Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (Chantilly, VA)

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park consists of 650 acres that was established to preserve and protect the land as well as the natural and cultural features found upon it.  There are a wide variety of recreational opportunities found at the park and we have a couple of favorites.

The Walney Visitor Center (converted from an old 1780 farmhouse) offers educational exhibits, programs and information to visitors. The center contains an information desk, rest rooms, sales area, live animal exhibits, historic exhibits, children’s touch table area, greenhouse and classroom. The actual display of live animals is pretty small consisting of turtles, snakes, and frogs when we have visited.  There are also stuffed animals on display.  However, despite the limited space and displays, we really enjoy this visitor’s center. The staff is always very helpful and eager to share their knowledge about the critters that live in the park and their habits and habitats.  Furthermore, as every family with small children appreciates, there are clean restrooms and a water fountain inside the Center.  It makes for a nice break when coming in from a nature trail.

Which leads me to another feature of this park that we really enjoy, the nature trails. There are numerous trails to walk and we have spotted so many different animals.  On our walks we have seen deer, fox, owls, rabbits, many different species of insects (millipedes, caterpillars, butterflies, bees, spiders and much more), squirrels, chipmunks, birds and salamanders. Though the trails are well maintained, they could probably be marked better and we have gotten turned around once or twice. Also, it is important to stay on the trails during certain times of the year because of the poison ivy.  Overall, they are a lot of fun for families who appreciate being outdoors in nature. Our two and four year old have no problems walking them with us and thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Walney Pond is another aspect of the park we like. It is a one-acre man-made containment pond that was excavated in the 1950’s.  There is a boardwalk going across the pond and a trail around the periphery.  There is also a gazebo and platforms to observe the waterfowl and other wildlife. We have attended one of the park’s programs for kids at this pond, where are daughter along with the other children used nets to skim the bottom of the pond and learn about the critters they caught. After studying the finds, they were released back into in the pond.

In addition to the park features and wildlife, there are also numerous activities overseen by naturalists at the park. We have attended the Kids Korner programs and our children had a blast. In this program, preschool children learn a little nature and a little history once a month.  The children must be accompanied by an adult and old siblings are not allowed. An outdoor activity and craft included. The park also has an outdoor amphitheater that offers performances for children. These seem to be hit or miss with some being interesting and age-appropriate and others (though advertised as young children’s events) seem to be more appropriate for adolescents or adults.

Overall, if your family enjoys being outdoors in nature and watching wildlife, you may want to consider adding this park to your itinerary.

More Pictures: Fun Family Finds Pictures

Useful Link: Fairfax County Parks