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© 2007 Rutherford Civic Association |
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Parks and Trails Enjoy Rutherford’s Parks and Trails!
The beautiful 23 acre Rutherford Park, which is owned and maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority, is the heart of the Rutherford Community. Included in the Park are three tennis courts, a basketball court, tree-shaded picnic area, children’s playground, and two ball fields. The Rutherford community pool is located at one end of the park. The Civic Association sponsors various events in the park, including an annual Fall Festival. Running through Rutherford Park is the Long Branch Stream Valley Trail, a feeder trail to the Fairfax County Connector Trail, which stretches for 38 miles from the Potomac to Occoquan rivers http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trailsframe.htm A particularly scenic section of the Long Branch trail begins across the street from the parking area on Guinea Road, and winds for 2 1/4 miles through the woods to Wakefield Chapel Road. The trail also crosses the park in the opposite direction for an additional half-mile segment to Olley Lane. The Civic Association is funding additional signage for this trail, which will be installed by the Park Authority in the summer of 2006.
Clearing Ivy in Rutherford Park, September 2006 Under the leadership of prospective eagle John MacDonald, members of Boy Scout Troop 1525 worked from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Rutherford Park clearing English Ivy. They concentrated on the area behind the tennis courts, and filled an impressive 43 bags with ivy. Members of Troop 1525 who are Rutherford residents are: John MacDonald, Spencer Adams, Zach Wester, Ben Marple, Chris Marple, and Malcolm Galloway. Adults helping out were Doris MacDonald and Mary Ann Beck. Total volunteers for the project: 24. Total volunteer hours for the project: 80. English ivy is a very invasive plant that chokes out native vegetation, and can kill the trees that it grows on. On the ground, ivy chokes out other plants and prevents native wildflowers from growing. Invasive plants are one of the most serious threats to the quality of our natural areas and their ability to support wildlife. What can Homeowners do to Help Protect Rutherford Park? 1. Consider getting rid of invasive plants on your own land, and never plant them near parkland. 2. Do not compost clippings from invasive plants. 3. Never put piles of leaves, grass clippings, logs, or other yard debris on parkland. Besides being illegal, it also prevents oxygen from getting to the plants beneath, killing tree roots and other plants. 4. When planting trees or other plants, consider using native Virginia plants. 5. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/stewardship to learn more about native plants as well as harmful invasive plants. 6. The Fairfax County Park Authority has identified ten common invasive plants that aggressively reproduce and have a negative effect on the ecology of our area:
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