the "greatest idea" and part of what makes America great!

Fashions change with the times at Carlyle House

2009-09-21T12:12:00.008-05:00

Sunday September 20th, the public had an opportunity to learn about the changing fashions from the 1750's to around 1800 at the Carlyle House Historic Park in Alexandria. This was a period of tremendous social and political change and fashions reflected the pace of rapid change.

A more complete collection of images from this show can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42732056@N02/sets/72157622425057628/

Hemlock Overlook Swings Back into Operations

2009-09-10T15:40:00.005-05:00

Sharon Bulova, Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Public/private partnerships are often praised as a model for better government. Last Thursday, elected officials, teachers, parents, children and neighbors gathered at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park in Clifton Virginia to celebrate a new public/private partnership with great promise. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and Adventure Links kicked off a new operating agreement for Hemlock Overlook Regional Park with a celebration that included Fairfax County Board Chair Sharon Bulova and Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity, flying through the canopy of the forest, on the parallel zip lines.

“The Regional Park Authority has moved at record speed to find a new operator for Hemlock Overlook after George Mason University announced that they would end their long operations here. We received the word from GMU on December 31st that they would cease operations by June 30th. NVRPA worked rapidly to put out a request for proposals, evaluate proposals from ten organizations and select Adventure Links as the right organization to run the programs at Hemlock Overlook. Adventure Links has over ten years experience in providing environmental education, team building and confidence building to children and adults. They are the perfect partner to take Helmock Overlook to the next level,” stated Su Webb, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

“Hemlock is just beautiful and offers a great backdrop for environmental learning. We are very excited to be operating Hemlock in cooperation with NVRPA and we look forward to a great partnership,” said Anna Birch, Adventure Links’ President.

Birch, members of the Adventure Links staff, as well as Bulova and Herrity offered their words in the shade of the forest, each noting the importance of the facility to the area. Sharon Bulova talked about the role of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority in conserving natural resources, and how conservation needs to be done from a regional perspective. NVRPA was founded 50 years ago with a mission to conserve the region’s most important natural and historic resources. Today NVRPA owns over 25 miles of contiguous parkland along the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers, and over 13 miles of shoreline along the Potomac River. Hemlock Overlook is one of a string of parks that NVRPA owns on the Bull Run along the southern border of Fairfax County.

Supervisor Pat Herrity referring, to the famous zip line at Hemlock Overlook said, This is always something I’ve wanted to do. As a chaperone many years ago, I watched the kids zip down this line. But as a chaperone, we were never able to go. I’m going to change that today.” Then, in the moment of the event, Sharon Bulova and Pat Herrity went down the zip line together, to the applause of everyone there.

Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor

The fun spectacle was a great way to open the new partnership to the public.
Hemlock Overlook has been a mainstay for students in area schools for years and a right of passage for 5th and 6th graders for decades.

“We knew we needed to find a new, dynamic partner,” said NVRPA Executive Director Paul Gilbert. “Anyone who visits Hemlock Overlook knows what a special place it is. We are thrilled to have found an organization with the energy and vision of Adventure Links. Adventure Links is offering field trips for area schools that incorporate Standards of Learning (SOLs) into a day of fun, adventure, and teambuilding.” Adventure Links is also offering teambuilding events for adult groups (companies and organizations) as well as summer camps and other programs for children.

“We are looking forward to a great year and are excited to have Adventure Links as a partner to bring new ideas and fresh, creative programming to Hemlock,” Gilbert added.

For more information or to schedule a program at Hemlock Overlook, visit http://www.hemlockoverlook.org/ or http://www.adventurelinks.net/

The Green Greens

2009-08-24T10:04:00.008-05:00

At Pohick Bay Golf Course we had reduce fertilizer use on the fairways to just 10% of the normally recommended levels. The key to this has been getting the soil chemistry just right. The soils are tested twice a year and kept in balance. According to Tony Blevins "we feed it only what it needs." Some of the side affects on using so little fertilizers is less fungus that would need to be treated and less demands on mowing. And because the soils are healthy the grass is very green, and the course looks and plays better than ever.

This year we also put in a new irrigation system at Pohick Bay that controls where and when the water goes much more precisely and as a result water and energy consumption is down significantly.

These are all parts of being an Certified Wildlife Sanctuary by Audubon International. All three of the courses owned by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority: Algonkian, Brambleton, and Pohick Bay are certified. These were the first publicly owned golf courses in the Mid-Atlantic region to achieve this status. It was a great deal of work to get these courses certified by Audubon International but it was the right thing to do. As a natural resource conservation organization we need to be in the business of demonstrating best management practices in all of our land management.

Audubon International

http://acspgolf.auduboninternational.org/

Another great example of the changes we have made over the last few years has been the Bermuda grass fairways we put in at Algonkian Golf Course. Because of the qualities of this grass we have virtually eliminated the use of fungicides at that course. Since all of our courses are on or near major waterways it is very important to use as little chemicals as possible to protect our water quality.

Next time you want to hit the greens, choose on of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority courses and know that your green is actually green.