[1] In 1953, the county made its first purchase of parkland, 15 acres in Great Falls, for $37,717 from the receivers of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad.

[5] As director, Packard would work vigorously over the next few years to acquire park land and preserve natural areas in the rapidly developing county.

[6] The authority gained control over the disused Fort Belvoir reservoir in March 1960 when it was awarded a 25-year lease to operate the 242-acre site as a public park and recreation facility.

Appointed in November 1961, Joseph Brown became the second director of the Fairfax County Park authority in January 1962.

[8][9] Lake Accotink was sold by the Army outright to the Fairfax County Park Authority in April 1965 for $176,500 following the property being declared surplus the previous year.

[9] The authority purchased Lake Fairfax from its owner, developer Mack Slye "Jack" Crippen Jr., for $1.7 million in 1966.

[18] The Federal government agreed in 1974 to give 1,262-acres of land that had been declared surplus the previous December to Fairfax County under the Legacy of Parks program.

Public meetings of the Board are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 in the Herrity Building of the Fairfax County Government Center.