Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) is an external advisory body to which the Fairfax City Planning Commission appoints a liaison representative. Commissioner Matthew Rice has served as the Planning Commission's representative to the PRAB since his initial appointment on January 13, 2025 (approved 7:0), and was reappointed on January 12, 2026 (approved 5:0). Rice has provided regular liaison updates to the Planning Commission at nearly every meeting cycle since his appointment. The PRAB is described as having a complex and busy portfolio of projects and responsibilities. Notable matters that have come before or involved the PRAB include the Willard Sherwood community center project — which the PRAB formally endorsed as a "keystone partnership with Fairfax County" — and the Old Town Hall renovation (repainting, window replacement, bathroom construction, with interior items still in progress as of July 2026). The PRAB has also been identified as a stakeholder board for design guideline efforts connected to city planning initiatives, with a representative expected to be appointed to participate in consultant-led design guideline meetings running through approximately October 2026.
Open questions & options on the table
- The PRAB has been asked to appoint a representative for the design guideline stakeholder process (alongside the Board of Architectural Review, Environmental Sustainability Committee, and Planning Commission); it is unresolved whether that appointment has been made and who will serve.
- Old Town Hall interior work — including the specialty window rebuilding being done by a craftsman in Ohio — was still in progress as of the July 13, 2026 update; completion status is not yet recorded.
- Commissioner Rice expressed intent to continue serving on the PRAB ('until somebody else kicks me off'), but no formal reappointment action beyond January 2026 has been recorded for future terms.
What members have said
Rice has served as the Planning Commission's liaison to the PRAB since January 2025 and was reappointed in January 2026. At the March 9, 2026 meeting, he described attending the February 12, 2026 PRAB meeting and characterized the board as having 'a quite complex portfolio of projects and responsibilities' that is 'mind-blowing how complex and busy they are.' At the June 22, 2026 meeting, he expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating he is 'excited to continue as a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board until somebody else kicks me off.' At the July 13, 2026 meeting, he reported on three major PRAB projects, including the Old Town Hall renovation.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[11] Commissioner Rice updated the Planning Commission on the latest information from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
[5b] Matthew Rice was appointed as the planning commission representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
passedElection of Anthony Coleman as planning commission representative to the Façade Interior Improvement ProgrampassedElection of Matthew Rice as planning commission representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory BoardpassedElection of Kevin Denton as planning commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review[11] Commissioner Rice shared the latest information from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) with the Planning Commission.
[11] Commissioner Rice updated the Commission on the latest information from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
[11] Commissioner Rice provided the Planning Commission with the latest information from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
[5b] Mr. Rice was reappointed as the Planning Commission's representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
passedAppointment of Chair Feather as Planning Commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review.passedReappointment of Mr. Rice as Planning Commission representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.[10] Commissioner Rice provided an update on the latest information from the PRAB.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.