Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · Mar 12, 2026

PRAB Regular Meeting

Agenda Minutes Read the transcript27 agenda items · 20 tracked topics

Discussed

1
Call to Order · Meeting called to order by Chair Sarah Ross at 7:03 p.m.
2
Adoption of Agenda · Agenda adopted. Moved by Kelly O'Brien, seconded by Susan Kuiler, approved.
3
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes · Previous meeting minutes approved. Moved by Kelly O'Brien, seconded by Susan Kuiler, approved.
4a
FPYC Presentation – Mike Anderson · Mike Anderson, new FPYC president, presented on the organization's history, current offerings (7 sports, 4,000+ annual participants), partnership with the City and Parks and Recreation department, and priorities including lit fields, bylaws updates, police department board representation, and collaboration with the Parks Foundation.
- Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC)FPYC presented its history, current sports offerings, volunteer and City partnerships, and advocated for institutionalizing police department board presence, lit fields, and collaboration with the Parks Foundation.
- Parks Foundationin progressFPYC noted anticipated opportunities for long-term sustainability and collaboration with the newly established Parks Foundation. The Parks Foundation is working to complete its 1023 form, open a bank account, transfer the Legacy for Fairfax account, and select donation software (Bloomerang); next meeting is March 16th.
4b
Diana Gibson – Youth Councils as Catalysts for Change Presentation · Diana Gibson shared a presentation on involving youth in local government, including takeaways on meaningful student participation and ideas for creating a Youth Council with 2-3 meetings per month. Discussion followed with interest expressed in starting a Youth Council.
- Youth CouncilPRAB discussed the concept of establishing a Youth Council; interest was expressed but no formal action was taken at this meeting.
5a
Stakeholder Update – Commission on the Arts · Yolanda Ortiz was absent. Updates shared: City of Fairfax named USAToday '10 Best' Small Town Art Scene at #4; 397 entries received for Spotlight on the Arts contest; traveling mini art machine currently at Patriot's Pub and Grill; Art Walk on May 3rd in Old Town Fairfax with call for entry ending March 15th.
- Old Townin progressOld Town Fairfax is the planned location for the COA and Spotlight on the Arts Art Walk on May 3rd.
5b
Stakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee · Pat Zook reported: ESC seeking a full-time Energy Management position and plans to adopt the Green Building Plan within the year; Sustainability Market at Sherwood Center on March 15th; 40th annual Arbor Day coming up; residential energy audit planned for fall.
- Sherwood Community CenterapprovedThe Sherwood Center is the venue for the Sustainability Market on March 15th.
- Arbor DayThe 40th annual Arbor Day event was noted as coming up soon.
5c
Stakeholder Update – NOVA Parks · Douglas Stewart reported that NOVA Parks is almost ready to award a contract for the restoration of Gateway Park.
- NOVA Parksin progressNOVA Parks is almost ready to award a contract for the restoration of Gateway Park.
- Gateway Parkin progressNOVA Parks reported it is nearly ready to award a contract for Gateway Park's restoration.
5d
Stakeholder Update – Planning Commission · Matt Rice reported that the Planning Commission discussed rules for development in activity centers, open space standards and incentives for developers, and parking/overparking issues in the City.
5e
Stakeholder Update – School Board · Amit Hickman reported the School Board is working on the budget and, following passage of a bond, is working on how to proceed with elementary school renovations.
5f
Stakeholder Update – Senior Center · Chuck Paceley reported: Craft and Vendor Market on April 11th with 44 tables sold; 53 new first-time members in February and 2,146 total visits scanned; St. Patrick's Day lunch on March 13th; Pickleball tournament May 12th–15th.
- Senior CenterSenior Center reported 53 new members in February, 2,146 total visits, upcoming Craft and Vendor Market on April 11th, St. Patrick's Day lunch March 13th, and a Pickleball tournament May 12th–15th.
5g
Stakeholder Update – Student Representative · Madeline Clary was absent; no student representative update provided.
5h
Community Member Updates · Diana Gibson shared that she gave a presentation about accessibility in environmental education. Susan Kuiler reported that Kutner Park vernal pool updates are undergoing planning.
- Kutner Parkin progressSusan Kuiler reported that vernal pool updates at Kutner Park are currently undergoing planning.
6a
Old Business – Thaiss Park Update · Work is progressing faster due to improved weather. The roof is on the building. Sod laid in the fall is being monitored for greening. Substantial completion date is May. Summer camps are planned at Thaiss this summer.
- Thaiss Parkin progressConstruction is progressing with the roof complete; substantial completion expected in May, and summer camps are planned for the site this summer.
6b
Old Business – Old Town Hall · Substantial completion date for Old Town Hall is September.
- Old Town Hallin progressSubstantial completion for Old Town Hall is expected in September.
6c
Old Business – Pat Rodio · Sun shades were installed at Pat Rodio park.
- Pat Rodio Parkin progressSun shades were installed at Pat Rodio park.
6d
Old Business – Parks Foundation · Next Parks Foundation meeting is March 16th, with the goal of completing the 1023 form and opening a bank account. The Foundation met with the City's auditor about transferring the Legacy for Fairfax account. Three pools of money identified: special events sponsorships, Giving Tree donations, and facilities money. Exploring donation software (Bloomerang).
Parks Foundationin progress
7a
New Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation · The City Manager gave a concise budget presentation to City Council. An April 7th Council meeting will feature a senior services presentation and a presentation on special events with focus on third-party events.
- CIP Updatein progressBudget presentation was given to City Council by the City Manager; further presentations on senior services and special events are scheduled for April 7th.
7b
New Business – Signage · Pat Rodio, Draper, and Stafford parks have new park signs. Providence and Ratcliffe are next.
- Park SignageNew park signs have been installed at Pat Rodio, Draper, and Stafford; Providence and Ratcliffe are next in line.
7c
New Business – Resurfacing · The City is looking to resurface several basketball courts.
- Basketball Court ResurfacingThe City is evaluating resurfacing of several basketball courts; no specific locations determined at this meeting.
7d
New Business – Fencing · The City is identifying locations in need of new fencing.
- Park FencingStaff are identifying City park locations that need new fencing.
7e
New Business – Historic Resources · The Parks and Recreation department and Historic Resources department have merged.
- Historic Resources Department MergerThe Parks and Recreation department and the Historic Resources department have merged into a single department.
7f
New Business – Hiring · The department is in the final phases of hiring for the Cultural Arts manager; next hires will be the Historic Resources manager and Facilities Coordinator.
- Cultural Arts Manager HiringThe department is in the final phases of hiring a Cultural Arts manager, followed by a Historic Resources manager and Facilities Coordinator.
8a
Parks and Recreation Department Report – Upcoming Events and Programs · The Ashby Pond ribbon cutting and Fishing Derby will be held on April 11th.
- Ashby PondAshby Pond ribbon cutting and Fishing Derby is scheduled for April 11th.
9
Matters of the Members · No specific matters recorded in the minutes.
10
Upcoming Meetings · Next meeting: Thursday, April 9 at 7pm at City Hall, Work Session Room.
11
Adjournment · Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Topics touched · 20

Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC)
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.
Youth Council
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)?
Sherwood Community Centerapproved
The Sherwood Community Center (formally the Willard Sherwood Health & Community Center / WSHCC) is a joint City of Fairfax and Fairfax County redevelopment project, with costs split 42% City and 58% County. As of the November 2024 PRAB update, the project was between the zoning and permit steps, with construction slated to begin Q1 2026 and wrap up Q4 2028.
- Whether the Performing Arts addition to the existing Sherwood Center will receive the additional $4 million needed in the CIP to be funded.
- Whether the HVAC replacement at the existing Sherwood Center will be funded, including the potential use of Parks Foundation Legacy for Fairfax funds earmarked for Sherwood maintenance.
Arbor Day
Arbor Day is an annual tree-planting and environmental celebration organized in the City of Fairfax, coordinated largely through the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC). In October 2024, the event was held on October 26 at Kutner Park.
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.
Gateway Parkin progress
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.
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…
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.
Old Town Hallin progress
Old Town Hall is a historic City of Fairfax building undergoing a major renovation that includes window restoration, a full HVAC overhaul, wiring upgrades, conversion to LED lighting, and new bathrooms. The project was originally planned to close and begin construction in February 2025, but experienced a series of delays: the start was pushed first to mid-to-late March 2025, then to April 2025 due to permitting issues, and the City Council presentation on construction approval (originally set for April 1, 2025) was further delayed to April 22, 2025 due to budget issues.
- Substantial completion is targeted for mid-October 2026, but no confirmed opening date has been established — the opening timeline remains pending.
- The specialty window restoration work by an Ohio craftsman is ongoing and has been identified as a schedule risk; its completion date is uncertain.
Pat Rodio Parkin progress
Pat Rodio Park is a municipal park that has been undergoing a playground relocation and broader redevelopment effort. As of October 2024, staff identified that the playground needed to be moved to a new location; by November 2024, a relocation site had been identified and public outreach was planned.
- Completion of the playground redevelopment (expected spring 2026) — status not yet confirmed as complete.
- Construction of dugouts at the new baseball field — described as forthcoming as of April 2025, no subsequent confirmation recorded.
CIP Updatein progress
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is an ongoing multi-year budget process tracking planned investments across school, parks, and municipal facilities. On October 20, 2025, Acting Superintendent Dan Phillips presented an updated CIP budget to the School Board during a work session, incorporating added HVAC funding and revised cost estimates for the football turf field replacement and softball field; that updated CIP was slated to be formally brought to the next regular school board meeting.
- The updated School Board CIP (presented October 20, 2025) was to be brought to the next regular school board meeting — no record of that subsequent presentation or any vote on it is reflected in the…
- Presentations on senior services and special events (with focus on third-party events) were scheduled for the April 7th City Council meeting — outcomes of those presentations are not yet recorded.
Park Signage
Basketball Court Resurfacing
Park Fencing
Historic Resources Department Merger
Cultural Arts Manager Hiring
Ashby Pond
Ashby Pond is a public pond in the city that underwent a major dredging and retrofit project to address siltation from stormwater runoff and to reduce pollutant loads toward Chesapeake Bay and Accotink Creek TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) goals. In October 2024, the city council approved a construction contract of $1,695,000 to Sager's Construction Corporation for the dredging and retrofit work (awarded as part of the consent agenda at the 2024-10-22 meeting).

Documents · 2

Filed in agenda order; the agenda names the item each belongs to.