Manassas Park, Northern Virginia’s newest city, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with events and activities beginning July 1, 2024. The city, which declared independence from Prince William County in 1957 and became a city in 1975, has planned a variety of events throughout the year to commemorate the milestone.
City Councilwoman Laura Hampton emphasized the city’s historical significance: “Manassas Park was built primarily for returning World War II veterans. The city has always been revolutionary, even when we were a small town.”
As part of the celebration, former and current residents are being asked to contribute to a digital historical museum. Hampton explained, “We are asking current and former residents to upload old photos, yearbooks, newspaper clippings and other historical items to our website. This will help create a historical museum of Manassas Park.”
The city is also getting its youth involved in the celebrations. “We’re asking students to design a 50th anniversary logo and create posters to celebrate the anniversary,” Hampton said. These submissions will be used at various city events throughout the year.
One of the main events planned is a celebration on July 1, 2025. The details are still being worked out, but the event is expected to be a major part of the anniversary activities. Hampton mentioned, “We are planning a celebration on July 1, 2025 and the details will be announced closer to the date. There will be the 50th anniversary logo and some sort of celebration.”
The year-long celebration will culminate in a major event in September 2025. This event is designed to connect the city’s current traditions with its historical roots. “We plan to hold the final event in Costello Park, which ties in with the city’s old traditions. This will allow residents to walk to the event and use the facilities in the park,” Hampton said.
In addition to these events, the city will continue its annual activities, such as raising the flag on Veterans Day. Hampton emphasized the importance of this event, stating, “We want as many veterans as possible to come to our gathering on August 27th. On November 1st, we will raise a flag of gratitude in honor of our veterans.”
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the city government has also focused on community improvement projects, including cleaning up local streams and revitalizing downtown areas. “We cleaned up the stream at the AER and found several items, including a bicycle submerged in the water. Residents and city staff have worked together to keep the park beautiful,” noted Hampton.
Hampton summed up the spirit of the celebration by saying, “This milestone allows us to reflect on our history and look toward the future development of our city.”
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