Even with increased development in the area, Reston’s bird population has remained steady — at least according to Reston Association’s annual bird counts.
The organization’s environmental staff and volunteers identified 1,685 individual birds from 52 different species during their 2025 Reston Winter Bird Count, which was conducted on a Saturday in early January.
One of Reston Association’s most popular programs is coming back later this month.
The Senior Movie Day program will kick off its 30th year on Jan. 22 with a screening of the Annette Bening-starring biopic “Nyad” at Look Dine-In Cinemas (11940 Market Street) in Reston Town Center.
Reston Association members will once again see an uptick in the annual assessment that they pay for the services and facilities provided by the homeowners’ organization.
The RA Board of Directors voted at its meeting on Thursday (Nov. 21) to adopt a $23 million budget for 2025 and implement a $848 assessment fee — a $31 or 3.8% increase from the current rate of $817, according to a memo from RA staff to the board.
A new juice shop is still in the works at North Point Village Center (1432 North Point Village Center) in Reston.
A representative for Greenheart Juice says an estimate of the opening date will become clearer by the end of the month, but didn’t provide an explanation for the delay. The business was previously expected to open in August.
Reston Association is looking to address gaps in its fencing guidelines for single-family houses.
The community association’s staff have begun developing new standard operating procedures dictating who approves fences and general parameters for what’s accepted after getting concerns that the process is inconsistent. Some homeowners have also pushed for more flexibility with exterior changes, according to a recent presentation to the Design Review Board.
Reston’s Hunters Woods ballfield was officially rededicated as a park on Friday (Oct. 4).
Reston Association marked the underutilized baseball diamond’s transformation into a community park with staff, residents and county officials. The association completed the project in November 2023.
Reston Association is throwing its support behind federal legislation that would exempt community associations from having to report information about their owners under a law designed to root out fraud and other shady dealings.
The organization sent letters to Rep. Gerry Connolly and senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner yesterday (Tuesday) urging them to co-sponsor the Community Association Reporting Exemption Act, which would exempt some homeowners and community associations from requirements that RA calls “burdensome.”
Reston Association members could see an increase in member fees next year.
The association’s staff have proposed a draft budget that includes a $865 yearly assessment — a 5.9% increase that would help cover salary increases and a $103 contribution per member to RA’s capital improvements plan.
Reston Association is lowering the water levels of its lakes, starting today (Monday).
Dam repair and inspection firm Bander Smith will perform annual spillway inspections at Newport, Thoreau and Audubon lakes, requiring them to be drained by up to 8 inches. Lake Anne will be drained by 2 feet to also allow for minor concrete repairs to its riser tower.
Though fall hasn’t officially arrived yet, Reston is already dreaming of hot cocoa and snow in anticipation of the return of Winterfest.
Reston Association announced last Tuesday (Sept. 17) that the three-day festival will return on Dec. 5, 6 and 7 from 5-7 p.m. at Brown’s Chapel Park (1575 Browns Chapel Road).
