Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual February observance recognized by the City of Fairfax through mayoral proclamation and associated community events. 2 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
George Snyder Trail
The George Snyder Trail (GST) was a VDOT-funded shared-use trail project (UPC 112816) intended to provide multimodal connectivity through Fairfax. The project received approximately $20.6 million in Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding, with a remaining $16 million budget at the time construction bids were sought.
- Feb 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6aSummary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
$75,000 requested to fund heritage month celebrations including Black History Month, Women's History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Asian Festival.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aNew Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
A Black History Month reception and proclamation was held on February 10th.
Willard Sherwood
The Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center (WSHCC) is a city project to develop a new health and community facility, intended in significant part to serve older adults and replace the aging Green Acres senior center. The project faced an early setback in April 2025, when a PRAB motion paused all work on city trails projects and the board was informed the Willard Sherwood project might not continue due to staffing and building security concerns, with a full City Council presentation scheduled for April 22, 2025.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aNew Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
A Black History Month reception and proclamation was held on February 10th.
- Jan 28, 2025City Council · item 4aPresentation of a proclamation acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax
A proclamation was presented acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax.
- Feb 10, 2026City Council · item 3aPresentation of a proclamation acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax
City of Fairfax recognized February as Black History Month via proclamation at this meeting.
In full
On January 28, 2025, Mayor Read presented a proclamation acknowledging February as Black History Month to Reverend Jeffery O. Johnson, Sr., Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
Separately, at the February 13, 2025 PRAB meeting, it was noted that $75,000 had been requested in the budget to fund heritage month celebrations collectively, including Black History Month, Women's History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Asian Festival. On February 10, 2026, Mayor Catherine S. Reed again presented a proclamation — this one explicitly acknowledging systemic racism and its generational impacts — to Dr.
Michael Nickens (Doc Nix) and Stacey Yvonne Claytor; the proclamation also noted the 2026 theme "A Century of Black History Commemorations," marking 100 years since National Negro History Week began in 1926. A Black History Month reception was also held that evening prior to the Council meeting, noted by at least one council member as well-attended in spirit but lightly attended in turnout.