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visitors the opportunity to closely observe the largest habitat of its kind in the region. Over 200,000 people now visit the park every year, seeking wildlife observation, exercise, and relaxation. The staffed visitor center offers many exhibits on the park's human and natural history as well as educational programs for all ages.
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A wetland restoration project for the
Central Wetland has been in the design phase for several years. The restoration is meant to manage and preserve the wetland structure and biodiversity through various natural resource challenges. Major components include: a small concrete dam, access road,
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After the federal government turned the land over to
Fairfax County in 1975, beavers quickly returned to the area and began to change how water flowed through the land. Biodiversity in what is now referred to as the Central Wetland rapidly increased and a boardwalk was opened in 1982 to allow
165:. The park features a visitor center, a beaver-created wetland with boardwalk, wildlife observation platforms, and an interpretative trail system. The park is home to abundant wildlife and is known for attracting many birds, amphibians, and plants that are considered less common in the region.
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Huntley
Meadows Park has over 3.8 miles (6.1 km) of maintained trails. Near the wetland areas these trails are over boardwalks (no pets permitted on boardwalk). There are many watch areas and benches along the maintained Heron, Deer and Cedar trails.
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A nonprofit organization, Friends of
Huntley Meadows Park, provides significant support to the park. In addition to its dedication to the protection of park resources, the organization also helps provides funding for programs, internships, and equipment.
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Many plant and flower species are in
Huntley Meadows—over 600 species have been identified—including 300 species of wildflowers. There are over 200 species of birds, 30 of mammals, 50 of reptiles and amphibians, 50 of dragonflies and damselflies.
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shallow wetland pools, dead tree placement within the wetland, and expansion of nearby park meadows with soil excavated from the project. Nearly three million dollars from voter approved bonds will be spent by the County on these improvements.
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by professionals and hobbyists. Photos taken at the park have won awards including the grand prize for the 2019 Audubon
Photography Awards and judges choice for the North American Nature Photography Association Showcase 2020. The public
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is a continuing concern as it grows well and covers the forest floor. The park has undertaken initiatives, such as boot cleaning sites at trailheads to limit seeds being spread, to attempt to combat it.
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signed papers authorizing the donation of 1,261 acres (510 ha) to the citizens of
Fairfax County, "exclusively for public park or public recreation purposes in perpetuity." Under the Federal
220:, a grandson of George Mason, built a summer residence on the property in 1825. The house, now known as Historic Huntley, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the
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169:, sprinkled with several small, native-grass and wildflower meadows surround much of the wetland habitat. The main bodies of water that flow through the park are
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About 100,000 years ago the land was on a western meander of the
Potomac River. About 30,000 years ago the river straightened to its present course leaving an
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Bird and wildlife watching is the main activity. There are multiple observation towers and stations along the trails. The park is well known in the region for
235:, which he claimed would be the largest airport in the world. After he lost nearly all of the property, the federal government acquired the land.
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reassembled the parcels, purchasing 1,500 acres (610 ha) from 10 landowners. He dreamed of transforming Hybla Valley's dairy farms into the
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Mason family ownership lasted into the early 1900s, with sections of the land being sold for family farms. In the late 1920s, entrepreneur
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it was to be the largest airport in the world — larger than those of New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Chicago and
Philadelphia combined.
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which is now the northwest portion of the park. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area was used for dairy farming.
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Various naturalist talks, school education programs, self-guided tours and even artistic performances are part of the park.
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conducted highly classified radio communication research from 1958 to 1971, before declaring the land surplus around 1971.
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In colonial times, this land was part of the extensive property holdings of George Mason IV.
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419:"1929: Famed aviatrix Ruth Elder visits Sperryville / The George Washington Air Junction"
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Like many parks, Huntley
Meadows is dealing with non-native invasive plant species.
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group Huntley Meadows Park Photography has over 6,400 members as of January 2022.
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The land was bought by the federal government in 1941. From 1943 to 1953, the
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Program, the County paid only one dollar for the land. In 1992 the
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523:, Friends of Huntley Meadows Park. Accessed March 22, 2011.
407:, Fairfax County Park Authority. Accessed March 22, 2011.
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480:. North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA)
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448:"The 2019 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners"
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193:Huntley Meadows Park from the air in 2017
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207:National Register of Historic Places
600:Protected areas established in 1975
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315:The beaver lake at Huntley Meadows
281:Boardwalk and wetlands at the park
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590:Parks in Fairfax County, Virginia
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201:. About 1825 his grandson built
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16:Park in Fairfax County, Virginia
605:1975 establishments in Virginia
566:Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
521:Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
502:. Virginia Native Plant Society
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233:George Washington Air Junction
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561:Fairfax County Park Authority
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263:Fairfax County Park Authority
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610:Meadows in the United States
417:Audette, Don (May 1, 2014).
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222:Virginia Landmarks Register
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595:Nature centers in Virginia
454:. National Audubon Society
452:Audubon Photography Awards
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474:"Top 250 Showcase Images"
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85:38.760157°N 77.095592°W
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534:"Japanese Stiltgrass"
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273:Huntley Meadows today
218:Thomson Francis Mason
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90:38.760157; -77.095592
557:Huntley Meadows Park
425:. Rappahannock Media
405:Huntley Meadows Park
179:Little Hunting Creek
147:Huntley Meadows Park
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478:NANPA Showcase 2020
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294:Wetland restoration
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355:Hybla Valley
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211:Okeley Manor
199:George Mason
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175:Barnyard Run
155:Hybla Valley
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44:Hybla Valley
255:Gerald Ford
171:Dogue Creek
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63:Coordinates
584:Categories
484:17 January
458:17 January
378:References
351:oxbow lake
321:Activities
163:Alexandria
76:77°05′44″W
73:38°45′37″N
559:from the
575:Facebook
539:July 25,
506:July 25,
423:RappNews
336:Facebook
157:area of
52:Virginia
40:Location
429:July 8,
345:Geology
203:Huntley
185:History
135:Website
109:Created
127:Status
541:2018
508:2018
486:2020
460:2020
431:2016
248:Navy
112:1975
101:Area
573:on
56:USA
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
