By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher. Prince William Living
More than 1,000 residents gathered at Fairmont Park in Manassas on Saturday, Oct. 18, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Fairmont Park KABOOM! Playspace—a community-built playground designed by local children and constructed by over 200 volunteers. The free family festival, hosted by Amazon and Prince William County Parks and Recreation, showcased the power of collaboration to create spaces that strengthen neighborhoods and bring people together.
Families enjoyed an afternoon packed with carnival games, STEM activities, complimentary food from local vendors, and an outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus under the stars. The event highlighted how the playspace has become a vibrant hub for local families, offering a safe, accessible area for play, learning, and connection.
“We are thrilled to mark the one-year anniversary of this community-built playground by continuing to activate Fairmont Park with Amazon, celebrating the community, and strengthening relationships within the community,” said Janet Bartnik, Deputy Director of Prince William County Parks & Recreation.
Amazon representatives joined local officials and community partners to commemorate the milestone. Wilberte Paul, Amazon’s Community Engagement Manager, emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to local partnerships: “At Amazon, we’re committed to being good neighbors and meaningful partners in Prince William County and throughout Northern Virginia. This celebration is more than marking a successful year of the Fairmont Park Playspace—it’s about honoring the community we call home.”
Since its opening, the Fairmont Park Playspace has provided more than just a playground. Designed with input from neighborhood children, it reflects their creativity and dreams while fostering essential social and physical development through play. It has also become a setting for community gatherings and educational programming, enriching the lives of families across Manassas.
The project was a joint effort between Prince William County Parks and Recreation, Amazon, and KABOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending play space inequity. Together, they transformed an idea into a lasting resource that continues to bring joy to the community.
As evening settled in, families spread blankets across the grass for the showing of Hocus Pocus, a fitting close to a day that celebrated imagination, partnership, and the importance of play.
Rebecca Barnes is the Publisher of Prince William Living magazine and Brides & Weddings. A lifelong Prince William County resident and volunteer with the OWL Volunteer Fire Department, she believes preparation and community care make every home stronger. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, visiting Walt Disney World, reading, and sleeping.