Growing up my friends and I could ride our bikes from our homes in Springfield to Lake Accotink Park to spend a few hours exploring the paths throughout the park. Our family would enjoy a Sunday picnic on the grounds in the summer, my dad fished during trout season and we ice skated on the stream below the dam in the winter.
When my children were growing up the tradition continued with bike rides around the 3.75 mile path that loops around the lake and through the woods. From our homes in Kings Park or later Charlestown we could also walk to the park and rent a canoe or paddle boat to spend a few hours on the 55 acre lake. Now my children go to the park with their children to ride the carousel.
Every year Lake Accotink Park stocks the lake for trout fishing (VA fishing license required), hosts the annual cardboard boat regatta and provides a place to enjoy a picnic, rent a boat or treat children to a ride on the carousel. Many people don't realize that the small and rather unassuming carousel in the park is the oldest carousel in operation in Fairfax County.
Today after 45 years the park managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority is still offering Springfield families a place to enjoy a large expansive of green space free of charge. With a education center you can stop by and learn more about the wildlife that inhabits the park and use it as a starting point for the revitalized path that connections the park to the Daventry neighborhood.
If you are looking for a stop to enjoy a few minutes, a few hours or an entire day then check out Lake Accotink Park. It is a park that our family has enjoyed from when it first opened in 1965 and continues to enjoy today.
If you are interested in buying a home with access to the park give the Cindy Jones team a call at 703-346-2213. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about whether buying a home in today's market is the right choice for you.
Cardinal Forest Homes For Sale with Access to Lake Accotink
Charlestown Homes For Sale with Access To Lake Accotink
Daventry Homes for Sale with Access to Lake Accotink
Kings Park Homes for Sale with Access To Lake Accotink
Photos from Flickr under Creative Commons License. Click photos for links to Flickr Photostream.
No Hassle-No Pressure-Just Straight Talk About The Northern Virginia Real Estate Market
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Cindy.....very nice localism post.....sounds like you have some beautiful parks within that community....
I love carousels! You did a great job with this post Cindy.
Cindy: I've lived here my entire life and never once been to Lake Accotink Park. Burke Lake I've been to many times. I wonder how this park got overlooked by my parents, and then by me.
I think living in one of these neighborhoods that have access to Lake Accotink would be great. I love to take walks, and so does my dog Buster.
Barbara-we are lucky to have the top notch Fairfax County Park Authority in our area. They maintain thousands of acres of parkland.
Jackie thanks for stopping by. I have photos of my son on the carousel when he was under 3 and hope to grab one of my grandson, now 18 mos on it soon.
Chris Ann-Burke Lake was a straight shot from your house in Fairfax. I had a hard time realizing that we have had 4 generations of my family at this park. My parents, myself, my kids and now my grandkids....yikes.
Anne-perfect loop at around the lake for you and Buster.
Cindy
Lake Accotink sounds it offers a fun day for the family.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Lou-our family has had plenty of years of fun at Lake Accotink.
We are just covered up with great places, aren't we? Great pix and wonderful localism post.
Susan-we are fortunate to live in an area with great parks, great history and great people!