The Fairfax County Park Authority recently put out a “pardon our dust,” announcement for work on Hybla Valley Park off Lockheed Boulevard where they are “sprucing up,” the park but also including a futsal, court, for the soccer fans in this area.

Futsal is a form of soccer that’s big in Argentina that’s growing a following in the United States as well. It’s defined as a variant of soccer played (mainly) indoors on a hard court slightly larger than a basketball court, with two teams of five players each, including a goalkeeper.

Apparently some of the residents in this area are aware of this sport too because they voiced support at the public information meeting last year. According to the county, FCPA presented multiple park renovation concepts to the community at Hybla Valley Elementary School in September 2024. The community feedback received during that meeting and the subsequent comment period confirmed that the community desired a substantial playground, a futsal court, a basketball court, and more places to sit within the park.

According to Brittany Vasquez, public relations manager at FCPA, the park renovation is part of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access (PROSA) Strategy, which focuses on equitable access to parks and amenities. Using this framework, Hybla Valley Park was identified as an opportunity for investment that would have a lasting positive impact on the surrounding community.

They gathered feedback on court types and found that 79% of 90 respondents at a local meeting indicated that futsal and basketball would be the most beneficial court option for the community, surpassing tennis. Additionally, research in this area supports the need for more futsal and basketball facilities to meet community demand. 

Futsal is a growing sport and provides players the opportunity to play or practice soccer where large sport fields are not always possible. The addition of a dedicated basketball court and a futsal court in this park is expected to be well used by not only the community but also by the adjacent elementary school, Vasquez said. 

FCPA is delivering too. The plans include transforming the tennis courts into a dedicated futsal court and basketball court, converting the practice tennis court into a playground, parking lot renovations and furnishings.

Active construction is scheduled to begin now, the first week of March, and is expected to conclude by the end of summer 2025, FCPA said.