AT FAIRFAX ICE ARENA

Pre-Alpha Lessons (Ages 7–13)—Beginner Level

Sept 13 7–13

Thursday 7:15pm $170 Sept 14 7–13

Tot 1/2 (Ages 3–6)—Beginner Level Skills Learned: Marching While Moving, Swizzles

Tot 3/4 (Ages 3–6)—Prerequisite Tot 1/2

Ways

Saturday 10:40am $175 Sept 16 7–13

Pre-Alpha Lessons (14 & Up)—Beginner Level

Skills Learned: One-Foot Glide, Fwd/Bkwd Swizzles

Day Time Cost Begins Age

Tuesday 7:50pm $170 Sept 12 14 & Up

Tuesday 1:30pm $170 Sept 12 14 & Up

Thursday 7:50pm $170 Sept 14 14 & Up

Thursday 1:30pm $170 Sept 14 14 & Up

Saturday 11:15am $175 Sept 16 14 & Up

Alpha Lessons (Ages 7–13)—Novice Level

Skills Learned: Stroking, Crossovers, Stopping

Day Time Cost Begins Age

Tuesday 7:15pm $170 Sept 12 7–13

Saturday 10:05am $175 Sept 16 7–13

Alpha Lessons (Ages 14 & Up)—Novice Level

Skills Learned: Stroking, Crossovers, Stopping Day Time Cost Begins Age

Tuesday 7:50pm $170 Sept 12 14 & Up

Saturday 11:15am $175 Sept 16 14 & Up

With its miles of trails, hundreds of courts and fields, and countless natural spaces

I’m proud to say our park system serves an essential role in the everyday lives of Fairfax County residents. Over the years, thanks to the ingenuity and dedication of an outstanding staff, the Park Authority has consistently risen to meet the evolving needs of its park users. In the process, we have cemented ourselves as a gold-standard system, something reflected in the care and attention our parks receive.

From lakefronts to water parks, golf courses to historic sites, we welcomed more than 15 million visitors within the last year. In addition, over the past year, some 2,000 volunteers provided over 100,000 hours to a range of programs and activities. I am grateful to live in a community that is so eager to give back, and would like to thank all who do. That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement. The Park Authority has set for itself the goal of ensuring that everyone has a 10-minute walk to a park, that all our parks provide a safe and equitable experience, and that all our residents have access to both recreational and nature-based park opportunities. We can’t claim success on these metrics at present, so we are developing what we call our Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Access Strategy. Which is a very “government” way of saying we are creating a toolkit to help us understand where and how we are falling short, so we can take action to fill those gaps.

Beyond that, as we look to the future, I worry if a system so reliant on revenue can truly meet its obligation to public service. Parks in Fairfax County should not be seen as a business, but at present, more than 60 percent of the Park Authority’s operating budget is generated by a user fee of one form or another. I hope to begin a dialogue with the Board of Supervisors to re-evaluate the baseline funding of our park system. Working to meet the recreational needs of individuals, families, and entire communities that hold vastly diverse ages, abilities, and interests makes serving on the Park Authority Board both an exciting challenge and a distinct pleasure. I hope somewhere in the pages of Parktakes you are able to find a class or activity that excites you, and I look forward to seeing you at the park!

Kiel Stone, FCPA Board Chair

Burke Lake Park

12-2 p.m., $10

Historic Huntley

11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $10

Sully Historic Site

12-2 p.m., $10

Turner Farm Park Observatory viewing only no activities, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $6