The 4th Annual Prince William County 5K Walk for Mental Health Awareness is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Locust Shade Park, Triangle.

The event aims to educate, advocate, and dispel myths about mental illness. Participants will walk on grassy, gravel, and paved paths, with both rigorous and easy routes available.

The event will feature community programs, music, food trucks, and speakers Shanita Nolan and Lisa Madron. Sponsors include the Boys & Girls Club, Mike Garcia Construction Inc., and Potomac Health Foundation.

Registration is online. 

Fredericksburg hosts Picnic in the Park every Tuesday from May 7 through June 25, 2024, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Kenmore Park, 1101 Kenmore Ave, Fredericksburg. The event features live music and is open to the public at no charge.

Attendees can bring their own picnic lunches or purchase food from vendors on-site. This series has been a local tradition since 1997 and is organized by Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events, supported by sponsors.

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Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation: Mason Neck State Park will host the 26th Annual Eagle Festival on May 11 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Park staff along with many exhibitors will be on the visitor center lawn for a full day of animal shows, hands-on activities, and outdoor recreation clinics that aim to highlight the rich natural history of Northern Virginia as well as foster stewardship of our environment.

“Guests will be able to see animals such as hawks and owls up close as well as learn about the majestic bald eagles, with the hopes of seeing one in flight during the event,” said Mason Neck State Park Chief Ranger Jamie Leeuwrik,

Parking for the event this year will be located offsite at Pohick Bay Regional Park at the Pirate’s Cove Waterpark. Shuttles will be provided to and from the festival at Mason Neck State Park and will run about every 15-20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The family-friendly event is free and will include a variety of food vendors, musical performances, and a puppet show.

“Caroline Seitz, the star of Kids Nature Shows, puts on such a fun and interactive show for kids and adults to experience the animals they might see at the park,” said Leeuwrik. “There will be a musical performance at 11 a.m. and another at 1:45 p.m. Eagle Festival is a great way to bring together the local community for programs and activities all in the name of conservation and preservation.”

Almost 60 years ago, Elizabeth Hartwell led a successful grassroots effort to preserve more than 5,000 acres of wetland habitats on the Mason Neck Peninsula in Fairfax County. Today her legacy lives on – especially through the annual Eagle Festival at Mason Neck State Park.

This event celebrates the decades of conservation work that has taken place on the Mason Neck Peninsula. Had it not been for the work done by individuals like Hartwell, nicknamed “The Eagle Lady” and for whom the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is named, the area would look drastically different than it does today.

Stafford County could get a new skate park at St. Clair Brooks Memorial Park, 80 Butler Road in Falmouth.

The skateboard park at St. Clair Brooks Park must be replaced due to age and safety issues. The Board of Supervisors recognized the need to replace the skateboard park and approved Capital Improvement Funds (CIP).

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Residents are invited to attend a rededication ceremony to commemorate the enhancements made to the playground area at Birchdale Community Center. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 2 p.m. The Birchdale Community Center, located at 14730 Birchdale Avenue in Dale City, will host the event.

Key improvements to the playground include the replacement of the old equipment with a new playground and the addition of two shelters. These upgrades aim to enhance the recreational facilities available to the community.

The rededication ceremony provides an opportunity for residents to gather and celebrate the improvements made to the Birchdale Community Center playground. All are encouraged to attend and participate in the event.

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss the master plans for three parks in Fredericksburg: Alum Spring Park, Ficklen Island, and Old Mill Park.

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Dumfries Town Council approved the amended proffer agreement and memorandum of understanding between the town and Churchill Downs, owner and operator of The Rose Gaming Resort, which is under construction, six to one.

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After a round of unsuccessful bids the first time around, Stafford County put out another proposal on a county skatepark to get a place the county skateboarders are missing.

The new park design includes all the basics of Skateboarding 101, including a vertical wall, which is like a half-pipe in the skating world, grinding rails, grinding ledges, skate stairs, a quarterpipe, and a round cone thing in the middle. These features are standard for skateparks of this level. The proposal Bids will only be accepted via eva.virginia.gov.

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