A heating plant abandoned when the Lorton prison closed in 2001 could eventually host Fairfax County’s vast collection of artifacts and museum objects.
Located in the Workhouse Arts Center area, the building at 8941 Workhouse Road could be transformed with a second-level addition and upgrades to meet curation standards, allowing the county to hold over 3 million artifacts in a central location.
The Fairfax County Park Authority will temporarily shutter the aging Mount Vernon RECenter for two years, starting in early 2023.
The park authority board approved on the move on Wednesday (March 23). The closing will fast track a project to expand and renovate the facility, creating a bigger fitness center and adding a second ice rink.
New Issues Hamper Silver Line Phase 2 — While a summer opening is still possible, don’t expect the Silver Line extension from Reston into Loudoun County before July 1, Metro officials said yesterday (Thursday), citing waterproofing and insulation issues around power cable connections. Past problems with “the orange boot” have caused fire and smoke incidents. [DCist]
County Residents Report Lags in Rent Assistance — “Sarah Allen, regional director of Fairfax County Human Services, told InsideNoVa in October the county was rolling out a separate online portal that tenants could also use to apply for assistance. The online portal has yet to launch, according to a county spokesperson who said it’s still in development.” [Inside NoVA]
The Fairfax County Park Authority’s farmers markets are getting ready for another season.
Led by the Burke Farmers Market on April 16, the 10 markets will reopen throughout late April and the first week of May. This year’s events will feature more vendors than in the past, according to Molly Cullen, a marketing and outreach coordinator for the county.
Park visitors may notice Lake Fairfax‘s waters dipping below their usual levels next month.
The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to complete maintenance work on the main spillway at the Lake Fairfax Dam in early April.
Fairfax County hopes to turn a site for waste into a recreational treasure, reviving plans to redevelop a landfill by I-95 that closed in 2018.
The Lorton Landfill could be transformed into a public park under a new proposal from property owner Waste Management. Dubbed Overlook Ridge Park, the amenities at 10001 Furnace Road could be completed in 2025, according to Fairfax County.
The Laurel Hill Golf Club has seen a surge in popularity during the pandemic, making it difficult for non-members to get more highly sought-after tee times.
In response, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board agreed during a March 9 meeting to raise the rates for full memberships to the public facility from $5,000 to $6,000 annually. Weekday memberships were increased from $3,000 to $4,500 annually.
Fairfax County Park Authority officials and others are calling for changes in funding to ensure people are able to access recreational amenities and address repairs.
Staff and community groups like the Fairfax County NAACP say the upcoming budget being considered by the county Board of Supervisors is inadequate for addressing the park system’s needs. It could even take longer to take care of those needs with a proposal to lengthen the amount of time between bond votes.
The Mount Vernon RECenter could shutter for two years as part of a multi-phase expansion and renovation worth tens of millions of dollars.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is expected to vote Wednesday (March 23) on a staff proposal that recommended the temporary closing. If approved, the facility would close starting in early 2023, the authority told FFXnow.
A community park that Fairfax County has owned since 2006 will finally be getting amenities to serve residents.
Construction is expected to begin soon on the Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Glencarlyn, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced yesterday (Thursday).
