To further its environmental goals, Fairfax County’s to-do list should include building an electric vehicle charging network, addressing “critical” staff shortages, and addressing development pressure, the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) says in a new report.
An employee compensation policy update to attract and retain workers in departments such as wastewater and solid waste was the top recommendation in the 2023 Annual Report on the Environment (ARE), EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza told the Board of Supervisors during its environmental committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 29).
“If you had a problem in a facility or in operations that caused some other issues, the consequences could require a lot of corrective action, or they could be publicly undesirable,” he said.
Although it has seen some progress, Zaragoza said the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), in particular, is seeing higher vacancy rates of 16 to 22%. In some “major functions,” rates have climbed as high as 32%, according to the presentation.
Zaragoza acknowledged that the recommendation to develop a network of charging stations for electric vehicles would be challenging to implement, but necessary.
“This seems to be an issue that is challenging the nation with respect to the conversion to EVs,” Zaragoza said. “People have a fear that they won’t have options for charging their vehicles.”
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said that, while it’s true more EV charging stations are needed, the biggest issue is maintenance, speculating that, on a typical day, about 50% of chargers don’t seem to work.
He advised the council to look into ways to address the maintenance issues, including potential legislative measures.
“The EV charging people are racing to get as much federal money as they can to install these and then don’t have anybody to come back and repair them,” McKay said. “And to me, that’s a huge threat to EV utilization because [when] you see them on a map, you expect them to be working.”
Reiterating a recommendation made last year, the report calls for the county to provide more funding for its stormwater program through either one of two options:
- An increase in the Stormwater Service District tax in 2024 by at least one-quarter penny, from 3.25 cents to 3.5 cents per $100 of assessed real estate value
- A change in the base property tax rate
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez asked the council to keep equity and low-income residents in mind when considering these adjustments.
“I would hope that there will be something in place to ensure that the cost increases are equitable and do not disproportionately affect low-income residents,” Jimenez said.
The report also highlights a need to address pressure from development while preserving trees and minimizing ecological degradation.
“As you have development, you often have the loss of trees, you often have loss of habitat, and to the extent that it’s possible, it’s good to try to preserve as much as you can in this process,” Zaragoza said.
McKay agreed with the need to minimize environmental damage but said the council should also carefully consider how that priority intersects with the “oldest parts of the county that are in desperate need of revitalization.”
According to the report, proposed topics that the EQAC will review this year include the impacts of data centers, flood risks, and water security.
County staff have been developing guidelines for regulating noise, water pollution, power usage and other issues raised by data centers. In a new ARE recommendation, EQAC suggests that the county collect energy consumption data on its current and planned data centers, including the extent to which they utilize green energy.
Three Fairfax County Public Schools teachers will now be able to pursue unique arts projects with their students, thanks to financial assistance from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
A nonprofit that supports and programs Wolf Trap National Park, the foundation announced on Feb. 20 that it has awarded 13 grants from an annual program for D.C. area educators who teach music, dance or theater at public schools.
This year’s FCPS recipients were Fairfax High School dance arts teacher Meredith Barnes, Groveton Elementary School music and orchestra teacher Karine Chapdelaine-Walker, and Robinson Secondary School’s middle school bands director, Tiffany Hitz.
In addition to getting funding for their projects, the grant winners get to bring their classes to Wolf Trap for a “celebratory day of learning” on April 25 that will include performances by the high school students at The Barns at Wolf Trap, according to a press release.
“Wolf Trap’s Grants for Performing Arts Teachers provides teachers with grants to fund innovative performing arts projects,” said Cate Bechtold, Wolf Trap Foundation’s director of internships and community programs. “Because of their grants, teachers can expand the scope of their projects, bring in professional artists, incorporate new technologies, or create additional resources, providing extra learning opportunities for their students.”
According to the release, Barnes requested a grant for a show called “Dance for a Change” that Fairfax High School students will develop with a dance historian and guest artists from the Bethesda-based theater organization Imagination Stage.
“Students will choreograph small group pieces by drawing inspiration from American dance icons who used their work to address injustices,” the release said. “This will allow students to leverage the power of the arts as a means of social commentary.”
Chapdelaine-Walker and Hitz are both among the recipients of the program’s first-ever middle school grants.
For her project, titled “Musicians for a Change,” Chapdelaine-Walker will work with Groveton Elementary’s sixth-grade orchestra students to create a “unique musical piece centered around student-identified social justice issues” to demonstrate music’s value “as a tool for advocacy and self-expression.”
Meanwhile, Hitz’s band students will learn the piece “All My Heart” — with its composer Michael Markowski as their mentor.
“Students will have the opportunity to connect with a professional composer and meaningfully engage with the composition process, allowing them to experience a new instrumental arrangement, and explore the composer’s experience in creating work,” the press release said.
Funded by contributions from the defense contractor General Dynamics, the Grants for Performing Arts Teachers program awards up to $5,000 to high school teachers and up to $2,500 to middle school teachers. The exact amount depends on each project’s scope and needs, but the majority “require the full amount,” according to the Wolf Trap Foundation.
Last year, the foundation awarded only eight grants, including ones to Annandale High School orchestra director Annie Ray and Mount Vernon High School music teacher Al Rodriguez. Ray more recently gained national recognition as the winner of the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award.
In addition to the FCPS grantees, the 2024 grant recipients include teachers from D.C. and Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
Fairfax County is moving steadily towards its target of building 10,000 net new affordable housing units by 2034.
The county has roughly 4,000 units built, planned or under construction that count towards the goal set in 2022, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Deputy Director of Real Estate Development and Finance Anna Shapiro told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 27).
So far, 879 new units aimed at households earning 60% of the area median income (AMI) and below have been built since 2020.
“These are serving on kind of lower end of the income spectrum, but all the way down to 30% in a lot of cases as well,” Shapiro said. “And as you can see there’s a mix of multifamily and senior housing that we’ve delivered.”
An additional 986 units are under construction in projects like One University and Ilda’s Overlook in the Braddock District, which are set to wrap up in the summer. The county has roughly 1,100 units in its development pipeline, and another 950 units are in the planning phase.
The county is also working to encourage the development of more for-sale workforce dwelling units (WDUs). A task force submitted recommendations to the board’s housing committee in November.
The task force recommended shifting the program’s target range from up to 120% of the AMI down to 70 to 100% AMI, extending the geographic availability of for-sale WDUs and improving the mix of housing to allow for more family-sized units.
Additionally, the county wants to explore ways to preserve the existing stock of affordable housing, such as the Coralain Gardens Apartments in West Falls Church. A survey on market affordability is set to begin in the summer.
A plan amendment that would address the affordability of manufactured housing (the county’s term for mobile homes) is set to go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission sometime in October, followed by board review before the end of the year.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay said he was pleased with the county’s progress thus far but asked for a more detailed breakdown by magisterial district.
“One of the things that certainly makes me happy when looking at this is that we’re building affordable housing in every corner of the county and not just in the same concentrated areas that we did for decades,” McKay said.
Shapiro noted that the numbers are fluid, particularly since the county must consider the entire life cycle of proposed projects.
“Every project has ups and downs,” she said.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw also sought clarifications on whether the county has maxed out its potential for affordable housing projects on county-owned land.
“My sense is, probably across the county, we’ve taken advantage of the easier opportunities and the larger parcels, but maybe that’s not the case,” Walkinshaw said.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity asked for more information on homeownership for affordable housing units. The county is in the midst of hiring a homeownership director, according to HCD Director Tom Fleetwood.
“It solves a number of generational wealth problems,” Fleetwood said.
Rendering via Fairfax County
Peak Bloom for Cherry Blossoms Predicted — “The cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin will reach peak bloom from March 23 to 26, 2024, the National Park Service announced at a National Cherry Blossom Festival press conference on Thursday…No matter when the flowers decide to bloom, this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from March 20 to April 14.” [Washingtonian]
Still No Resolution to Fairfax Connector Strike — “Fairfax Connector bus service will remain suspended through Friday, March 1 as unionized workers continue to strike, demanding a new contract with the bus’ contractor group…Negotiations between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 and bus operator Transdev continued Thursday, though the session ended without a new contract for workers, according to union officials.” [WJLA]
Hybla Valley Gun Store Burglarized — “Early [Thursday] morning at 1:59 a.m., officers responded to a burglary in progress at 7524 Richmond Highway at H&F Arms in Hybla Valley. Security footage captured two masked individuals force entry into the business through the front door. The suspects took six handguns and two airsoft pistols before exiting the store.” [FCPD]
State Legislators Pass Marijuana Sales Bill — “Virginia lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday that if approved by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin would allow recreational retail sales of marijuana to begin next year…The legislation would create the state’s first retail market in a ‘responsible and thoughtful way,’ said Del. Paul Krizek of Fairfax County, who carried the House version.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Watchdog Raises New Metro Safety Concerns — The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission said in a new report that “Metro is listing some train operators as being ‘certified’ even though they have not demonstrated they can handle certain dangerous situations, including when smoke fills train cars.” An incident near L’Enfant Plaza in 2015 killed one passenger and left others sick. [WTOP]
Bren Mar Residents Rally Against Data Center — “In 2022, residents successfully mobilized against a rezoning proposal for a data center at Plaza 500, an industrial/business park at 6295 Edsall Road…The developer has now submitted a site plan for a by-right data center on the section of the property zoned I-5. The proposed two-story data center would be 466,000 square feet and 70 feet tall.” [Annandale Today]
Hybla Valley Post Office to Relocate — “The lease for the U.S. Post Office located at Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley has expired, and the community branch plans to move to a new location in Groveton, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service.” Retail services will remain available at Mount Vernon Plaza until the new location at 2923-A East Lee Avenue opens on a “to be determined date.” [On the MoVe]
Space Available in Park Authority Camps — “When schools close for student holidays and spring break, fun and engaging Park Authority camps are in session! This year, spring camps will be held” from March 25-29, April 1-2, Wednesday, April 10 and Friday, May 3. “Camps are hosted all year and many spaces remain open for both spring and summer camps.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Clouds will gradually increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 52 degrees. Rain is expected on Friday night, with a low around 42 degrees. Precipitation is certain, with new amounts ranging between a quarter and half an inch. [Weather.gov]
With Virginia’s presidential primary elections just around the corner, one candidate is hoping to whip up some support in Fairfax County before polls open next Tuesday (March 5).
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley will hold a rally at The Westin Tysons Corner (7801 Leesburg Pike) in Idylwood at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday). It will be her second event in the state today after she visited Richmond at 12:30 p.m.
Haley is the only candidate left challenging former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination, though the ballot features several also-rans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy who dropped out after qualifying.
Despite getting embroiled in multiple court battles, including an election interference trial where he’s claiming immunity from prosecution, Trump has emerged as a clear frontrunner in the GOP race, winning every state that has voted so far. Haley has managed to get 20 delegates to her opponent’s 110, according to NBC News.
The Democratic Party will also hold a primary on Tuesday. President Joe Biden is the presumed nominee, but Dean Benson Phillips, a Congressional representative for Minnesota, and Marianne Williamson, who recently unsuspended her campaign, will also appear on the ballot.
Early voting is currently underway in Fairfax County. Fifteen in-person sites are open until 5 p.m. this Saturday (March 2), though the deadline for requesting a mail ballot has passed.
Image via Nikki Haley/YouTube
For the first time since it was established in 1921, the McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) has expanded its vehicle fleet to three ambulances.
The newest ambulance began operating out of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Station 1 (1455 Laughlin Avenue) on Feb. 21, but it will get an official, public reveal this Saturday (March 2) at the annual “I Love McLean” celebration.
Sponsored by the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), this year’s “I Love McLean” festivities will also include musical performances, light refreshments, and arts and crafts. The event will take place at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) from 1-4:30 p.m., though the ambulance will only be on site until 2:30 p.m.
MVFD officials initially planned to invite community members to see the ambulance at the station before realizing that they already had a perfect opportunity for a showcase on their calendar.
“The ‘I Love McLean’ event is a big deal, and there’s lots of folks,” MVFD President Patricia Moynihan said. “So, we essentially just piggybacked on it and thought, ‘Well, we’re going to be there anyway.’ Let’s just take it out of service and let folks know that we’re going to be there.”
According to Moynihan, having a third ambulance will boost MVFD’s capacity to respond to emergencies not just in McLean, but anywhere in Fairfax County. It will also provide more flexibility for training personnel and continuing service even when a vehicle is taken out of rotation for repairs or regular maintenance.
She noted that the capacity expansion doesn’t require additional staff, though more volunteers are always welcome.
“We’re super lucky in McLean in that we have a full-time career staff, and then we have a total of 80 volunteers, and we have the largest number of paramedic volunteers…of the county volunteer stations,” Moynihan said. “…We’re always looking for new folks, trying to increase our ranks and our capabilities, but we can staff all three [ambulances] between the career and the volunteer folks at this point.”
Thanks to a $38,496 grant from the McLean Community Foundation, the new V011-2022 Road Rescue Ultra Medic has a Stryker Power-LOAD system that mechanically raises and lowers the cot used to load patients. The technology makes the process safer for both patients and first responders, who can develop knee and back issues from moving and lifting people, Moynihan says.
One of the department’s older ambulances — a 2018 Road Rescue Ultra Medic — also features a power-loading system, but the oldest one, which dates back to 2015, still has a model cot that Moynihan hopes to get replaced.
Overall, the ambulance cost $307,000, an amount partly covered by both large and small community donations. The biggest contribution came from the Woman’s Club of McLean, which raised $13,000 with a Kitchen and Garden Tour that it organized last April.
MVFD also got the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ approval to pursue a loan of up to $250,000.
Even as they celebrate their latest vehicle acquisition, MVFD leaders are working to raise funds for the next one: a new fire engine that has already been ordered but isn’t expected to arrive until at least 2026.
Moynihan says the cost of that apparatus has ballooned to over $1 million — twice as much as an estimate shared last summer. MVFD will be responsible for 51% of those costs, and Fairfax County will pay for the rest under an agreement similar to the one that enabled the department to buy its existing engine.
The department’s current plan is to keep both engines and use the new one as the main call responder, freeing up the older engine for community events. However, Moynihan cautioned that those plans could change by the time the new engine is available.
“We will have a second secondary engine that we can use, or if there’s something big that’s going on…like the explosion in Sterling in Loudoun County, we would then have an extra engine that we could lend to whoever needed it,” she said.
Eviction cases continue to rise in Fairfax County as the millions of dollars in financial and legal support allocated during the pandemic run out, county staff say.
Without the nationwide eviction moratorium that ended in August 2021 and federal relief funds, the county’s eviction numbers could have been much higher during the pandemic, staff told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 27).
However, residents are still struggling due to high housing costs and other challenges like inflation, stagnant wages and a lack of access to higher paying jobs, according to Aimee Garcia, access and economic mobility division director for Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS).
“We still are seeing rent be one of the largest needs across the community,” she said. “We are still seeing needs in regards to shelter, health, housing search…job search…inquiries around Medicaid, subsidized housing and dental.”
Last year, the number of eviction lawsuits (unlawful detainers), legal eviction notices (writs of eviction), and completed evictions were three times higher than in 2021, according to the county’s Eviction Data Dashboard.
In 2023, Fairfax County recorded a total of 7,618 unlawful detainers, 2,961 writs of eviction, and 963 evictions. Some of the most affected zip codes include Hybla Valley and Groveton (22306), Huntington (22303), Lincolnia (22312), McLean west of I-495 (22102), Herndon (20171), Annandale (22003), Bailey’s Crossroads (22041), and Lorton (22074).
Since the start of the pandemic, the federal government has provided billions of dollars in aid to assist community members with housing, food and other needs through the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Unlike most Virginia localities that used a state-managed online portal to distribute federal funding, Fairfax County chose to distribute rental assistance directly to residents using its internal social services agency, Coordinated Services Planning (CSP).
The agency initially faced challenges with a high volume of requests and slow processing times. In some cases, individuals waiting for rental and utility assistance through CSP experienced months-long delays.
However, over the past year, CSP Program Manager Luis Rey says the county has expanded access to legal aid, housing resources and rental assistance.
Now, in addition to calling a phone number, renters can submit applications online to CSP to determine their eligibility for rental aid — an option initially limited to landlords. The agency also introduced an estimated wait time and callback feature for applicants.
“They can leave the phone number and they’ll be called back to connect for an assessment,” Rey said.
Additionally, CSP works with the nonprofit Legal Services of Northern Virginia, the courts and Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office to help residents understand their options during the eviction process, Rey says.
Those efforts have helped mitigate the pandemic’s impact, according to Garcia. However, she noted that call volumes are still higher than they were pre-pandemic.
“We do continue to see new cases on a monthly basis at levels that are indicative of the continued need throughout the community,” she said.
To date, the county has distributed $150 million in rental assistance since the pandemic hit in 2020, according to county officials.
The county is still using ARPA funds for eviction prevention and rent assistance, but Deputy County Executive Chris Leonard warns the funds are dwindling, and more local funding may be needed starting next year.
“We’re going to utilize additional ARPA for FY 25,” he told the supervisors, referring to the fiscal year that will start on July 1. “…That will obviously be able to help us support the need, but it will also help us continue to monitor and figure out where we’re going to land with regards to what our need is out there for future rent assistance from the county and from our community partners.”
Photo via Allan Vega on Unsplash
Perhaps the commercial building at 234 Maple Avenue East in Vienna is just not meant to be a ramen shop.
Its current occupant, Akai Tori Ramen & Yakitori, will dish out its last noodle soup bowl today (Thursday) before permanently closing its doors at 7 p.m. The restaurant announced the closure “with a heavy heart” via social media on Monday (Feb. 26), and it was first reported by Patch.
“This decision was incredibly difficult, but necessary given the current circumstances,” Akai Tori said in a message to customers and supporters. “…We are immensely grateful for your unwavering support over a year and cherish the memories we’ve created together. Thank you for being a part of our journey. Take care, and we hope our paths cross again in the future.”
When contacted by FFXnow, an Akai Tori employee said the team is unable to elaborate on the reasons for the closure at this time. She noted that a new tenant for the space is already lined up, but she doesn’t know who it will be.
Akai Tori opened on Jan. 28, 2023 in a 3,000-square-foot building previously filled by Shin Se Kai Ramen, which launched in February 2019 but never returned from an initially temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspired by izakaya bars, the concept came from chef-owner Mark Liu, who also owns Sushi Yoshi on Church Street. It serves tempura, grilled meats (yakiniku), sushi and sashimi, and other Japanese dishes, including the ramen and yakitori skewers referenced in its name, which translates to “red bird.”
Before it opened, the business told FFXnow that its ramen broth would be made by hand using its own recipe, a “differentiator” from other restaurants in the area that rely on pre-made broth.
GMU’s Sports Stadium Proposal Questioned — “Students and neighbors of George Mason University are rallying in opposition to a proposed facility for Washington’s newly formed professional cricket team…GMU said it also could be an opportunity to move its successful baseball team out of an aging field and share a 5,000-person stadium on west campus.” [NBC4]
Co-Founder of Longtime Merrifield Restaurant Dies — “Kim Lai, the immigrant businessman who helped transform a small family-run establishment into one of the most widely recognized Vietnamese restaurants in the D.C. area, died Feb. 16…Lai died from a head injury, several hours after suffering a fall at home in Fairfax,” said Le Lai, one of his daughters who ran Four Sisters from 2014 until it closed last year. [Washington Post]
Herndon Firefighters Mourn Loudoun Colleague — “On Friday, Feb. 23, C-Shift of Fairfax County Herndon Station, Company 4, hung black bunting across the front of their firehouse” as a tribute to Trevor Brown, a Sterling Volunteer Fire Company firefighter who died in an explosion at a Sterling house on Feb. 16. A preliminary investigation suggests the explosion stemmed from a propane gas tank leak. [The Connection]
Residents Form Coalition to Tackle Invasive Plants — “A group of homeowner and community associations has come together to focus on removing invasive plants and supporting the planting of native species. The Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance (FIRA) is sending letters to the Board of Supervisors and state legislators urging action to address the problem of invasive, non-native plant species.” [Annandale Today]
Virtual Town Hall Planned on Animal Services Merger — “Join the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and the Fairfax County Police Department for a conversation about how our proposal to unite animal care and control services will benefit wildlife.” Community engagement will begin with a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. today (Thursday), followed by in-person town halls at the animal shelter’s Fairfax and Lorton campuses on March 11 and 13, respectively. [FCAS]
Architecture Firm Moves HQ Out of Tysons — “Architecture firm KTGY is moving its East Coast headquarters from Northern Virginia to Washington, D.C. The Irvine, Calif.-based company inked a 15,000-square-foot lease at Alexander Court, a 12-story, two-building office complex in the District’s Golden Triangle neighborhood. Since 2010, KTGY has had offices in Tysons, Va., where it had a similarly sized footprint at 8609 Westwood Center Drive.” [Commercial Observer]
South Lakes Basketball Team Reaches Semi-Finals — South Lakes High School’s varsity boys’ basketball team will face the Hayfield Hawks tomorrow (Friday) in the Virginia High School League’s state semi-finals at Westfield High School. The Seahawks advanced after defeating the Potomac Panthers 74-69 on Tuesday (Feb. 27). [South Lakes Athletics, Nova Hoops]
How to Give Feedback on County’s Proposed Budget — “On Tuesday, Feb. 20, County Executive Bryan Hill presented his proposed FY 2025 budget to the Board of Supervisors. You can get more information and provide input…at a Budget Town Hall meeting in your district, and during the budget public hearings, scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday, April 16-18.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunshine and a high of 46 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 10 to 15 mph with gusts reaching up to 24 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 32 degrees and a northwest wind of 6 mph, which will become light and variable. [Weather.gov]
Nearly two years after updating its vision for the future of McLean Central Park, the Fairfax County Park Authority is ready to start work on some of the planned upgrades.
Imperio Construction, a Delaware-based company contracted by the park authority, began mobilizing on the site at 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd this week, and active construction is expected to start during the first week of March.
“Residents should expect occasional construction traffic entering and exiting Dolley Madison,” the park authority said in a news release. “While portions of the park will be closed throughout the duration of the construction, access for tennis court and basketball court usage will remain open.”
The revitalization project will replace the park’s playgrounds with new, accessible equipment partially funded by community donations. After the FCPA shared initial plans to only update the school-age playground, local parents formed the McLean Central Playground Team and raised approximately $400,000 to also overhaul the tot lot.
The school-age playground will be moved to the same general area as the tot lot, which will be enclosed with a fence. In addition to getting more modern and inclusive equipment, the facilities will feature more seating and poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing.
Other upcoming improvements will include the addition of a pavilion and new walkways, along with any repairs to existing walkways that are needed so pedestrians can reach all facilites in the park.
“Additionally, benches will be replaced throughout the park and pedestrian lights will be relocated to improve the overall park experience,” FCPA spokesperson Benjamin Boxer said.
According to Boxer, the new pavilion will be open to the public and available for private rentals. It could also serve as an occasional performance venue for the McLean Community Center, which is adjacent to McLean Central Park and currently utilizes a gazebo there.
Building on a master plan from 2013, the park authority unveiled a development concept for McLean Central Park in 2021 that called for a dog park, amphitheater and recreational facilities, including a fitness area and bocce and game tables. The dog park was dropped from the proposal after some community members objected to losing a tennis court to make room for the amenity.
The revised concept was finalized in 2022 after a public meeting on March 2 and a one-month comment period.
The FCPA says it anticipates that active construction on the playgrounds, pavilion and walkways will finish by the end of 2024.
Concept plan via Fairfax County Park Authority
