Notes on North County

During our adventures this week, we got to explore some of the parks in the northern part of the county. The week was another great example of how diverse the park system is, and how much focus there is on biodiversity, making resources available to everyone in our community, and creating interactive experiences for learning.  

Our first stop was The Turner Farm Park in Great Falls, where we got to see a glimpse of the observatory park, which features a roll-top roof to give visitors a one-of-a-kind viewing experience with advanced telescopes and equipment. This park is unique because it is one of the only in our area where you can see the stars and planets without the influence of excessive light pollution, thanks to recent regulations carried out last year that limits the amount of light usage within homes and buildings in the surrounding area. This helps decrease light pollution and improves the migration patterns of specific birds in the region who can be easily confused by bright lights in the sky as they fly. There are programs every Friday night where people can visit the observatory for Public Viewing Sessions held by The Analemma Society. The park also has a playground, picnic area, equestrian facility, trails, and a historic house which is part of FCPA’s resident curator program. Turner was one of the places which had the most diverse offerings.  

We also visited Colvin Run Mill, which we were able to tour to learn about the history of the site. What we loved about this place was how it was so interactive – we could go into all of the rooms in the main house, sit on the furniture and touch the items on the table, which is not very common in other facilities like this one. This is a great place for everyone, especially kids, to learn about the history of the mill, creating a deeper understanding of how life was 200 years ago while also being able to stay entertained.  

Lastly, we were able to visit more parks in the area to see some of the puzzle hunt clues that are being posted all around the county in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools. We got to see firsthand how the puzzle hunt will bring more recognition to the special, diverse, and under-visited parks in the county, including Dunn Loring, Franconia, and Spring Lane. The puzzle hunt is an awesome, free activity that so many kids can get involved with this summer! 

This week taught us about how important it is for our parks to hold many different features and amenities within their facilities that can serve a variety of audiences. We will keep sharing our experiences as we continue interning with FCPA this summer!