Photo Credit: Fairfax County Park Authority
An effective parks and recreation agency is always looking for its next good idea. The Fairfax County Park Authority in Virginia already had its next good idea--the staff members just had to remember it.
The agency took one of its most popular attractions at one of its most popular parks and spread the fun across the county. Wagon rides through fields and woods were once a specialty of Frying Pan Farm Park. They fit with the atmosphere of a 1930s-era farm that the site models. However, the rides became so popular that the park authority thought similar treks might find patrons at other sites.
This past summer, the wagons rolled out in four other parks, all of them rich in natural and cultural resources. “It has become a new way to experience the stories and beauties of the parks for families,” says Education and Outreach Manager Tammy Schwab. “You can see large parts of the parks without having to walk the long distances. It has also allowed access to newer parks like Laurel Hill earlier than would be normal because guided wagon rides can happen now and not have to wait for the construction of trails or buildings.”
