Fairfax County depends a lot on its volunteers – no matter their age, their interests, or their talents.

Volunteers assist in our schools, in our parks, at senior centers, homeless shelters, and so many other places that could use an extra helping hand for the many programs and activities desired by our neighbors. If you want to volunteer, you can surely find something to do in Fairfax County.

One of the oldest volunteer recognitions is the Elly Doyle Park Service Awards and Recognitions from the Fairfax County Park Authority. The award was established in 1988 and named for Elly Doyle, who served as a Park Authority Board member from 1958 to 1974, and was its chairman for 10 years. Recently, Elly Doyle award winners were celebrated at a festive, jungle-themed celebration, “Go Wild for Parks.”  Animal prints and safari hats were de rigueur for the evening, and everyone got into the spirit of the theme.

The Park Service Awards were presented to Kathi McNeil for her volunteer work at Huntley Meadows Park; to Jack Pitzer who brings Frying Pan Farm Park alive for visitors; and to the Southwestern Youth Association for supporting the adopt-a-field program (they adopted all or part of 10 athletic fields) and partnering to develop several fields and facilities at local elementary schools. Outstanding volunteer included Dotty Stahl, who heads the Historic House Committee at Green Spring Gardens Park, and Robert Young, well-named since he is the youngest awardee at 13 years of age, as an enthusiastic program assistant at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

Three of the Special Recognition Awards were presented for volunteer work in Mason District – at tiny Bel Air Park in Falls Church, at Annandale Community Park, and at Pine Ridge Park, both in Annandale. Tim Dokken saw that something needed to be done at Bel Air Park. The tiny 1.5 acre neighborhood park was in danger of being swallowed up by invasive plants and vines. The playground area was disappearing, just as the neighborhood was seeing an upsurge in children. Tim contacted my office and the Park Authority to begin the labor intensive process of plant removal. Once the invasives were removed, in 2007, the area was covered in plastic and mulch, trees donated by Fairfax ReLeaf were planted, and vines were cleared from the mature trees. Tim continued his work into 2008, and arranged for neighborhood clean-ups twice a year. Bel Air Park is once more an attractive spot for parents to visit while their children play. Congratulations, Tim!

Ray and Patty Hubbard of Annandale enjoy walking their dogs (leashed) in Annandale Community Park. During one visit, they discovered smoldering embers from a fire and notified the naturalists at nearby Hidden Oaks Nature Center. After this chance encounter, to which firefighters responded, Ray and Patty noticed that the concrete steps down a steep hill were in bad shape, and there was no funding to repair them. Ray is vice president of Clark Construction, so he offered to rebuild the steps and have the labor donated by his company. The new steps are fabulous, and Ray and Patty, and their dogs Gabby and Bella, already have other projects planned for the park. Thank you, Ray and Patty Hubbard!

Beth and Merle Swival are longtime gardeners at Pine Ridge Park, and helped organize the Pine Ridge Park Watch, reforest the park’s buffer area through a partnership with Fairfax ReLeaf, and maintain all the public area planting beds. Their dedication and good cheer have benefitted Pine Ridge for more than ten years. Good job, Beth and Merle!

These terrific volunteers found their special niche in the parks, and you can, too!  Please contact my office at 703/256-7717 or mason@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call the Fairfax County Park Authority at 703/324-8750 for more information about becoming a park volunteer. I’ve been a park volunteer for 30 years; it’s a great way to get involved in your community.

Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be e-mailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov