Efforts to repurpose Gateway Regional Park in the City of Fairfax into a wetlands education facility could both start and be completed in the coming year.
“That’s the plan,” new NOVA Parks executive director Justin Wilson told members of the Fairfax City Council at its Dec. 9 meeting.
The 1-acre park adjacent to the City of Fairfax Connector Trail has been leased by the city to NOVA Parks since 1994. It is located at the southwest corner of Pickett and Old Pickett roads.
In consultation with city officials, the regional park authority has opted to restore most of the existing park property to an elevated natural state, adding a walkway with interpretive signage.
There also would be extensive invasive-species removal, flood-mitigation efforts and “planting a ton of new trees,” Wilson said in his presentation.
“We will be going to market in January to select a contractor to do the work,” he said. “We hope to be under construction this summer and complete the work we’re doing later this year.”
“All of that in one year?” Mayor Catherine Read said in response. “That seems very quick to me.”
“That’s our goal,” Wilson responded. “We’re really, really excited to be reaching this milestone. It’s been a long time coming. We’ll be back with updates.”
The wetlands restoration at Gateway was among the “signature” projects identified by NOVA Parks in a five-year strategic plan adopted in 2022, along with a visitor center for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, an expansion of the camping amenities at Pohick Bay, and an adventure center at Occoquan Regional Park.
The estimated $1 million project cost will be split by the city and parks agency, whose lease on the land runs through 2034.
Wilson, a former mayor of and city council member in Alexandria, began as NOVA Parks’ executive director in October. He succeeded retired executive director Paul Gilbert, who had served in the position for 20 years.
Wilson told Fairfax City officials that he has inherited an organization in solid shape, with 89% of its funding connected to “a very diverse set of revenue” from operations ranging from golf courses to water parks.
“We’re not heavily reliant on any one revenue stream at any one given moment,” which “allows us to weather various storms,” he said at the meeting.
Wilson was joined at the meeting by Douglas Stewart and Mark Chandler, who represent Fairfax City on the NOVA Parks board.
