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Fredericksburg
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Do you know which elementary school your child will attend next year? 📚
Fredericksburg City Public Schools has released a newly approved elementary school zone map that will go into effect for the 2025-26 school year. In a Facebook post, the school division encouraged families to explore the changes, share the news with others, and prepare for what’s ahead.
In a Facebook post, Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events invited families to come cool off and enjoy the splash pad, now running for the season. The downtown park, located at 701 Sophia Street, also includes green space, a playground, and scenic views of the Rappahannock River.
Riverfront Park was named Virginia’s Best New Facility in 2023 and sits just steps from local shops and restaurants, making it a great stop for summer outings.
From live music and lunch in the park to evening kayak tours and family-friendly summer camps, the city is rolling out activities for all ages and interests. “May is when the floodgates open for us,” said Callie Brown, Superintendent of Recreation, during a recent appearance on the Potomac Local Live podcast. “It’s a really exciting time.”
🧺 Picnic in the Park Returns
The river reached its peak early on May 15 following heavy rainfall in the Shenandoah Valley the day before. The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning for Fredericksburg, as the 13-foot crest marked the official start of flooding, according to local river gauge data.
City staff quickly activated their flood preparedness plan at Old Mill Park, the city’s most popular park located right along the river. That included removing porta-potties, pumping out bathrooms, and detaching fixtures at risk of water damage.
Every Tuesday, hundreds of people gather in a Fredericksburg park for one reason: lunch, music, and community. What started in the early 1990s as “Lunch at Hurkamp Park” has become a regular community event known today as Picnic in the Park. Organized by Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation, the event is held on Tuesdays in May and June at Memorial (Kenmore) Park. The event was originally created by a former Parks and Recreation Director as a way for downtown employees to take a lunch break outside. Over time, it grew into a weekly event for families, drawing larger crowds and offering a wider range of activities.
When Sammy Walker took over the event planning in 2018, attendance had already outgrown Hurkamp Park. The event was relocated to Memorial Park to accommodate more people. Walker said an average of 300 to 500 people attend in May. Once school ends for the summer, attendance rises to 500 to 800 each week.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Starting Memorial Day weekend, visitors heading to the Rappahannock River will notice something familiar at two popular parks: entrance and parking fees are back for the summer season.
At Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg, fees will be collected Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., now through Labor Day. Non-residents—those who live outside the City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County—will pay $15 per car or $5 per walk-in visitor aged 12 and up. City and county residents can enter for free with valid ID. The park remains open daily but closes from dusk to dawn.
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STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County Fire and Rescue says all northbound lanes of Interstate 95 were shut down around 8:45 p.m. Saturday in the area of mile marker 132.9/133, just north of the Rappahannock River bridge, following a traffic crash. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
About 15 minutes later, the Virginia Department of Transportation clarified that the closure affected the local lanes of I-95 northbound. In a social media post just before 9 p.m., VDOT said the entrance ramps to I-95 northbound from Exit 130 (Route 3) in Fredericksburg were closed due to the crash near mile marker 132.
According to FXBGo!, the adjustments come after extensive community feedback gathered through its Transit Strategic Plan. The updated routes aim to streamline service, reduce travel times, and better connect riders to key destinations throughout Spotsylvania County.
As part of the update, FXBGo! will retire letter-based route names, switching to a number-only naming system designed to make navigating the system easier for riders. New maps and updated schedules reflecting the changes will be available at Central Station and online at rideFXBGO.com.