Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

The Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located in Chantilly, VA just right off of Route 28.  It sits on 650-acres and has a history that spans 8,000 years.  Before the Fairfax County Park Authority acquired the land in 1971, it had only belonged to three families: the Brown/Lewis, Machen, and Lawrence families and the American Indians that owned the land before them.  The exhibits and programs that you encounter at the park will tell the story of the people that inhabited this land.  If you’d like to get a more in-depth history of the park, please visit their website for more information.  It’s quite a complex history and knowing a little more about what is seemingly just a park to many of us, will make your visit a lot more interesting. 

Outside the Visitor Center, families can explore forests with hiking trails, pollinator gardens, a historic kitchen garden, a pond, streams and historic structures.  Please note, that there are two playgrounds and athletic fields, but they are located off of Stonecroft Boulevard and not within walking distance from the main park entrance. It is located on the other side of Route 28.

The Ellanor C. Lawrence Park also offers many seasonal classes and programs for children and families.