The City of Fredericksburg’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Events received four awards at the 71st Annual Conference of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society in Norfolk, Virginia. Over 400 delegates, exhibitors, speakers, and volunteers from across the state attended the event, which highlights excellence in parks and recreation programs.
Out of 140 applications across 16 categories, Fredericksburg was recognized in four areas:
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From smashing a railing to ending up behind one. A group of teenagers were found attempting to flee from an auto accident, according to police.
From a Stafford County Sheriff's Office press release:
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Braemar Park will be held on Thursday, September 26, at 11 a.m. at 12401 Braemar Parkway in Bristow. The park has seen several updates, including a new playground, repaved parking lot, renovated basketball and tennis courts, and the addition of two pickleball courts. The event is open to the public.
A new playground design has been finalized at Fairmont Park, located at 9801 Fairmont Avenue near Manassas. The community is invited to participate in Build Week from October 23 to 26. Volunteers are needed to help with tasks such as assembling equipment and mixing concrete. All necessary tools and safety gear will be provided, along with food and drinks for participants. Volunteers must be 18 or older, though those aged 14 and up are welcome to assist with certain tasks.
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A consulting firm, Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, is seeking more public input on the future of Alum Spring Park, Old Mill Park, and Ficklen Island in Fredericksburg. Since February, they have been gathering feedback to refine the city’s Parks and Recreation master plan.
Key issues identified include flooding and outdated facilities at Old Mill Park, the need for improved access and trail repairs at Alum Spring Park, and the potential removal of a concrete dam at Ficklen Island. The consultants have developed several concepts to address these concerns and now ask the public to weigh in on their recommendations before presenting them to city council this fall.The firm's presentation, including maps and surveys, is available online.
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The Stafford Sheriff's Office was called to Historic Port of Falmouth Beach, 401 River Road, on Saturday, August 24, for a report of a drunken man on the public beach.
According to a police report, deputies found the man had White Claw hard seltzer, was charged with public intoxication, and was taken to a jail to sober up. The arrest occurred at 6:38 p.m., police said. County officials have banned alcohol from the popular swimming spot on the Rappahannock River.
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The Washington Capitals announced the second season of the Capitals Inline Hockey League (CIHL), which launched in 2023 as a co-ed youth inline travel league run by the Capitals. Current inline hockey players aged 8-18 are invited to participate in the CIHL, which consists of one team per club, per division. Year two of the CIHL will also see the addition of the Winchester Revolution out of Winchester, Va., as the sixth participating club in the league.
Individual club tryouts begin in September and interested players may register to tryout by contacting their local club director.
Participating clubs include Loudon's Ashburn Fury, the Fauquier Dragons, Fredericksburg Phantoms, Madison Wildfire, Richmond Renegades of Hanover, and the Winchester Revolution. The Ashburn, Fredericksburg, Richmond and Winchester teams will each host a weekend tournament.
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Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin led the groundbreaking ceremony today for the new segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail at Featherstone Wildlife Refuge. Addressing community members and representatives from various agencies, Franklin emphasized the significance of this project in enhancing local recreation and connectivity.
Franklin highlighted the collaborative efforts that made this new trail segment possible, involving Virginia Railway Express, the Virignia Department of Transportation, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “This project represents the strong collaboration efforts for which our community is known,” Franklin said. She outlined the trail’s features, including approximately one mile of natural surface trails, 1,100 linear feet of wetland boardwalk, and two pedestrian bridges that navigate delicate ecosystems.
The construction, with a budget of $3.5 million, includes funds from ARPA, development proffers, and the NVTA. Franklin expressed pride in the county’s commitment to expanding the trail network and meeting the high demand for recreational trails among residents. “I look forward to returning to its grand opening,” she added, underscoring the community’s anticipation for the completed trail.
The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail within Prince William County aims to link several parks and historic sites across 20 miles, enhancing the county’s identity as a destination for outdoor activities. This segment will connect Leesylvania State Park to Belmont Bay, further integrating the county’s scenic and wildlife areas into the broader trail network.
The trail stretches from the mouth of the Potomac River at the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia to the Allegheny Highlands in Pennsylvania and became part of the National Scenic Trail system of the National Park Service in 1983.
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation, and Events will host its inaugural "Day of Play" at the Virginia Credit Union Stadium on September 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The family-focused event will feature a variety of activities like an obstacle course, kayak paddling pool, baseball pitch, and Ga Ga ball. University of Mary Washington's Cheerleading team will teach cheerleading skills, while Mary Washington Healthcare will host Wellness Workshops. The event will also have a Toddler Area, designed for the youngest attendees.
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Prince William County Parks and Recreation has launched a new mobile application, RecMapper, designed to help residents and visitors easily access information about the county’s parks, facilities, and historic properties. The app is now available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
The RecMapper app offers a range of features to enhance users’ experiences. Through the app, users can view photos and details of various parks, playgrounds, pavilions, fitness centers, pools, and other amenities.
The app allows users to search for facilities by map or list, filter results based on specific needs, and get directions to their chosen locations. Sports teams and leagues can also find specific field locations within parks, while other users can stay updated on upcoming activities and events. Additionally, the app includes a feed of the department’s social media posts, accessible without needing a social media account.
Amir Wenrich, Prince William County Parks and Recreation spokesman, highlighted the app’s goal of making park information more accessible to the community. “We encourage everyone to download the app on your mobile device and start exploring our parks virtually and planning your next visit,” Wenrich said.
The app’s development was driven by the need for an improved user experience compared to the previous web-based version of RecMapper. According to Wenrich, the earlier version lacked the capability to offer detailed information on park amenities, prompting the department to create a more advanced tool. The development process for the new app took a little over six months.
In terms of community engagement, Wenrich expressed optimism that the app will encourage more residents to explore the county’s parks and take advantage of recreational activities they may not have known about. The department plans to track user engagement and trends over the next six months to inform future strategies.
Looking ahead, the app will continue to evolve with planned updates, including the addition of detailed trail information, gamification features like contests and scavenger hunts, and push notifications to keep users informed about new developments.
Since the app’s launch, initial feedback from users has been positive. Many have expressed excitement about discovering new parks and amenities they were previously unaware of. However, as of now, there are no partnerships with local businesses or organizations to promote or enhance the app’s features.
