Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · Oct 9, 2025

PRAB Regular Meeting

Agenda Minutes Read the transcript27 agenda items · 21 tracked topics

Discussed

1
Call to Order · Meeting called to order by Chair Sarah Ross at 7:00 p.m.
2
Adoption of Agenda · Agenda adopted. Douglas Stewart motioned, Chuck Paceley seconded, approved.
3
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes · Listed on agenda; no specific action recorded in the minutes.
4a
Urban Forestry Master Plan Presentation · Anna Safford presented the Urban Forestry Master Plan to PRAB. The project is in Phase 2 (outreach, engagement, and plan development). Key upcoming dates include a Fall Festival table on October 11th, public comment on draft #2 through October 29th, community meeting #3 on October 23rd, and Planning Commission/Council work sessions in December/January. PRAB was asked to provide a letter of support in December/January.
- Master Planin progressAnna Safford presented the Urban Forestry Master Plan to PRAB; the project is in Phase 2 covering outreach, engagement, and development of three draft versions, with draft #2 open for public comment October 10–29 and Planning Commission/Council hearings anticipated in December/January. Survey feedback results have been received; staff needs to meet with the consultant to go over the results.
- Urban Forestry Master PlanThe plan was presented in detail, covering its vision, guiding principles, five objectives (protect, regulate, grow, manage, engage), strategies, metrics, and key performance indicators; next steps include major feedback through October and a letter of support for Council adoption in December/January.
- Fall FestivalFall Festival on October 11th was noted as an upcoming opportunity to feature a table about the Urban Forestry Master Plan. The Senior Center confirmed it will have a presence at the Fall Festival on October 11th. Fall Festival is scheduled for October 11th as an upcoming Parks and Recreation department event.
5a
Stakeholder Update – Commission on the Arts · The Commission on the Arts seat is currently vacant as a PRAB stakeholder representative. Two new COA members, Anne McMorrow and Cheryl Neway, have volunteered to represent at future PRAB meetings.
5b
Stakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee · Rusty Russell reported that the ESC has a new student representative, Sauren Kawtra, a Fairfax High School student.
- Fairfax High Schoolin progressFairfax High School was noted as the school attended by the ESC's new student representative, Sauren Kawtra.
5c
Stakeholder Update – NOVA Parks · Douglas Stewart reported that Justin Wilson started as NOVA Parks' new Director. Outgoing Director Paul Gilbert received the Pugsley Medal in September for his contributions to parks and conservation.
- NOVA Parksin progressJustin Wilson began as NOVA Parks' new Director; outgoing Director Paul Gilbert received the prestigious Pugsley Medal in September for his conservation contributions, including conserving 3,500 acres and establishing over 15 new regional parks.
5d
Stakeholder Update – Planning Commission · Matt Rice reported that the Planning Commission cancelled their last meeting; no updates.
5e
Stakeholder Update – School Board · Amit Hickman was absent; no update provided.
5f
Stakeholder Update – Senior Center · Chuck Paceley reported that the Senior Center will attend Fall Festival, has a Halloween Party on October 31st, a Veteran's Day Breakfast on November 7th, and that NVSO wrapped up recently with fewer participants but no less enthusiasm.
- Senior CenterThe Senior Center will attend Fall Festival; upcoming events include a Halloween Party on October 31st and a Veteran's Day Breakfast on November 7th; NVSO recently concluded.
Fall Festival
5g
Stakeholder Update – Student Representative · Madeline Clary reported having a friend interested in becoming a student representative on PRAB and noted she is starting a Juniorette Women's Club.
5h
Community Member Updates · Diana Gibson reported that her class learned about plants and pollinators and sold packaged common milkweed seeds for $1.
- Plants and PollinatorsDiana Gibson's class learned about plants and pollinators and sold packaged common milkweed seeds for $1.
6a
Old Business – Pat Rodio Playground Update · The playground equipment arrived early and is being installed; fencing and surfacing are slightly delayed.
- Pat Rodio Playgroundin progressPlayground equipment arrived early and installation is underway; fencing and surfacing are slightly delayed.
6b
Old Business – Thaiss Park Update · The project is on schedule; sod installation is needed by mid-November to finish on time.
- Thaiss Parkin progressProject remains on schedule; sod needs to be installed by mid-November to meet the completion timeline.
6c
Old Business – OTH/OTS Update · Old Town Hall construction is underway. The Splash Pad's chemical pump was replaced after failure; Splash Pad will close soon for the season. The cascade fountain will be lit pink for breast cancer awareness.
- Old Town Hallin progressOld Town Hall construction is underway.
- Old Townin progressThe Old Town Splash Pad's chemical pump was replaced after failing; the Splash Pad will close soon for the season, and the cascade fountain will be lit pink for breast cancer awareness.
6d
Old Business – Park Foundation Update · Articles of Incorporation have been submitted. The initial five board members have been appointed by City Council.
- Park Foundationin progressArticles of Incorporation were submitted and the initial five board members were appointed by City Council. Emilio Alonso was appointed as the last needed Foundation director by City Council.
6e
Old Business – WSHCC Update · The WSHCC project will go before City Council soon for a vote on the special land use permit.
- WSHCCin progressThe project is scheduled to go before City Council soon for a vote on the special land use permit.
6f
Old Business – Van Dyck Update · The tennis court/pickleball court lights are out; staff hopes to have them fixed soon.
- Van Dyck Parkin progressThe tennis court and pickleball court lights are out; staff hopes to repair them soon.
6g
Old Business – Master Plan Update · Survey feedback results are in; staff needs to meet with the consultant to review the results.
Master Planin progress
6h
Old Business – Kutner Park Update · Some playground equipment needs replacement. Equipment attractive to middle school-age users will be installed in addition to replacing elementary-age equipment, given the park's proximity to the middle school.
- Kutner Parkin progressSome playground equipment requires replacement; new equipment targeting middle school-age users will be installed alongside replacement elementary-age equipment due to the park's proximity to the middle school.
7a
New Business – Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee · Diana Gibson expressed interest in serving as PRAB's appointee to the Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee, with Rob Knowles expressing interest as an alternate.
- Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory CommitteePRAB was asked to appoint one member; Diana Gibson expressed interest in serving, with Rob Knowles as alternate.
7b
New Business – Community Expo (October 22nd, Sherwood Center) · Douglas Stewart and Sarah Ross expressed interest in representing PRAB at the Community Expo on October 22nd, 6–9 pm at Sherwood Community Center.
- Sherwood Community CenterapprovedThe Community Expo is scheduled for October 22nd, 6–9 pm at Sherwood Community Center; Douglas Stewart and Sarah Ross volunteered to represent PRAB.
7c
New Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation · The last Foundation director needed, Emilio Alonso, was appointed by City Council.
Park Foundationin progress
8a
Parks and Recreation Department Report – Upcoming Events and Programs · Staff reported upcoming events: Fall Festival on October 11th, last Rock the Block on October 24th, and Holiday Craft Show on November 15th and 16th.
- Rock the BlockThe last Rock the Block event is scheduled for October 24th.
- Holiday Craft ShowThe Holiday Craft Show is scheduled for November 15th and 16th.
Fall Festival
9
Matters of the Members · No specific matters recorded in the minutes.
10
Upcoming Meetings · City Budget Open House noted for Tuesday, October 21st. Next PRAB meeting is Thursday, November 13 at 7 pm at City Hall, Work Session Room.
- Budget Open HousecompletedThe City Budget Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21st.
- City HallCity Hall's Work Session Room was noted as the venue for the next PRAB meeting on November 13th.
11
Adjournment · Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Topics touched · 21

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).
Urban Forestry Master Plan
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is an annual outdoor community event organized by the City of Fairfax's Parks and Recreation department, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and serving as a major platform for city departments, community organizations, and partners to engage with residents. In October 2024, the event was held on October 12 with an anticipated attendance of 40,000–45,000 people.
- Whether the 2026 Fall Festival on October 10 proceeded as planned and what the actual attendance and outcomes were.
- Whether the comp time/employee scheduling policy for staff working the Saturday of Fall Festival was clarified or resolved.
Fairfax High Schoolin progress
Fairfax High School (FHS) is a City of Fairfax public high school at 3501 Lion Run that serves as a central hub for academic programming, community events, and ongoing capital improvements. Over the 2024–2026 period, the school has been the subject of multiple facility actions: in April 2025, the City Council unanimously approved (6-0) an 8-year Special Use Permit for temporary modular classrooms to address enrollment capacity, with a condition requiring removal of sheds from required parking spaces.
- The School Board is to make its recommendation to City Council on the Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvements project — specifically the amphitheater/outdoor classroom seating options on FHS…
- The roof replacement project is in the concept design phase; phasing and timing of the replacement (and associated HVAC replacements) remain to be determined.
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.
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.
Plants and Pollinators
Pat Rodio Playgroundin progress
The Pat Rodio Playground is a public playground project funded at $400,000, of which $315,000 was allocated for equipment and surfacing, with the remainder reserved for fencing, walkways, and trees. Early planning included a public survey (results reported June 12, 2025) showing strong public preference for swings, followed by PRAB's selection of color option 6 from 12 options.
- Whether fencing, walkways, and landscaping have been completed (still pending as of November 13, 2025, with no follow-up update recorded through July 2026).
- Whether the new code-of-conduct signage has been developed and installed (noted as forthcoming as of November 13, 2025).
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.
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)?
Park Foundationin progress
The Park Foundation is a new city parks philanthropic foundation being established to raise supplemental funding for capital park projects. Early groundwork (evidenced by transcript discussion as far back as October 2024) included research into peer foundations such as Fairfax County's and deliberations about governance structure, independence from Council, and liaison with PRAB.
- Next steps for the Foundation following submission of the Articles of Incorporation (e.g., IRS/nonprofit status, bylaws finalization, launch of fundraising operations) have not yet been recorded.
- The website design and donor management software procurement appear to still be in progress as of the last update — no completion has been recorded.
WSHCCin progress
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.
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…
Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee
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.
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.
Holiday Craft Show
The Holiday Craft Show is a recurring City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation Department event. For 2025, it is scheduled for November 15th and 16th, as reported at both the October 9, 2025 and November 13, 2025 PRAB Regular Meetings.
Budget Open Housecompleted
The City of Fairfax has held Budget Open Houses as a public engagement mechanism tied to the annual budget process. A spring 2025 Budget Open House was held on April 2, 2025, at the Stacey Sherwood Center; Superintendent Platenberg noted great turnout at that event.
- Whether a Budget Open House will be held during the FY 2027 budget cycle (spring 2026) has not been decided as of late March 2026 — Councilmember Peterson explicitly raised this question at the March…
City Hall
Fairfax City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA) is the primary civic building serving as the routine venue for a wide range of municipal meetings, closed sessions, receptions, and public functions across multiple boards, commissions, and the City Council. Its named spaces include Council Chambers, Work Session Room 111, the Atrium, Judge's Chambers, City Manager Conference Room, Sisson House, and Council Executive Room 100 (in the City Hall Annex).
- Installation of 20 EV charging stations at City Hall and Sherwood Community Center: current completion status is not recorded in the material.
- Revised EV charging station fee structure: Council reached consensus in February 2026 to adopt it as part of the city budget rates and levies, but no formal vote or final budget adoption confirming…

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