Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · May 19, 2025

PRAB/School Board Meeting

Agenda Minutes Read the transcript9 agenda items · 8 tracked topics, 1 in the wiki

Discussed

1
Call to Order · Meeting called to order by Chair Carolyn Pitches at 5:31 p.m.
2
Adoption of Agenda · Agenda adopted per minutes.
3
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes · Previous meeting minutes approved per minutes.
4
Presentations and Introductions · No specific presentations or introductions recorded in minutes.
5
Stakeholder Updates · Stakeholder updates provided by ESC and NOVA Parks representatives; Commission on the Arts, Planning Commission, School Board, and Senior Center had no updates. Community member updates were provided.
- Urban Forest Master Planin progresswikiDevelopment is continuing with a Steering Committee meeting scheduled for May 21 and a public meeting on June 11 from 6–8pm at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center.
- Green Building Policyin progressThe draft Green Building Policy developed by City staff in consultation with the ESC will be discussed at a City Council work session on May 27.
- NOVA Parksin progressDouglas Stewart reported that NOVA Parks and the Town of Vienna announced plans to construct a visitors' center on the W&OD Trail in downtown Vienna at 125 Church St, and that Dominion is planning its second phase of tree cutting on the W&OD trail from Gallows Rd in Dunn Loring to Shreve Rd near Falls Church, with a 2–3 week trail closure expected.
- Senior CenterChuck Paceley reported no update from the Senior Center.
7a
School Use Agreement · Discussed the need to update and sign the school use agreement, which has not been signed since 2021. Section 4 was identified as inaccurate regarding which entity holds field use fees. A discussion was held about increasing the per-player fee from $5.50 to offset maintenance costs, noting the County charges $10 per player.
- School Use AgreementThe agreement between PRAB and the School Board has not been signed since 2021; Section 4 incorrectly states fees are held by the School Board when they are actually held by Parks and Recreation. Discussion included potentially raising the $5.50 per-player fee to generate revenue to offset maintenance costs.
7b
KJMS Fields · PRAB presented the KJMS turf project plan from Timmons, estimated at ~$10 million, including two turf fields, a track, and a paved area. $6 million in funding is currently identified ($4M existing + $2M ARPA); $6–8M more is needed. PRAB asked the School Board to join as a joint effort given the fields would be shared space.
- KJMS Fieldsin progressThe Timmons plan for two turf fields, a track, and paved area at approximately $10 million was discussed; PRAB requested the School Board join as a joint partner. Currently $6M identified ($4M existing, $2M ARPA) with a remaining gap of $6–8M.
- KJM Turfin progressThe KJM turf project has been in development for at least 10 years; the current plan estimates 16–18 months to complete, less if synthetic turf is used.
7c
Green Acres School · PRAB questioned the School Board about the covenant it holds on the Green Acres site. The School Board confirmed the site cannot host a new elementary school due to location, acreage, and other issues. Chair Pitches indicated the School Board would consider swapping Green Acres for another property only if that other site could host a school.
- Green Acres Schoolin progressThe School Board confirmed the Green Acres site cannot host a new elementary school; Chair Pitches indicated willingness to explore swapping the site for another property that could accommodate a school, but no decision was made.
8
Meeting Adjournment · Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Topics touched · 8

Urban Forest Master Planin progress
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is the City of Fairfax's first 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest, developed with consultant Marstel-Day. Development began in May 2024; Phase 1 (information gathering) was completed and Phase 2 (plan development) was nearing completion as of December 2025.
- Annual reporting on the UFMP's key performance indicators and one-year plan strategy metrics is planned via a State of the Urban Forest report; timing and format of first such report is not yet…
- A natural areas assessment of city-owned and potentially conserved areas is underway as a 2026 action; a canopy coverage goal is anticipated to be set in the 5–10 year phase once a baseline is…
This meeting in the wiki Overview
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.
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.
School Use Agreement
KJMS Fieldsin progress
The KJMS Fields project involves the development of two turf fields, a track, and a paved area at KJMS, based on a plan developed by Timmons. The project is estimated at approximately $10 million.
- Will the School Board agree to join as a formal joint partner with PRAB on the KJMS Fields project?
- How and when will the remaining $6–8 million funding gap be addressed or closed?
KJM Turfin progress
The KJM Turf project involves the renovation and turfing of fields associated with KJM Middle School, a effort that has been in development for at least 10 years. As of the May 2025 joint PRAB/School Board meeting, the current plan — developed with consultant Timmons — estimates a total cost of approximately $10 million and encompasses two turf fields, a track, and a paved area, with a projected construction timeline of 16–18 months (potentially shorter if synthetic turf is selected). $6 million in funding has been identified ($4 million already allocated plus $2 million in ARPA funds), leaving a gap of $6–8 million.
- A decision between synthetic turf and natural turf options has not yet been made; selecting one is needed to avoid additional planning costs.
- The School Board has not yet agreed to join the project as a co-partner; their response/commitment is pending.
Green Acres Schoolin progress
Green Acres School is a site subject to a covenant held by the School Board, currently under joint discussion between the School Board and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB). As of May 19, 2025, the School Board confirmed that the Green Acres site cannot host a new elementary school due to constraints related to its location, acreage, and other unspecified issues.
- Whether the School Board will pursue a property swap involving Green Acres, and if so, what alternative site(s) would be considered — contingent on a candidate site being able to host a school.
- What formal action, if any, PRAB intends to take regarding the covenant the School Board holds on the Green Acres site.

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Documents · 2

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