New bench at Huntley Meadows to honor late Park Authority director
A new bench at Huntley Meadows will honor William “Bill” Beckner, who served as director of the Fairfax County Park Authority from 1989 to 1993.
Beckner
Beckner, who died in July at age 70, is recalled as an important figure in the development and growth of the Park Authority. He joined the agency in 1977 as the agency’s chief naturalist. He’s credited with leading the agency’s strategic planning process prior to being named director in 1989.
During his term as director, Beckner fought to have the Park Authority have the ability to control park proffers made by developers, according to an FCPA blog post. The agency received a number of awards during his tenure, including the National Golf Foundation’s 1991 and 1992 Golf and the Environment Award, the NRPA 1991 National Aquatic Program of the Year honor, and a selection as a 1993 NRPA Gold Medal finalist for Special Recreation.
Beckner resigned in 1993 to start a consulting business, Conservation, Environment and Historic Preservation Incorporated, which provided various services to park, recreation and resource management organizations.
“Mr. Beckner has shown great vision during his tenure as director,” a Park Authority board member told The Washington Post after Beckner stepped down. “And placed the park authority in an excellent position to continue as one of the leading park systems in the nation.”
Beckner’s full obituary can be viewed here.
The bench in Beckner’s honor is located near the Huntley Meadows visitor center. The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
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