You might say that Steve Markle is a donor and volunteer extraordinaire! Steve would digress and say that he is a “forester at heart who instead chose a path of naval engineering as a Naval Officer.” Steve has been involved with what would become McCutcheon Park when he served on the task force to determine the outcome of an 18-acre property that was originally slated for development in 1998. Once FCPA purchased the land in 2000, Steve has been involved in every step from marking and building the trails, to installing a playground and helping remove rubbish and invasive species.
Steve led his neighborhood families to raise money for a playground that raised $22,300 from 73 families and 2 businesses in 2004 for a playground. Steve wrote the Mastenbrook Grant that was approved for $20,000, completing the funding of the $42,300 playground.
For the past 24 years Steve has led volunteer efforts within the park first through the Adopt-A-Park Program and now as the Park Volunteer Team lead at McCutcheon Park. Additionally, since 2013 Steve has been the Invasive Management Area (IMA) program site leader at the park. Not only does Steve help with the removal of invasive plants, but he helps recruit Scouts and members of the community to volunteer. As site leader, he helps to train volunteers on proper plant removal, plant disposal and tool safety, and he educates volunteers about invasive plants. Steve’s dedication to his IMA Site Leader responsibilities is remarkable. Since 2013, Steve has volunteered for 353 days, 2,893 hours, filled 1,008 bags with invasives, led 264 volunteers whose hours totaled 3,716! Steve and his team have removed over 7,800 invasive non-native plants, planted 64 trees, 98 shrubs and 205 forbs to beautify and save McCutcheon Park!
Most recently in 2024, Steve once again helped lead his neighborhood in a fundraising campaign to add long awaited swings to their beloved McCutcheon Park. Steve’s efforts resulted in raising more than $20,000 from families and businesses. McCutcheon Park serves as a treasured focal point for community activities and events.
“We knew in 2004 when we put in the playground in Gil McCutcheon Park that it was incomplete without a swing set. Now thanks to the generosity of the public, funds were raised from neighbors and users of the park and in partnership with the FCPA a new swing set was installed this past August. Thanks to the management acumen of the Park Foundation and its ability to work closely with the Park Authority, the project was completed ahead of schedule with funds left over to further enhance the park for its users. It was a terrific experience for the neighborhood to partner with both the Park Foundation and the Park Authority on this meaningful project," stated Steve.
In addition, Steve’s responsible stewardship ethic and practical skills have made him a trusted ally in the maintenance of the park. Since forming the McCutcheon Park Volunteer Team in 2022, Steve has contributed more than 700 hours performing essential tasks ranging from pruning branches to keep trails clear, conducting park inspections, completing minor repairs to park infrastructure, and facilitating coordination between project vendors and staff. In addition, he has organized and led park cleanups and trail workdays, which have encouraged the participation of neighbors, students, and people of all ages in helping to care for the park.
The Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Fairfax County Park Authority are grateful to Steve Markle, the Villamay Community and its residents, for their continued involvement in McCutcheon Park. It truly does “take a village”!