By Nesbitt Realty – a family business
Location and description of the many parks in Northern Virginia. Links to parks administration and suggestions for activities.
 About the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office. |
Mount Eagle was the home of Lord Bryan Fairfax, eighth Baron of Cameron, and son of Colonel William and Deborah Clark Fairfax of Belvoir. During the Revolutionary War the Fairfax family remained loyal to the crown. Bryan Fairfax used all influence to dissuade his friend and neighbor George Washington from taking any part against the mother country, but in spite of their difference of opinion, they always remained close friends.
Wolf Trap
Early history tells that in 16th century wolves were prevalent in what is today’s Wolf Trap which compromised the safety of the community. Thus, to deal with the danger, rewards were granted for those who could trap those fierce creatures. A parcel of land in this region was purchased by Wolf Trap’s Founder, Catherine Filene Shouse who chose to preserve the name Wolf Trap. She developed the property into a farm intending to give her children solitude away from their home close to nature. Mrs. Shouse later on donated the farm to the country with her intention to have the property preserved as a park. That donation marked the birth of the nation’s first and only national park for the
The park lies in the shadow of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial (aka the Alexandria Lighthouse, the Masonic Temple) in Alexandria. The skyline of Carlyle is visible from the park. There are many upscale (and a few downscale) neighborhoods very close by.
For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.
Although the National Park Service owns Jones Point Park, the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities manages the park. The parks custodians strive to preserve and showcase the 9,000 years of human history evidenced at Jones Point. Recognizable touch-points like Jones Point Lighthouse from the middle of the 19th Century are found here along with artifacts from Native Americans and colonists from the early days of European settlement. During the first World War, Jones Point was an important shipbuilding site and remnants of that abandoned heritage are unearthed for visitors to see.
The survey stones placed here under the direction and guidance of George Washington after 1790 mark the original boundaries of the District of Columbia. The land which George Washington surveyed for the Federal City was within the capital boundaries for 45 years, from February 27, 1801, until September 7, 1846, when Alexandria was ceded back into Northern Virginia by Congress.
Jones Point Park is very accessible for residents of Old Town Alexandria, Ford's Landing, Porto Vecchio and Bearings South.
Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Road in Alexandria, Virginia. Through educational programming and learning-oriented gardening sites, the mission of Green Spring Gardens is to advance awareness and promote the practice of gardening in Northern Virginia.
Visitors to the Gardens can stroll through 5 acres of gardening plots and may attend classes at the Visitor Center. In addition, guests can research gardening questions or explore the Green Spring Garden ecosystem in an educational setting at the horticultural library. Green Spring Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday; admission is free. Call 703-642-5173 for more information.
The business and staff offices of the Town of Vienna Virginia is at the Vienna Community Center. As such, the Vienna Community Center is also the main location for the Parks and Recreation Department of the Town of Vienna. The Community Center is located at 120 Cherry Street, SE Vienna, VA 22180.
In addition to general office space, the Community Center has space here for classes and programs. Contact the Town of Vienna to schedule and allocate space for activities and user groups. The Town's offices are open from 8am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. The office is closed on holidays.
Community Center Hours:
