Council Orientation refers to a joint session between the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and the new City Council, organized to familiarize incoming Councilmembers with the department's priorities and operations. At the February 13, 2025 PRAB Regular Meeting, the orientation was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on March 13, 2025 — immediately before the next regular PRAB meeting — with CIPCapital improvement programThe multi-year budget for big physical projects: roads, buildings, parks, utilities. (Capital Improvement Program) and staffing identified as key topics.
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.
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).
The Van Dyck Redevelopment is a funded parks project in the Town of Vienna that has been tracked by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) since at least October 2024. The project was initially placed on hold pending the start of Thaiss Park construction, and by February 2025 its construction start was pushed to FY28 to avoid concurrent work with the Blenheim Boulevard and Willard Sherwood Center projects.
- Selection of an engineering firm from the five solicited proposals (as of April 2025).
- ResolutionResolutionA formal statement of council position or a one-time action, such as approving a contract. Passes on a single vote. of the five new engineering items identified in January 2025.
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.
Katherine Johnson Middle School (KJMS) is a public middle school in the City of Fairfax serving grades 6–8, operating as one of four schools in the city's school division. It has been an active hub of academic, extracurricular, and community programming throughout the record period.
- Whether and when the City Council will vote on the proposed CIPCapital improvement programThe multi-year budget for big physical projects: roads, buildings, parks, utilities. items for KJMS (turf field, auditorium upgrades, HVAC units), with a vote anticipated in November 2026 per the October 2026 transcript…
- Confirmation of which department/jurisdiction (Parks and Recreation vs. school division) has formal responsibility for the Katherine Johnson turf field project, which was an open question as of…
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.
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.
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.
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 CIPCapital improvement programThe multi-year budget for big physical projects: roads, buildings, parks, utilities. 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.
The FY 2026 Budget covers the City of Fairfax's general and all sub-fund appropriationsAppropriationCouncil authorization to spend a specific amount of money. Budget changes mid-year come as supplemental appropriations., the FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement ProgramCapital improvement programThe multi-year budget for big physical projects: roads, buildings, parks, utilities., and the Schedule of Rates and Levies. Budget development began in fall 2024, with Parks and Recreation enhancements (staffing conversions, City Jobs, Heritage programs) discussed in November 2024.
The George Snyder Trail was a planned shared-use path project (VDOT UPC 112816) in the City of Fairfax aimed at improving multimodal connectivity along Fairfax Boulevard. The project received $20.6 million in I-66 Outside the Beltway concessionaire funding.
- What will the final alignment of the Wilcoxon Trail Extension (formerly George Snyder Trail Extension) be, pending the feasibility study and VDOT approval of the proposed modification?
- What public outreach will be conducted on the updated Wilcoxon Trail Extension concept, and what are the outcomes?
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.
Fall for the Book is a local nonprofit literary festival founded in 1997 as a partnership among the City of Fairfax, George Mason University, and the Fairfax County Public Library, with the City holding a one-third ownership stake since 1998. The City provides an annual $25,000 grant, which represents approximately 15% of the organization's budget and less than 0.1% of the City's total budget; representatives have cited economic studies suggesting festival attendees generate roughly a seven-times return on that investment for local businesses.
- Whether the $25,000 City of Fairfax grant to Fall for the Book was maintained, reduced, or eliminated in the adopted FY26 budget.
- What the final outcome of the FY26 budget public hearingPublic hearingThe formal, legally advertised part of a meeting where anyone can speak on an item before the body votes. process (open through at least April 8, 2025) was with respect to arts funding generally.
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 PermitSpecial use permitPermission for a use the zoning allows only case by case (a drive-through, a school, a larger building). Needs a public hearing and a council vote, and can carry conditions. 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.
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.
The Asian Festival on Main is an annual outdoor festival in historic downtown Fairfax City celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures through cuisine, art, music, and dance. It was founded in 2021 when Wendy Wong, co-owner of the Standard Barbershop, approached the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA); attendance has grown each year, making it one of the largest Asian festivals in the DMV region.
- Staff has been directed to return to a future City Council meeting with a formal follow-up proposal on the City's third-party event sponsorship framework (hybrid of options 2 and 3), stemming from…
- An after-action debrief meeting on the May 17, 2026 festival (and the antique car show) was noted as scheduled for May 27, 2026; outcomes of that review are not yet recorded.
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 zoningZoningThe city rules that say what can be built where: uses, height, density, setbacks, and parking, by district. 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 CIPCapital improvement programThe multi-year budget for big physical projects: roads, buildings, parks, utilities. 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.
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