Community Gardens

Community gardening is one way that the City is helping to increase Alexandria residents’ access to locally grown, environmentally sustainable foods as part of the  Healthy Food Alexandria initiative. The gardening season runs March 1 through Nov. 30 each year.

Farmers Markets

Shop for a variety of fresh and season vegetables, breads, flowers and plants, and other items from local artisans.

• Old Town Farmers' Market
• Del Ray Farmers' Market
• Four Mile Run Farmers' & Artisans Market
• West End Farmers' Market

Libraries

The Alexandria Library is an educational, user-oriented service institution providing free public access to recorded knowledge and ideas. The Library maintains collections of general, regionally historical, and recreational reading, listening, and viewing materials for home and on-site use; provides information services by both professional and skilled staff; provides access to off-site collections, electronic reference resources, and the Internet through the latest information technologies.

• Alexandria Law Library
• Beatley Central Library
• Barrett Branch Library
• Burke Branch Library
• Duncan Branch Library
• Special Collections
• Talking Book Service

Parks

Alexandria is an active community that offers a chance to escape to the great outdoors without leaving town, with more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space.

• City Park Map 
• Parks A-D 
• Parks E-H 
• Parks I-L 
• Parks M-R 
• Parks S-Z 
• Dog Exercise Areas and Parks 
• Marina  
• Maps 
• Northern Virginia Park Authority (NVRPA) 
• Park Rules and Regulations 
• Park and Facility Rentals 
• Picnic Reservations  
• Playgrounds and Tot Lots 
• Basketball andTennis Courts 

Pets

Looking to adopt a new member to your family? The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria provides a shelter to animals in need, as well as promote responsible pet ownership in the Alexandria community. Not only does the League have dogs and cats, but they also have rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, iguanas and chinchillas. 

• Adopt a Pet
• Featured Pet
• Fostering a Pet
• Hours and Directions
• Programs and Services
• Resources for Pet Owners

Recreation

Are you interested in attending a class to get more active? Are you considering taking an individual or group class? Need to send the kiddos off to camp? Thinking about reserving a City park or facility for an event you're hosting?

Neighborhood Centers

• Charles Barrett Recreation Center
• Charles Houston Recreation Center
• Cora Kelly Recreation Center
• Mount Vernon Recreation Center
• Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center 
• Patrick Henry Recreation Center
• William Ramsay Recreation Center

Specialty Centers

• Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility
• Outdoor Pools
• Durant Arts Center
• Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center
• Lee Center (Administrative Offices)

All participants/users of the City of Alexandria neighborhood recreation centers must be residents of the City, and are required to show proof of residency to register at the neighborhood recreation centers. To determine if you are a City resident, refer to the City Residency Verification Guide.

Schools & Libraries

Learn more about Alexandria public schools, private schools, and regional institutions of higher learning.