Leadership Fairfax honored Paul Baldino, retired director of the Fairfax County Parks Foundation, with its Northern Virginia Government Leadership Award at its gala at the Fairview Park Marriott on Nov.6.

Leadership Fairfax honored Paul Baldino, retired director of the Fairfax County Parks Foundation, with its Northern Virginia Government Leadership Award at its gala at the Fairview Park Marriott on Nov.6.

Baldino, a 1994 graduate of the Leadership Fairfax program, was honored for his years of successful leadership in the public service sector that resulted in better quality of life for all of Northern Virginia.

During Baldino’s tenure as deputy director and director of the Fairfax County Parks Authority from 1997 to 2002, more than 5,000 acres of parkland was obtained, and the Fairfax County Park Foundation was created.

In 2008, Baldino, a Falls Church resident, returned from retirement to serve as the foundation’s executive director in order to initiate private sector support for community parks, such as the fully accessible Clemyjontri playground in McLean, and cultivate resources that allow underprivileged children to attend camp and recreation programs in County parks