A historical marker will be dedicated on Saturday, Oct. 15, that recalls “The Pines,” and honors the legacy of a close-knit African-American community. The 1960s brought significant social change to Fairfax County, and when their land was purchased through eminent domain to provide property for a school, members of this community were scattered.

Today, many from “The Pines” still remain connected to the land. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. The marker stands at the entrance to Pine Ridge Park located at 3401 Woodbridge Road in Annandale. This popular Fairfax County Park Authority facility provides gardens and athletic fields for countless residents’ use. The park’s 42 acres provide a recreational oasis of sorts in a busy neighborhood.

However, for some African-American families, “The Pines” brings back both warm family memories from their youth and a sense of loss at the dissolution of their community. The new marker chronicles the history of the land noting “In the 1960s, during a period of school desegregation and population growth, the public school system purchased land through eminent domain, which displaced numerous families living in The Pines. A school was never built.”