Huntley Meadows Celebrating 40th Anniversary

(The following is republished from the Fairfax County Park Authority.)

One of the most significant parks in Fairfax County is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. On April 26, 1975, Fairfax County dedicated land as Huntley Meadows Park, and that park has grown to become one of the signature expressions of county dedication to the environment and quality of life.

In 1978, beavers built dams on Barnyard Run in the park and created the most important non-tidal wetland still remaining in Fairfax County. Since then, the park has been at the forefront of wetlands protection, environmental education and wildlife viewing in the county – the park’s ADA accessible wetland boardwalk has become a destination point for thousands of families and nature lovers. A massive restoration of the wetlands was completed a year ago, in time to let the park show itself at its finest for its 40th anniversary.

Today, the 1,554-acre park and its wetlands have become vital to the community, critical to the local environment, and both educational and entertaining to tens of thousands of annual visitors.

Among the park’s celebratory moments during its anniversary year are the marking of the 40th year on April 26, Wetlands Awareness Day on May 3, an anniversary celebration with the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park on June 13, and a series of special, anniversary-themed wagon ride programs through the park’s meadows, forests and wetlands this summer.

Many of these celebrations will include time in the Norma Hoffman Visitor Center, so named for the 30+ years of advocacy and dedication given by this special lady – still volunteering for the park every week and sure to join visitors at several events this year.

Also in this busy celebratory year, this fall Huntley Meadows will mark the 30th anniversary of the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park, the 25th anniversary of the Friends of Historic Huntley, and the 25th anniversary of the park’s visitor center.

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria, Va. Information about the park is online at Huntley Meadows Park.

PHOTO courtesy of Fairfax County