Lake Accotink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Accotink |
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Lake Accotink
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 Lake Accotink
Location in Virginia
Lake Accotink
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fairfax County, Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°47′35″N 77°13′06″W / 38.793169°N 77.218316°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Accotink Creek |
| Primary outflows | Accotink Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Lake Accotink Park | |
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| Location | Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia, United States |
| Area | 493-acre (2.00 km2) |
| Operated by | Fairfax County Park Authority |
| Status | Open all year |
| Website | Official site: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/accotink/ |
Lake Accotink is a cool place to visit in North Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia. It's actually a reservoir, which is a man-made lake used to store water. This lake was created by building a dam across Accotink Creek. The lake is surrounded by a big, fun area called Lake Accotink Park.
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About Lake Accotink
Lake Accotink covers 55 acres, and the park around it is much larger, at 493 acres. The main river that flows into and out of the lake is Accotink Creek. A dam holds back the water on the south side of the lake, close to a railway bridge used by Norfolk Southern trains. There was some construction on the dam in 2010, which meant you couldn't rent boats for a while.
Fun Things to Do
Lake Accotink Park is a great spot for outdoor activities!
- You can rent bikes, canoes, paddleboats, and rowboats to explore the lake.
- There are also tour boats if you prefer to relax and enjoy the ride.
- A 3.75 miles (6.04 km) trail goes all the way around the lake, perfect for walking or running.
- Other trails connect to the Cross County Trail, which has even more paths for running and mountain biking.
- Near the park's south entrance, you'll find a miniature golf course and an old-fashioned carousel.
- Just remember, boats with gas-powered motors are not allowed on the lake to keep it peaceful and clean.
Park Services
The park has a snack bar and boathouse where you can grab chips, drinks, and other treats. If you're planning a party or a special event, you can reserve one of the park's pavilions. The antique carousel runs during the summer months, and there are playgrounds near the pavilions for younger kids. You'll also find picnic areas with grills, perfect for a barbecue. During the summer, the park offers many different summer camps.
Amazing Wildlife
Lake Accotink is home to a wide variety of animals!
- You might see great blue herons, ducks, and Canada geese floating on the water.
- Many different birds fly around the park, like seagulls, American robins, swifts, swallows, and osprey.
- Sometimes, you might even spot a majestic bald eagle!
- Along the edges of the lake, look for red foxes, white-tailed deer, and beaver dams.
- You might also see cottonmouth snakes and skinks.
History of the Lake
Lake Accotink was built a long time ago, between 1943 and 1944, by the U.S. Army. They needed it as a water supply for Fort Belvoir, a nearby army base. There was actually an older dam in the same spot that served a similar purpose from 1918 to 1922.
Over time, water quality became a problem because of waste from nearby towns flowing into Accotink Creek. The water became unsafe to drink, so the Army decided they didn't need the reservoir anymore.
Even though people had used the area for fun before, the Army stopped guarding the site, and it was closed to the public. In 1958, after the land was declared "extra," Fairfax County became interested in turning it into a public park.
The Army first wanted to keep the land, just in case they needed it again. But in March 1960, Fairfax County was given permission to use the lake for 25 years to create a public park. That's when the reservoir was officially named Lake Accotink.
In 1964, Lake Accotink was finally put up for sale. The Fairfax County Park Authority bought the 242-acre area, including the 100-acre lake, for $176,500 in April 1965.
In June 1970, the lake had to be closed again because tests showed the water was still too polluted. After a sewage plant was closed and the city's waste was sent to a county system in February 1971, there was a plan to drain the lake, refill it, and add new fish.
Even after these efforts, the lake was still too polluted for swimming, mainly because of dirt and pollution from new buildings washing into the lake. However, in July 1971, it was finally opened for boating and fishing.
In September 2014, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a study to learn more about Lake Accotink Park.
Images for kids
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View along the dam
