Sure, Vienna-area parks are acclaimed for their woodsy ambiance, safe play equipment, "greenness" and accessibility ... but few are aware of the value-added amenities to these parkland retreats.
This list is not a "best of ..." list. Like a one-week trip to Italy, this selection focuses on a few highlights.
So, grab a picnic and a child or a dog, and enjoy a respite at a Vienna-area park.
TO CALL MEADOWLARK Botanical Gardens a "park," is akin to calling Laurence Olivier a movie star. There’s ordinary and then there’s extra-ordinary, and Meadowlark, with nearly 100 acres of majestic woodland, colorful native and non-native flora, and serene lakes, is extraordinary.
Now 20 years old, Meadowlark incorporates the topography of the Virginia Piedmont with large hills dropping off to small streams, wooded hollows, and forested vistas paired in harmony with its horticultural collections. Meandering trails wind their way through the well-manicured horticultural landscape.
Cluster of flowers, plants, shrubs and trees, identified with markers, dot the landscape. Near the lake gazebo, a sought-after wedding site at Meadowlark, a playful and creative children’s garden invites imagination.
"We have several native plant collections and nature wetland collections," said Visitor Center coordinator, Danielle Beres. "The rest of the park is more ornamental. We have some unique collections, such as the Children’s Garden and Cancer Treatment Garden."
Enclosed by an arbor, the playful Children’s Garden is "all pretend," said Beres.
The "teacups" are framed with wire and moss, and children sit on cut logs. Outside the arbor is a magical wonderland of topiary animals.
On a hillside overlooking the larger lake, a young couple, recent college graduates, had spread out a blanket under a shade tree and was feeding geese by hand.
"Courtney is leaving tonight for a job in New York," said Michael Gilbert. "I took her here today because it’s so beautiful, one of the nicest gardens we’ve ever seen."
Courtney Cooke agreed.
"We’ve been to a lot of different gardens, different parks, in other parts of the country," said Cooke. "This park is one of the largest and most scenic. It’s so quiet here.
"I’m surprised the geese are so friendly; they’re really brave," Cooke continued as a goose fed out of her hand.
Three baby geese followed their mother around, surrounded by dozens of geese, all waiting for a handout from the visitors.
"On our first date, we went to a garden," said Gilbert. "This was a relaxing place to come before Courtney leaves tonight."
THE MAIN BUILDING, the visitors center, overlooks the gardens, and may be rented out for small affairs. Inside is a small gift shop. Occasionally, well-priced plants ($1 for a basil plant) are sold at Meadowlark. Throughout the year, the Visitors’ Center hosts workshops, classes and lectures open to the public.
The Atrium, so in-demand in the summer months that reservations for wedding celebrations are booked a year in advance, holds 170 people seated. An elegant reception facility, the Atrium houses indoor gardens.
"The log cabin holds about 30 people. It’s a popular spot for camp sleepovers for groups like the Brownies," said Beres. "There’s lighting in the shelter and bathrooms close by."
Dedicated to the memory of a local woman who lost her battle with cancer, the Cancer Treatment Garden, a palette of greens and colors, produces botanical compounds that are in use today, or being researched for potential use, in the fight against cancer, said Park Manager Keith Tomlinson. They’re mostly tropical, and all cytotoxic, he said.
"We have to charge an admission fee," said Beres, "because we only get about 20 percent of our funds from taxpayers. The remaining 80 percent the parks make up themselves.
"The admission fee pays to keep the gardens open."
For people who cannot get enough of a beautiful thing, Meadowlark offers two types of membership programs in which members have unlimited access to the gardens.
"I think it’s absolutely beautiful here," said Sabrina Dennis of Arlington, holding the hand of fiance, Rob McBride. "So beautiful, we’re getting married here on Aug. 4, on the Atrium terrace."
Dennis and McBride were on the Atrium’s waiting list when Dennis "got lucky" in February. She was checking back when a cancellation appeared. "We’d been here before for a wedding and really liked it, "said McBride. "This was our first choice."
VIENNA DOG PARK: It was a hot and humid June day — is there any other kind of June day in Northern Virginia? — and Sampson was tired of playing ball and tired of socializing with strangers. It was time for a break, and with a public "pool" close by, Sampson jumped in to cool himself off. Broad, towering trees sheltered him from the sun and tweeting birds talked to one another as siblings Nikki and Teagans introduced themselves to newcomer, JR.
This park on Courthouse Road is like most Vienna parks in many ways: bountiful shade trees, playground equipment, mulched play area, even a water faucet. Except this park has plastic bags instead of restrooms, the playground is fenced in, and the playmates walk on four legs.
This is no ordinary park but is, instead, a wooded retreat for canine family members.
"I GIVE THIS PARK A ’10,’" said Sampson’s companion, Laura Griggs from Texas. Griggs and her husband travel throughout the U.S. in his work as a builder of conveyance equipment, and she has brought Sampson to dog parks in every place they visited.
"There are trees all around it and it’s mulched, making it softer to run on," said Griggs. "The people who come here with their dogs are great, very friendly; everyone seems to know one another."
The Griggs have been in the Vienna area for four months now, and Laura Griggs brings Sampson to the dog park every other day. At Griggs’ indication, Sampson, a dog-friendly black lab, showed off his prowess on the agility equipment.
"This really is one of the best dog parks," said Griggs, noting the hose, small pool, shade trees, and behind the back gate, the trail on Nottoway Park’s perimeter.
It was Janice Taylor’s first visit to the Vienna Dog Park but she and her terriers were as enthusiastic as Griggs was.
"I heard about this dog park from a friend," said Taylor. "This park has chips on the ground and a little water hole. I especially love the shade; other dog parks are out in the open where it’s much hotter.
"My only suggestion would be a segregated area for smaller dogs; sometimes, my terriers are intimidated by the larger dogs."
GLYNDON PARK: There is always something going on at Glyndon Park, a jewel in the midst of the Town.
From baseball to tennis to basketball, from sheltered picnics to romping in a wooded grove, from scampering on a playground to summer movies in the park, there is something for every taste, every mood, at Glyndon Park.
"This park is especially nice because of the shade," said Nataly Arce, picnicking at a sheltered table with her sister, Sandy Arce, and mother, Vienna nanny Rosario Bustillos. "It’s a lot bigger than other parks and I’ve played tennis here before."
Sandy Arce explained that they had been to parties at Glyndon and liked the quiet atmosphere there. Bustillos applauded the space for eating and playing in the shade.
"We’ve seen deer here when I’ve taken the children for a walk," said Bustillos. "I come to this park every day."
Although only yards away from the baseball field where an "A" game was being played, the family chatted in quiet space as they ate lunch.
"It’s a very nice park," said baseball mom Julie Williams. "My younger child uses the playground while Grant plays ball. All this shade in a park so close to the town ... " mused Williams.
WOLF TRAILS PARK: Shhhhhhhhhh … this one is a "secret."
Located on the outskirts of Vienna, Wolf Trail Park is one of those hidden treasures.
It’s very much a community park; neighborhood children play there on well-maintained playground equipment, tennis players from nearby streets come by to practice their skills, and Marshall lacrosse players occasionally hit the ball against the backdrop. The trail that winds its way through the park is a popular jogging and dog-walking route. Soccer fields bring in visitors from outside the immediate vicinity, but, for the most part, Wolf Trails Park is not widely known.
"I like the backboard here because it bounces the ball straight back to you," said 11-year old Natalie Beden, as she finished up tennis practice with her dad, Craig.
"It’s a great community park," Beden said, "but my family does not have access without a car. My kids have used the soccer field and I’ve walked the dog on the trails."
Only one thing needed, said Natalie — this park needs water fountains.