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Rainy weather provided a fitting backdrop for Huntley Meadows Park’s 50th anniversary and Wetlands Awareness Day celebration on May 4.
About 460 people attended the four-hour event, exploring 16 exhibits from Fairfax County agencies and nonprofit organizations. The displays introduced visitors to wildlife and conservation topics ranging from skunks and animal scat to spotted lanternflies and native plants.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay called 2025 a major anniversary year, marking both five decades since the park’s creation and 75 years since the Fairfax County Park Authority began. McKay, who has always lived nearby, described Huntley Meadows as his favorite park and a retreat from urban life that supports mental health.
He also honored the late Norma Hoffman for her persistence in preserving the park and defending it from threats.
Franconia Supervisor Rodney Lusk joined McKay in presenting a Board of Supervisors resolution recognizing the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park for its environmental commitment, community engagement and partnership.
Lusk said the park plays an important role in the regional ecosystem while giving visitors a place to experience biodiversity and learn about environmental stewardship. He also recognized the volunteers who have worked to protect Huntley Meadows and Historic Huntley, which marks its 200th anniversary in 2025.
Virginia Del. Paul Krizek presented a General Assembly resolution advanced with Delegates Mark Sickles, David Bulova and Rozia Henson. The resolution recognized Huntley Meadows as Fairfax County’s largest park, at nearly 1,500 acres, and noted that it welcomes more than 200,000 visitors annually.
Krizek highlighted environmental policies such as restricting invasive plants, including English ivy, as part of efforts to preserve natural areas for future generations.
Wildlife Takes Center Stage
At the Police Department Wildlife Section’s exhibit, officers Earit Powell and Alicia Demilio taught children how to coexist responsibly with wildlife. Young visitors handled pelts from animals including a skunk, fox and opossum.
One child, Asher, guessed that a light-brown pelt came from a lion. Powell identified it as a fox and said the county is fortunate to retain its open spaces.
Park Authority employee Casey Pittrizzi displayed a taxidermied great horned owl and described the gathering as an opportunity to understand the benefits wetlands provide. Aniti Stromayer introduced visitors to gray foxes, explaining that the animals are shy and rarely seen.
Laurie Dodd and Tami Entabi showcased insects that often go unappreciated, while Maryam Dudkhah of Plant NoVa Natives encouraged residents to grow native plants as a way to rebuild biodiversity. Volunteers also positioned spotting scopes along the boardwalk so visitors could observe birds and other wildlife.
From Military Site to Protected Park
Huntley Meadows contains freshwater wetlands, forests and meadows surrounded by suburban development. One of Fairfax County’s most biologically diverse natural areas, it supports more than 300 wildflower species, 200 bird species and numerous mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
Its 3.8 miles of trails include a popular wetland boardwalk frequently used by wildlife photographers.
Indigenous people lived and gathered food in the area before European settlement. During the 1700s and 1800s, descendants of George Mason owned and farmed the property.
The federal government acquired the land in 1941 and used it to test road asphalt. From 1950 through 1959, the Virginia National Guard operated anti-aircraft defenses for Washington, D.C., at the site. The Naval Research Laboratory later conducted radio communications research on two circular fields from 1958 to 1971.
In 1975, President Gerald Ford authorized the transfer of 1,261 acres for permanent public park or recreation use. Fairfax County paid $1 for the property and subsequently added 165 acres.
An exhibit recounting the park’s history remained scheduled for display at the visitor center through June 1.