3 Fairfax Outdoor Water Attractions Won't Open This Summer

The Fairfax County Park Authority will not open Our Special Harbor Spray Park at Lee District Recreation Area, an outdoor water attraction designed for children of all abilities, this summer. The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston and Martin Luther King Jr. Pool in Hybla Valley will also not open for the season.

The park authority cited constraints on safe public use of water parks, spray grounds and pools from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. The challenges mentioned by the park authority include social distancing, limits to the number of people inside facilities and pools, recommended face covering use and other measures for public and staff safety.

Even when Northern Virginia moves to phase one of the governor's reopening plan, some of these features won't be allowed. The phase one guidance maintains closures of hot tubs, spas, splash pads, spray pools, interactive play features, basketball courts, racquetball courts, and seating in pool areas. In phase one, outdoor pools can open for lap swimming with one person per lane.

The waterparks run by Nova Parks are not opening for Memorial Day weekend. This includes Great Waves Waterpark in Alexandria, Ocean Dunes Waterpark in Arlington, Volcano Island Waterpark in Sterling, Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run and Pirate's Cove Waterpark in Lorton. The schedule for the summer season has not yet been announced.

The park authority has started a phased opening of some amenities. From May 20 to 22, parking lots at all county-operated parks will reopen ahead of the holiday weekend. Golf courses started to open in phases during May, and farmers markets in Burke, Reston and Mount Vernon are open.