Parks and Rec

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Names Jennifer Casarotti as New Parks, Recreation and Events Director

By Press Release
Casarotti

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The City of Fredericksburg is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Casarotti as the new Director of Parks, Recreation, and Events (FPRE). Casarotti brings over 20 years of diverse experience in parks and recreation leadership at both the local and federal levels.

As Parks, Recreation, and Events Director, Casarotti oversees the City’s parks, facilities, programs, and community events. She leads strategic planning, budgeting, and capital projects while guiding staff to provide high-quality, inclusive recreational services that enrich community life in Fredericksburg.

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Stafford

Autumn Ridge HOA Asks County to Take 3 Acres for Park, Dog Park Potential

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford supervisors will study whether to accept three acres of land from the Autumn Ridge Homeowners Association that could expand Autumn Ridge Park and make way for new amenities, including a long-sought dog park.

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Prince William

Brentsville’s Getting a Pump Track—First of Its Kind in Prince William

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Prince Willam County Government]

NOKESVILLE, Va. – Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy says a long-discussed project at Rollins Ford Park is finally moving forward, and it’s unlike anything else in Prince William County.

On a recent podcast interview, Gordy explained the basics of the new asphalt pump track approved last week by the Board of County Supervisors. “I’ll say right up front, I’m not an expert on pump tracks. I’ve never been on a pump track,” Gordy said. “But as I understand it, it is a track for bicycles… just by the sheer use of gravity and force by pumping your bike, it allows you to get airborne and do flips and do some exciting things. So this is going to provide a completely different type of recreational activity for the Brentsville District specifically, but for Prince William as a whole.”

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Prince William

New Playground Opens in Dumfries Thanks to Amazon and Local Volunteers

By Uriah Kiser
(Submitted photo)

DUMFRIES, Va. – The folks at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington just told Potomac Local News they’ve teamed up with Amazon and KABOOM! to open a brand-new playspace and sport court at the General Heiser Boys & Girls Club—and it’s already making a big splash in the community.

More than 100 volunteers pitched in last Friday, September 12, to build the playground, which will serve about 500 local kids each year. What’s extra special? Ideas from local children shaped the design.

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Features

Summer Pool Days Winding Down—Here’s What’s Still Open

By Uriah Kiser

Local pools are scaling back their hours as summer winds down, with most shifting to weekends-only schedules through Labor Day.

Prince William County’s community pools and waterparks are shifting into their late-summer schedules. Birchdale Pool in Dale City will remain open daily (closed Wednesdays) through August 15 before moving to weekends-only through September 1.

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Stafford

New Trail Opens at Crow’s Nest in Stafford—With Bigger Plans Ahead

By Potomac Local News

STAFFORD, Va. – The folks at Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation just told Potomac Local News that hikers now have more to explore at Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve in Stafford. A 1.2-mile extension to the popular Boykin’s Landing Trail is officially open—bringing the total length from Raven Road to 4.4 miles.

The new trail hugs Potomac Creek’s shoreline before climbing toward Crow’s Nest Point Trail. It’s a quiet escape in a fast-growing part of Northern Virginia, where the preserve protects mature hardwood forests and offers hiking and paddling.

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Prince William

Prince William Forest Park Restores Cabin Camp Landscape to Its Rustic Roots

By Uriah Kiser

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Visitors staying at Prince William Forest Park’s Cabin Camp 3 this summer may notice small white flags scattered throughout the wooded landscape. Far from surrender flags, these markers represent the park’s latest effort to restore its historic cabin camps to their original, rustic charm.

Park officials are launching a revegetation project aimed at allowing the surrounding forest to naturally reclaim open areas around the camp’s historic buildings, which date back to the 1930s. According to Superintendent George Liffert, the process involves reducing mowing and encouraging native vegetation to grow in, helping the camp feel once again nestled within the forest rather than carved out of it.

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Manassas Park

Public Invited to Weigh In on Rail with Trail Project Linking Manassas to Bull Run

By Potomac Local News

MANASSAS PARK, Va. – Residents interested in new biking and walking connections through the region are invited to an open house tonight to learn more about a proposed “Rail with Trail” project that could link Downtown Manassas to Park Central and the Bull Run Occoquan Trail in Fairfax County.

The open house will take place today, Wednesday, July 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Manassas Park City Hall, 100 Park Central Plaza. Attendees can drop in at any time during the two-hour window to view draft plans, ask questions, and offer input. Spanish interpretation will be available.

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Features

Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, Chatham to Close for Major Upgrades Beginning August 4

By Potomac Local News
Fredericksburg National Battlefield Visitor Center

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chatham Manor, two of the most prominent sites within Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, will temporarily close for extensive upgrades starting August 4, 2025, according to the National Park Service.

The closures will allow for essential infrastructure improvements and safety upgrades. The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will be closed for approximately six to seven months to accommodate the installation of a fire suppression system, a waterline upgrade, and an overhaul of the building’s aging electrical systems. Chatham will close for about one year for interior rehabilitation, including lead paint encapsulation, new carpet installation, and plaster repairs.

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Prince William

Dumfries Delays Vote to Name New Park After Luke and Clarice Torian

By Uriah Kiser
Torian

DUMFRIES, Va. – A proposal to name a new public park after Delegate Luke Torian (D-24, Prince William County) and his wife, Clarice, was removed from the July 1, 2025, Dumfries Town Council agenda — delaying what many community members hoped would be a celebratory vote.

The park, which sits atop the town’s former landfill site, is part of a major transformation that’s turning more than 80 acres of reclaimed land into a public green space overlooking Quantico Creek. The site is adjacent to the Rose Gaming Resort and represents one of the most visible symbols of the town’s revitalization.

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