FABB Blog

 

Tell the Park Authority you want better bike access to parks

The Fairfax County Park Authority is updating their Needs Assessment. The effort is called Parks Count! In the 2004 Needs Assessment report there is no discussion of bike access to parks. The only mention of bikes is on unpaved bike trails.

This is a great opportunity to let the Park Authority know the importance of good bicycle access to the parks and the need for bike parking.

After collecting ideas and initial input, the Park Authority will "design and send a survey to almost 15,000 randomly selected Fairfax County households in early 2015."

One way to participate is to use a web-based application for getting citizen feedback. You can comment and vote on proposed ideas or propose your own ideas. The application requires entering an email address and creating a password. Please consider voting for this idea that was recently added:
The topic with the most votes, 8, is Horseback Riding on more trails. The above idea has 1 vote.

Labels: park authority, park authority needs assessment, parks county

posted by Bruce Wright at 9:30 AM permalink

 

Annandale bicycle connection to be closed for several months

Trail detour during construction

The boardwalk in Holmes Run Stream Valley Park near Luria Park, connecting Holmes Run Dr with Fallowfield Dr/Brad St, will soon be repaired by the Fairfax County Parkway Authority. This is a popular connection for bicyclists in the Annandale area, located south of Route 50 and east of Gallows Road.

The Park Authority will close the trail during construction. Work will begin this month and is projected to last until the end of 2013.

A detour is identified on a map (right) posted at the trail, but we've asked for additional signage to guide cyclists through the detour, especially when the project begins. It can be difficult to look at a map and remember a route after seeing it for the first time. Detour signs should be placed at each decision point/intersection.

The detour includes two flights of stairs. While there is a ramp that can be used for rolling the bike while climbing the stairs, we've asked if anything can be done to make the trip more feasible, especially for someone who would have a difficult time hauling their bike up the ramp.

If you know more about this project, please leave a comment.

Labels: holmes run stream valley park, luria park, park authority

posted by Bruce Wright at 2:59 PM permalink

 

Why not bike to the Ox Hill Battlefield Park event on Saturday

Fairfax County is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the only major Civil War battle in the County, the Battle of Ox Hill, on Saturday between the hours of 10am and 5pm.

Ox Hill Battlefield Park is located at 4134 West Ox Road, Fairfax, not far from the county government center and Fair Oaks Mall. Bike access isn't great but there is a paved trail in front of the park on West Ox Rd that extends south to the Fairfax County Parkway Trail and north to the relatively new paved trail along West Ox Rd. Activities include:

• 10:00 AM - Presentation of 16 state flags and speeches by local officials
• 1:00 PM Federal City Brass Band concert, musket and cannon firings
• 4:00 PM Battle of Ox Hill speeches, wreath laying at the Monuments

There is bike parking at the park, thanks in part to a FABB member who, a while back, worked with Park Authority officials to ensure that those people who do travel to the park by bike have a place to park.

Labels: battle of ox hill, ox hill battlefield park, park authority

posted by Bruce Wright at 8:47 PM permalink

 

Great Parks, Great Communities

That's the name of the latest Fairfax County park planning effort now underway. A public meeting is scheduled tonight, Oct. 14, at the South County Government Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria starting at 7pm. This is the last of four regional meetings held by the Park Authority. Sorry for the short notice.

As we saw with the Wolftrap bridge connection, parks trails can play a vital role in providing much needed community bicycle connections. The park authority is getting much better about considering non-motorized connections to the parks themselves as well. Local residents should have the option of biking the short distance to a local park, but that's not often possible.

It's encouraging to see that the first 3 comments from the public that are listed in the report relate to connectivity:

• Provide more trail connections between parks
• Improve access to parks from neighborhoods
• Add accessible trails for all ages and abilities

Now is your chance to let the Park Authority know that you want to access our great parks by bike, and you want to be able to securely park your bike once you arrive. We also encourage the Park Authority to work with the bicycle program to help connect our neighborhoods with trails through parks. Great Parks, Great Communities 2010-2020 Comprehensive Park System Plan, the draft parks plan, is now available for comment. The comment period ends on November 15. Send comments to Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Labels: park authority

posted by Bruce Wright at 1:52 PM permalink

 

Wolftrap bridge ribbon-cutting

FABB attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Wolftrap bridge connection near Kilmer Middle School. This is a great connection and an example of cooperation between the Park Authority, which owns the land, and the Dept. of Transportation, that had the idea for the bridge and provided funding. Supervisor Smyth was a strong supporter and help secure funding through the 2007 transportation bond referendum.

Five of us rode from Vienna to the ceremony. Along the way we stopped to take a picture of Jenifer Madden, Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Committee representative, in front of the bike rack that her family donated to the school at Our Lady of Good Counsel. Many cyclists take an informal detour through the church parking lot on the weekends.

After the ceremony we rode back along Gallows Rd to the new bike lanes that start at the W&OD Trail. There is funding for bike lanes from just north of Dunn Loring Metro station into Tysons.

Thanks to Fairfax County DOT and Park Authority for making this connection. Kirk Holley of the Park Authority noted the importance of the connection and that they were anxious to help make similar connections throughout the county.

Labels: kilmer middle school, park authority, wolftrap bridge

posted by Bruce Wright at 3:15 PM permalink