Parks Foundation
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. 4 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Thaiss Park
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.
- City Council Orientation
The Parks Foundation has officially been started, as announced during the Council Orientation. The Parks Foundation held its first official meeting on March 14, 2025; the website URL ffxfoundation.org has been purchased.
- Joint School Board Meeting
The Parks Foundation has officially received 501(c)3 status and is developing a naming rights policy to help fund larger-scale projects such as KJ/Kutner Fields.
- Jun 11, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6bOld Business – Naming Rights Policy
The Parks Foundation website is live, directors have emails, and donation management software has been purchased. Approximately $470,000 in the Legacy account will be transferred to the Foundation on July 1st; all funds are currently earmarked. Foundation update was covered under Old Business item 6b; website is live and $470,000 transfer from the Legacy account is planned for July 1st.
WSHCC
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.
- Joint School Board Meeting
The Parks Foundation has officially received 501(c)3 status and is developing a naming rights policy to help fund larger-scale projects such as KJ/Kutner Fields.
Van Dyck Redevelopment
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.
- City Council Orientation
The Parks Foundation has officially been started, as announced during the Council Orientation. The Parks Foundation held its first official meeting on March 14, 2025; the website URL ffxfoundation.org has been purchased.
Pat Rodio Park
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.
- City Council Orientation
The Parks Foundation has officially been started, as announced during the Council Orientation. The Parks Foundation held its first official meeting on March 14, 2025; the website URL ffxfoundation.org has been purchased.
- Oct 10, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5bParks Foundation – Update
City Council asked PRAB to revise the Parks Foundation bylaws; PRAB agreed on a 60% residency requirement for the board and revised the director appointment process so PRAB nominates and City Council approves. Gifts with contingencies were also identified as an area to address.
- Parks Foundation – Update
PRAB agreed to nominate the initial board for the Parks Foundation; the matter goes back to City Council on December 10th for final approval.
- Parks Foundation – Update
The Parks Foundation was approved by Council; next steps include requesting $50,000 in supplemental funding and obtaining 501(c)3 status with at least three members.
- Presentations/Introductions – Foundation Interviews
PRAB voted unanimously to nominate Emilio Alonso to the board of directors and recommend Selamawit Washington to the newly independent board, following discussion about bylaw limits on City Council appointments.
passedMotion to nominate Emilio Alonso to the Parks Foundation board of directors and recommend Selamawit Washington to the newly independent board of directors.✓ Rice✓ Stewart✓ Paceley✓ Ross✓ Curtin✓ Kuiler✓ Knowles✓ Hickman✓ Gibson✓ Russell· O'Brien - Parks Foundation
The first meeting was held in December and went well; a second meeting is scheduled to complete remaining votes on organizational/structuring items before the foundation becomes official.
- Old Business – Parks Foundation
Work continues on the 501(c)(3) application (Form 1023) and on transferring earmarked funds from the Legacy for Fairfax account; Sherwood maintenance funds are being considered to offset HVAC replacement costs.
- FPYC Presentation – Mike Anderson
FPYC noted anticipated opportunities for long-term sustainability and collaboration with the newly established Parks Foundation. The Parks Foundation is working to complete its 1023 form, open a bank account, transfer the Legacy for Fairfax account, and select donation software (Bloomerang); next meeting is March 16th.
- Parks Foundation
The 1023 paperwork has been submitted, enabling the Foundation to accept donations and open a bank account; a solicitation license from Virginia is being pursued; website development is underway; funds transfer from the City is expected in July. A naming rights policy is being drafted for PRAB review in May and subsequent City Council adoption.
- Jul 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Old Business
The Bloomerang software has been purchased and the naming rights policy has been updated to include PRAB's edits.
- Sep 10, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7Old Business
The Parks Foundation was listed as an old business item; no outcome recorded.
- Parks Foundation Update
A Parks Foundation update was listed as old business and scheduled for discussion at this meeting.
In full
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. By November 2024, PRAB had agreed to nominate the initial board, and City Council formally approved the Foundation in December 2024. The Foundation held its first official meeting on March 14, 2025, and the domain ffxfoundation.org was purchased.
In September 2025, PRAB unanimously voted to nominate Emilio Alonso to the board and recommend Selamawit Washington to the newly independent board; City Council subsequently voted unanimously to endorse Alonso's appointment as a director for a three-year term. Organizationally, the Foundation submitted its Form 1023 for 501(c)(3) status (approved by May 2026), opened a bank account, purchased Bloomerang donation management software, launched its website, set up director email addresses, and is preparing to receive approximately $470,000 in transferred Legacy for Fairfax account funds on July 1, 2026. A naming rights policy, incorporating PRAB's edits, has been updated and is moving toward City Council adoption.
As of late 2026, the Foundation is an active body focused on leveraging private dollars for larger park projects, with Van Dyck Park identified as a flagship priority.