Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · Jun 11, 2026

PRAB and Senior Center Advisory Council Meeting

Agenda Minutes Read the transcript15 agenda items · 1 vote · 16 tracked topics, 1 in the wiki

What was decided

4
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Minutes approved.
Passed
not chaptered

Presented

3
Joint Senior Council Meeting · Introductions were made and PRAB gave an overview of the board to the Senior Council. Discussion covered board composition, appointment process, time commitment, and opportunities for collaboration. Senior Council mentioned WSHCC and the Van Dyck Park Master Plan as park projects they would like PRAB to advocate for.
- WSHCCapprovedThe Senior Council identified WSHCC as a park project they would like PRAB to advocate for, citing prior Senior Council advocacy for the project.
- Van Dyck Parkin progressThe Van Dyck Park Master Plan was mentioned by the Senior Council as a park project they would like PRAB to advocate for.
- Willard Sherwoodin progressThe Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center was cited as an example of a previous parks project for which the Senior Council had shown advocacy.
5a
Stakeholder Updates – Commission on the Arts · Yolanda Ortiz reported that the final ArtScreen event (Jazz on a Summer's Day) is scheduled for June 12th at SCSCC. The grant application cycle opens July 1st through end of August. Work with the new Cultural Arts Manager is going well.
5b
Stakeholder Updates – Environmental Sustainability Committee · Pat Zook was absent but a written update was provided: two new members appointed to the ESC, filling all positions. Next meeting to organize roles and identify goals aligned with the 2035 Master Plan. A full-time energy manager position was approved by the city manager. The Green Building Policy implementation and a street light conversion project are priorities. A federal EECGB grant for home energy audits will kick off in the fall.
- Master Planin progressThe ESC's upcoming meeting will identify short and long-term goals congruent with the 2035 Master Plan.
- Green Building Policyin progressA newly approved full-time energy manager will dedicate a significant portion of their time to facilitating implementation of the Green Building Policy.
5c
Stakeholder Updates – NOVA Parks · Douglas Stewart reported: a new documentary co-produced with Howard University about the 1944 Student Bus Protest was released; NOVA Parks adopted its 2027 budget of $43.3 million; W&OD Trail hours extended to 5am–9pm year-round; 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run Regional Park on June 13th.
- NOVA Parksin progressNOVA Parks adopted its 2027 budget of $43.3 million, extended W&OD Trail hours to 5am–9pm year-round, co-produced a documentary with Howard University about the 1944 Student Bus Protest, and is holding its 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run Regional Park on June 13th.
- JuneteenthNOVA Parks is holding its 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run Regional Park on June 13, 2026, from 3–5 PM. A proclamation was received by PRAB/the city in connection with the Pride and Juneteenth events. City of Fairfax Juneteenth event scheduled for June 19th.
5d
Stakeholder Updates – Planning Commission · Matt Rice reported that the Planning Commission met on June 8th to review small area plans and a submission called Gallery at City Center, a mixed commercial and residential development with subterranean parking located in Old Town.
- Gallery at City Centerin progresswikiA submission reviewed by the Planning Commission on June 8th; described as a mixed commercial and residential development with subterranean parking located in Old Town.
- Old Townin progressOld Town was identified as the location for the Gallery at City Center submission reviewed by the Planning Commission.
5f
Stakeholder Updates – Senior Center · Chuck Paceley reported a Father's Day celebration on June 18th, planning underway for the July 4th parade, and planning underway for Senior Olympics.
- Senior CenterUpcoming events include a Father's Day celebration on June 18th; planning is underway for the July 4th parade and the Senior Olympics.
5h
Community Member Updates · Susan Kuiler reported that Friends of Accotink Creek is proceeding with the vernal pool project plan at Kutner Park.
- Accotink CreekFriends of Accotink Creek is proceeding with the vernal pool project plan at Kutner Park.
- Kutner Parkin progressKutner Park was identified as the site of the Friends of Accotink Creek vernal pool project plan.
6a
Old Business – PRAB Service Award Timing · Discussion deferred to fall due to it being a busy time of year for staff.
6b
Old Business – Naming Rights Policy · Update provided: Parks Foundation website is live, directors have emails, donation management software purchased. Approximately $470,000 in the Legacy account will transfer to the Foundation on July 1st. A naming rights policy is being developed for items such as pavilions and the Thaiss Park scoreboard.
- Naming Rights Policyin progressA naming rights policy is being developed for items such as pavilions and the Thaiss Park scoreboard; the Parks Foundation infrastructure is now in place to support it.
- Parks Foundationin progressThe Parks Foundation website is live, directors have emails, and donation management software has been purchased. Approximately $470,000 in the Legacy account will be transferred to the Foundation on July 1st; all funds are currently earmarked. Foundation update was covered under Old Business item 6b; website is live and $470,000 transfer from the Legacy account is planned for July 1st.
- Thaiss Parkin progressThaiss Park's scoreboard was cited as one of the items for which a naming rights policy is being developed. Thaiss Park project is very close to completion; the roof and bleachers have arrived, and turf maintenance is now managed by Demetric and Jared.
7a
New Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation · A proclamation was received before the Pride and Juneteenth events.
Juneteenth
7b
New Business – Discussion on PRAB Elections in September · PRAB holds Chair and Vice Chair elections in September. Chair Sarah Ross reminded members that board and commission appointments have been slow and encouraged timely reappointment applications. Discussion will continue in July.
8a
Parks and Recreation Department Report – Upcoming Events and Programs · Staff reported upcoming events: Juneteenth on June 19th, Rock the Block on June 26th, Historic Resources event Corsets and Contraband on June 27th, and Hometown Celebration on June 28th.
- Rock the BlockRock the Block event scheduled for June 26th.
Juneteenth
8b
Parks and Recreation Department Report – Project Updates · OTH project: work continuing, building painted yellow. Thaiss Park: nearing completion; roof and bleachers have arrived; turf maintenance taken over by Demetric and Jared and looking great.
Thaiss Parkin progress
8c
Parks and Recreation Department Report – Foundation Update · Covered under item 6b (Naming Rights Policy/Foundation Update).
Parks Foundationin progress

Topics touched · 16

WSHCCapproved
The West Side Heating/Community Center (WSHCC) is a City of Ann Arbor parks capital project that has been tracked by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB). Through mid-2025, the project was in a planning and financial analysis phase, with staff preparing low, medium, and high cost-recovery scenarios to address concerns about staffing costs and the overall cost of the building; the community preference for open gym time over heavy rental usage was noted as a tension with cost recovery goals.
- A June 4, 2026 meeting was scheduled to present the impact on the existing Sherwood building and police station and a revised construction schedule — the outcome of that meeting is not yet recorded.
- The current construction plan calls for closing half the building (including the Performance Space and Art Room) while operating in the other half — final decisions on phasing and operations during…
Van Dyck Parkin progress
Van Dyck Park is a city park in Fairfax undergoing a multi-phase redevelopment process. The broader redevelopment and master plan design have been subject to repeated scheduling delays: as of late 2024, redevelopment was on hold pending the start of Thaiss Park construction, and by February 2025 the construction start was pushed to FY28 to avoid overlap with the Blenheim Boulevard and Willard Sherwood Center construction projects; the master plan design deadline was subsequently confirmed as FY28 in the FY2026 CIP submission.
- Repair of the tennis court and pickleball court lights — status not confirmed resolved as of October 2025.
- Installation of the replacement preschool climbers and steppers (approved November 2025) — completion not yet confirmed.
Willard Sherwoodin progress
The Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center (WSHCC) is a proposed health and community center project in the City of Fairfax, closely associated with senior services and intended to replace or supplement the aging Green Acres facility. The project faced an early setback in April 2025 when PRAB was informed it might not continue due to staffing and security concerns, with all trails-related work paused pending a City Council presentation on April 22, 2025.
- Construction is scheduled to begin Q2 2026 per the November 2025 update — the current construction start status and timeline should be confirmed against more recent records.
- How the Green Acres site will be handled in light of the Willard Sherwood project (including potential comp plan updates) remains an open question raised in a May 2026 Planning Commission discussion.
Master Planin progress
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is an ongoing update to the City of Fairfax's parks master plan, the last version of which was adopted in 2014. Staff engaged consultant Berry Dunn to lead the update process.
- Community survey results for the Parks Master Plan are to be presented to City Council on January 6, 2026 — outcome of that presentation is not yet recorded.
- Staff still needed to meet with consultant Berry Dunn to review the received survey feedback results (as of October 2025).
Green Building Policyin progress
The Fairfax City Green Building Policy establishes green building standards for both public and private sector construction and major renovations. Development of the policy was directed by City Council in 2020, and staff spent several years researching best practices, working with consultants (including Cadmus and George Mason University), participating in the U.S.
- A new Energy Programs Manager is anticipated to be hired in fall 2026 — hiring has not yet been confirmed as complete.
- Staff are to conduct further analysis and research on green building incentives in FY31, with a revised policy including potential incentive measures to be presented to Council in FY32 if directed.
NOVA Parksin progress
NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) is a regional parks authority that manages facilities and trails serving the City of Fairfax and surrounding jurisdictions, including the 44-mile W&OD Trail, Meadowlark Gardens, Bull Run Regional Park, Gateway Park, and other sites. The NOVA Parks liaison to the City's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) is Douglas Stewart, who provides regular stakeholder updates.
- Gateway Park restoration contract award and groundbreaking: contract was nearly ready to be awarded as of March 2026; construction was targeted for summer 2026 — current status of contract award and…
- W&OD Trail Visitors' Center in Vienna (125 Church St): plans announced but dependent on state budget funding — funding status remains unresolved.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth has been observed as an annual celebration in the City of Fairfax, organized by a Juneteenth Committee in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department. The earliest recorded entry notes a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Old Town Square.
- Planning and details for the 2027 City of Fairfax Juneteenth celebration have not yet been recorded.
- Council members expressed interest in greater community engagement with Mount Calvary Baptist Church around Juneteenth; no formal next steps have been established.
Gallery at City Centerin progress
Gallery at City Center is a proposed mixed-use development by Christopher Land, LLC at 4085–4117 Chain Bridge Road (also referenced as 4085, 4101, and 4103 Chain Bridge Road) in Old Town, Fairfax City, on approximately 2.52 acres. The project as briefed includes approximately 257 multifamily units, 7,395 sq ft of retail, 26,391 sq ft of office space, structured/subterranean parking, a proposed east-west road connecting University Drive to Chain Bridge Road, and a north-south pedestrian pathway.
- Formal City Council action on the land use application is scheduled for September 8, 2026, but has not yet occurred.
- The outcome of the September 8, 2026 City Council consideration of the land use application is not yet recorded.
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Old Townin progress
Old Town is a historic district and activity center within the City of Fairfax that has been the subject of multiple overlapping municipal initiatives spanning security, parks infrastructure, parking and circulation, zoning, and small area planning. Beginning in late 2024, the area was included in a security pilot program involving private security guards, cameras, safety lighting, and blue light boxes at parks including Old Town Square.
- What formal action, if any, will City Council take on the potential review and update of the Old Town Small Area Plan?
- What will the final recommendations of the Old Town Circulation Study be, and when will that study be finalized (expected 2027)?
Senior Center
The Fairfax City Young at Heart Senior Center, currently located at Green Acres Center (a repurposed 1961 school building), is a membership-based senior activity hub offering programs including pickleball, bocce, bus trips, craft markets, holiday events, and fitness activities. Chuck Paceley has served as the regular PRAB stakeholder liaison for the Senior Center throughout this period.
- Outcome and full implications of the April 28, 2026 City Council vote on the Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center for the Senior Center's future at Green Acres.
- A proposed $60/year membership fee (benchmarked against Fairfax County pricing, raised at the April 2025 PRAB meeting) — whether it was adopted or rejected.
Accotink Creek
Accotink Creek is a waterway in the City of Fairfax area that has been the subject of multiple overlapping municipal initiatives related to water quality, erosion, stream restoration, and community stewardship. In September 2024, the City Council unanimously approved (4-0) a Memorandum of Agreement on a Sediment TMDL Compliance Strategy covering the Accotink Creek watershed alongside Difficult Run.
- Whether and when preliminary engineering for Daniels Run Park (segment 2) will be formally initiated or funded.
- Whether conceptual engineering and phasing for the Accotink Creek corridor from Fairfax Blvd to Pickett Rd (segments 5 and 6) will advance to a formal project authorization or funding decision.
Kutner Parkin progress
Kutner Park is a City of Fairfax park located near a middle school and adjacent to Accotink Creek. Two parallel improvement efforts are underway.
- Whether the new playground equipment has been installed (last reported as arriving within a month as of January 2026, with no confirmed installation on record).
- Current status and timeline of the Friends of Accotink Creek vernal pool expansion project, which was reported as proceeding with a plan as of June 2026 but has no recorded completion or approval…
Naming Rights Policyin progress
The Naming Rights Policy is an initiative being developed by the Parks Foundation to help fund larger-scale parks and recreation projects. The policy would govern the sale or assignment of naming rights to physical assets such as pavilions and the Thaiss Park scoreboard.
- The naming rights policy has not yet been finalized or adopted; the specific terms, asset eligibility criteria, and pricing structure remain to be determined.
- The $470,000 Legacy account transfer to the Parks Foundation is scheduled for July 1, 2026, but no confirmation of that transfer having occurred appears in the record yet.
Parks Foundationin progress
The Fairfax City Parks Foundation is a nonprofit entity created to raise private funds and accept donations (including bequests) to support parks projects in the City of Fairfax. Its formation involved an extended bylaw revision process: in October 2024, PRAB agreed to a 60% board residency requirement and revised the director appointment process so that PRAB nominates directors and City Council approves.
- Whether the approximately $470,000 Legacy for Fairfax fund transfer to the Parks Foundation bank account was completed as planned on July 1, 2026 (no confirmation recorded after June 2026).
- Status of the naming rights policy: no recorded outcome confirming City Council adoption after PRAB's edits were incorporated in July 2026.
Thaiss Parkin progress
Thaiss Park is a City park undergoing full redevelopment, including new ballfields, a playground, adult exercise equipment, a clubhouse building, and related infrastructure. The City Council approved a $7,725,650 construction contract with Bright Masonry, Inc. on October 8, 2024, and the project was fully funded.
- The main contractor (Bright Construction) has fired all staff and deleted its website as of July 2026 — the project is on hold pending clarification on how construction will proceed.
- An ARPA funds deadline is looming; it is unresolved whether the project will meet it given the contractor situation.
Rock the Block
Rock the Block is a recurring outdoor community event series organized by the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation Department, running from May through October each year. The event features music, food trucks, and entertainment along the city's main commercial strip, drawing regional attendance.
- Whether the city can capture meals tax revenue from food trucks and vendors registered outside the city that operate at Rock the Block and other city events — a legislative or administrative fix has…
- Whether further sustainability measures (e.g., compostable cups and waste handling) will be formally adopted or expanded for future Rock the Block events.

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Documents · 2

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