If games are moved or canceled due to field closure, you will receive a notification by email (or text if you set your account up for text messages). You can configure your notification settings by signing in, then click on "Edit My Account".
Each weekday, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) determines playability of all Fairfax County Park fields (based on FCPA personnel in-person observations) and posts athletic field status by 3PM. If FCPA closes a field, nobody should use that field and if it has lights, they will not work when park is posted as closed.
FCPA does not post field status for Fairfax County Public Schools fields. FCPA does not post status of the field at St Veronica.
Sometimes, as full adopters of Chantilly Park, we are allowed to open Chantilly Park when FCPA would normally close it. In the past year, this has been much more difficult to accomplish.
If/where/when we can, we will try to check conditions at school fields and StV. We can’t always get out or get someone else to go check a field. On a sunny day, we’re likely to assume the field is in good shape and we’ll post it as open. On a more questionable day, or the day after a field was closed, if nobody has reported to us, we will post the field as “TBD” – so that after 3:15 PM it is up to the managers of the teams scheduled to practice or play. This is also referred to as “Manager Decision” or “Game Time Decision”.
We try to update our status by 3PM. It’s safest to wait until about 3:15 to check field status. We're at work during the day, just like you, and aren't always able to check on the fields. One of the best things about the our website is that the field status page is quick and easy to update. The bad thing is we can’t add any text to the page to explain anything and there’s no date/time stamp to know when it was last updated. When possible, we’ll update Facebook and post a message on the front page of the website.
Field status may change after 3:15 PM if we get updated reports of field conditions or weather comes in later..
Everyone needs to follow the general guidelines below for determining field status…
Please keep in mind that just because it’s raining where you work or live, does not mean a field will be closed.
Open - Green = field is open and available for use
Closed - Red = field is closed an nobody should use any part of it
TBD - Orange = Before 3:15 PM - field status has not been updated, after 3:15 PM (or on a weekend) it is up to the manager to determine field status.
Even when fields are "OPEN" it is everyone's responsibility to assess the condition upon arrival. If the field is not playable, don't step on it.
If standing water or foot prints, stay off...
You must be able to rake/drag field and actually do so after use. If it’s too wet, you just cannot rake or drag.
Managers – re: “Manager Decision” status, use the guidelines below to determine playability. Use common sense please.
Field Status Checklist...
All managers are encouraged to assess field conditions upon arrival at any open field.
You should not play on a baseball field if any of the following conditions exist:
· There is standing water on any portion of the field.
· The sound of a footstep (squish-squish) can be heard while walking on the field.
· While standing on the field, water can be observed gathering around the sole of the foot.
· While walking (not running) across a grass portion of the field, a footprint is left in the soil (not just the grass bending over).
· While walking (not running) on any dirt portion of the field, an impression ½” or deeper is made in the soil.
DO NOT rake mud or sweep puddles into the grass.
DO NOT dig trenches to remove standing water.
DO NOT use Turface or any quick-dry material unless you have received authorization to do so.
