Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual 12055 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA 22035-1118 Phone 703/324-8700 Harold L. Strickland, Chairman Timothy K. White, Acting Director March 2008 Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual - March 2008 Table of Contents Page Preface iii Objectives iv Objective 100.................................................................................................................. 100.1 Policy 101 Countywide Park Planning Framework 100.2 Policy 101.1 Land Acquisition Criteria......................................................... 100.4 Policy 101.2 Guidelines for County Development Review Process............ 100.6 Policy 101.3 Greenways, Including Stream Valleys.................................... 100.7 Policy 102 Park Planning Process 100. 13 Policy 103 Park Planning and Development 100. 15 Policy 103.1 General Criteria for Site Development 100. 18 Policy 103.2 Trails 100. 19 Policy 103.3 Accessibility 100.20 Policy 103.4 Energy Management 100.21 Policy 104 Provision of Park and Recreation Facilities on School Grounds 100.22 Policy 105 Public and Private Sector Partnerships 100.24 Policy 106 Naming of Parks , 100.25 Policy 108 Public Hearings 100.26 Policy 109 Athletic Field Development Agreement 100.27 Objective 200 200.1 Policy 201 Natural Resources 200.2 Policy 202 Wildlife Conflict Resolution 200.5 Policy 203 Cultural Resources 200..7 Policy 204 Countywide Heritage Resource Archaeology 200.9 Policy 205 Historic Restoration 200.10 Policy 206 Historic Collections 200.11 Policy 207 Live Animal Collections 200.13 Objective 300 300. 1 Policy 301 Protection of Lands and Facilities 300.2 Policy 302 Easements 300.4 Policy 303 Telecommunications Sites : 300.6 Policy 304 Stormwater Projects on Parkland 300.8 Policy 305 Sustainable Management Practices 300.10 Policy 306 Maintenance 300.11 Policy 307 Disposal of Land or Facilities 300.12 Objective 400 400.1 Policy 401 Events .400.2 Policy 402 Athletic Field Use .400.3 Policy 402.1 Park and Field Adoption Programs 400.4 Policy 402.2 Adopt-A-Field Storage Facilities on Park Property 400.5 Policy 403 User Fees .400.6 Policy 404 Safety and Property Security .400.7 Policy 405 Rental Properties on Parklands .400.8 Policy 406 Signs and Displays 400.10 Policy 407 Construction of Donated Facilities/Structures on Park Land .400.11 Policy 408 Memorials in Parks .400.12 Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual - March 2008 Table of Contents (continuation) Page Objective 500 : 500.1 Policy 501 Operations--General Statement 500.2 Policy 502 Communication With Citizens 500.3 Policy 503 Director and Park Authority Relationship 500.5 Policy 504 Personnel. 500.6 Policy 505 Indemnification of Officers, Employees and Volunteers 500.7 Policy 506 Standards of Conduct 500. 9 Policy 507 Volunteers 500.11 Policy 508 Length of Service Pass 500.12 Policy 509 Contractual Services Procurement. 500.13 Policy 510 Fiscal Plans 500.14 Policy 511 Fund Raising 500.15 Policy 512 Green Procurement 500.16 Appendices Appendix 1. Park Authorities Act A-1 Appendix 2. Park Authority Ordinance A-1 0 Appendix 3. Park Authority Ordinance as Amended A-12 Appendix 4. Park Authority Bylaws A-20 Appendix 5. Park Authority Bylaws as Amended A-23 Appendix 6. Memorandum of Understanding Between the Board of Supervisors and the Park Authority A-24 Appendix 7. Park Regulations A-32 Appendix 8. Adopt-A-Field Maintenance Agreement A-41 Appendix 9. Adopt-A-Field Maintenance Agreement--Full Adoption A-46 Appendix 10. Adopt-A-Park Maintenance Agreement. A-49 Appendix 11 Park Classification System A-53 Appendix 12. National Trust for Historic Preservation Guidelines A-58 Appendix 13. Curatorial Care of Archaeological Objects A-61 Appendix 14. Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations in Virginia A-90 Appendix 15. Guidelines and Procedures for Historic Collections Management. A-107 ii Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual – March 2008 Preface This manual is designed to provide guidance to the Fairfax County Park Authority Board in arriving at decisions in accordance with the goals, purposes, objectives and policies of the Authority, and to the staff of the Authority in determining appropriate procedures for implementing those decisions. Park Authority policies are guidelines which allow discretion and a latitude of choice or judgment to be exercised, within legal bounds, depending on different circumstances, situations or conditions. Indiscriminate exceptions to Park Authority policies are to be avoided. A five-year review and updates are necessary to ensure that the objectives and policies reflect changing county needs; therefore, objectives and policies may be revised, added, or deleted upon action of the Park Authority Board. The Authority was created by action of the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, at its meeting on December 6, 1950, by Resolution, in accordance with the provisions of the Park Authorities Act (Sec. 15.1-1228 to 15.1-1238.1, Ch. 27, Code of Virginia).1 Later ordinances affecting the Authority have been adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The Park Authority Board has adopted By-Laws for the conduct of Authority business. Reviewed and Adopted March 26, 2008 1 Title 15.1 of the Virginia Code was recodified and renumbered effective December 1, 1997. iii Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual – March 2008 Objectives 100 Provide local park lands and programs for the conservation of environmental and cultural resources, recreational facilities needed for current and future citizens, and seek maximum citizen participation in the planning and development process. 200 Protect and preserve significant and sensitive natural and cultural resources in accordance with adopted criteria and standards and adherence with natural and heritage resource management guidelines and Countywide Policy Plan obligations so that these resources may be handed on to future generations. 300 Ensure the long term protection, preservation and sustainability of park resources. 400 Provide recreation services and operate the park system consistent with Park Authority goals and objectives and the need of citizens for quality programs and services, providing a number and diversity of programs and services in compliance with all applicable standards, ordinances and good management practices. 500 Administer the Park Authority within its funding and procedural capabilities and according to the needs of the citizens, and employ competent staff and volunteers, treat them with respect, and compensate them fairly. iv Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual – March 2008 Objective 100 Provide local park lands and programs for the conservation of environmental and cultural resources, recreational facilities needed for current and future citizens, and seek maximum citizen participation in the planning and development process. Page 100.1 Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual – March 2008 Policy 101 Countywide Park Planning Framework The Park Authority shall be guided by the following general policies for the acquisition and development of public parks and for the conservation of significant natural and cultural resources. As appropriate, other public agencies and private property owners shall be involved. 1. Plan, acquire, develop and maintain parks and recreational facilities in accordance with adopted criteria and standards. Acquire and develop the following types of parks. Neighborhood Parks Residential Neighborhood Parks Urban Parks Community Parks District Parks Countywide Parks Natural Resource Parks Historic Sites/Archaeological Parks Stream Valley Parks Multiple Resource Parks Special Purpose Parks/Areas 2. Balance the delivery of programs for stewardship of the public lands and provision of recreation services. 3. Achieve a balance of parkland facilities throughout the County based on the desires of the community as a whole and on population distribution and growth. 4. Enhance existing recreation and resource protection opportunities through acquisition of adjacent lands wherever feasible. Acquisition and development of parklands shall be achieved through a combination of public/private mechanisms including, but not limited to, voluntary dedication and/or donation of land, fee simple purchase, purchase of development rights, wetland mitigation funds, purchase of land with leaseback arrangements, development of negotiated bidding agreements and other appropriate means. 5. Promote incentives for private landowners to preserve open space and protect ecological and cultural resources through the use of conservation easements, land-use valuation, and other programs designed to ameliorate pressures which force the conversion of real estate to more intensive uses. 6. Use the park system, in conjunction with the Environmental Quality Corridor (EQC) and Countywide Trails system, to establish an integrated network of greenways to conserve open space, protect wildlife habitat, riparian corridors, water quality and aesthetic values, control flooding and erosion and provide continuity of non-motorized access between park lands, residential communities, employment and commercial centers, and transit destinations. Acquire those segments of EQCs needed to complete the public stream Page 100.2 Fairfax County Park Authority Policy Manual – March 2008 Policy 101 Countywide Park Planning Framework (continuation) valley park system. Where land acquisition may not be feasible or desirable, work with private landowners to protect identified resources