(Updated on April 20) Reston Association is seeking member feedback on its parks and recreation offerings.

The online survey, which begins on May 1 and continues through June 30, will help guide the association’s 10-year parks and recreation plan.

Marketing firm The Noise Doctors, Inc. was hired to get information on how RA’s parks and recreational facilities and programs are currently used, future uses, and possible new facilities and programs for the future.

This will be the association’s first 10-year parks and recreation plan, according to RA spokesperson Mike Leone.

“A planning process is conducted every 10 years to ensure that our parks and recreational facilities and programs are optimally meeting both the current and future needs of our residents,” RA said in a recent newsletter.

RA says that the survey will provide the foundation for its planning process.

The survey will be accessible online. It will be anonymous and take roughly 15 minutes to complete.

RA manages 55 miles of paved pathways and natural surface trails, along with with other amenities like soccer fields, pools, tennis and pickle ball courts. In recent years, a comprehensive effort has been underway to manage aging facilities and infrastructure while balancing future needs.

A survey that will guide an economic visioning study for Reston’s Lake Anne area reveals community support for active public spaces and arts and culture focuses.

Consulting firm Streetsense hosted a public workshop on Monday (April 10) at Reston Community Center where roughly 50 attendees gathered to dive deeper into their hopes for the future of the area.

A public survey conducted by the firm found that most respondents prefer cultural and arts facilities, activated public spaces and a grocery store as options to anchor the community. Medical or institutional and office and technology uses were not desired.

“Respondents tend to agree that responsibility for public areas of Lake Anne should be borne by a wider set of parties than current management,” meeting materials said.

The survey closed in mid-March, with most respondents hailing from outside the Lake Anne area.

Respondents also generally agreed or were neutral about the possibility of adding structured parking.

The survey revealed mixed views on an “educational anchor” or school in the area. A little over 40% of respondents agreed with the need for new residential development — roughly 5 percentage points more than those who disagreed with the prospect.

Residents were also divided on whether economic sustainability was a priority at the expense of the neighborhood’s historic aspects. The survey found that “seasonality” and infrastructure were the two biggest challenges facing the area.

The largest portion of respondents — nearly 45% — was age 65 or older. Most also lived outside of the immediate Lake Anne area. Roughly 56% of respondents also reported a household income of $160,000 or more.

The firm also held four virtual focus groups with area stakeholders earlier this year, as it creates an economic vision for the future of the Lake Anne Commercial Revitalization Area.

The study was initiated by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.

After releasing the first draft of the vision on May 18, Streetsense hopes to firm up a formal vision by June 5.

A major survey of citizens in the Town of Herndon is officially underway.

The town has hired Priority Metric Groups (PMG) to complete a survey through early May that asks for respondents to gauge their satisfaction with town services and programs.

The survey seeks opinions on topics like the conditions of streets and parks, special events, amenities, and levels of service provided at town facilities.

“Citizens are randomly selected to participate in the telephone, email and text survey; a total of 300 responses will be analyzed, resulting in statistically valid data on satisfaction levels,” the town said in a news release yesterday (Wednesday).

The Herndon Town Council will review results of the survey at a work session later this year.

This isn’t the first time the town has conducted a comprehensive citizen opinion survey. The last survey — which was conducted in 2018 — will be used to benchmark survey results.

“You may be contacted by phone, text or email to participate in this survey,” Town Manager Bill Ashton said. “We encourage you to take a few minutes to do so, as your feedback will help inform how we allocate resources to enhance our services to town citizens.”

The same firm — PMG — conducted the last survey, which found that nearly 87% of town citizens were satisfied with the town’s quality of life. Roughly 75% of businesses also reported satisfaction. Areas of improvement included traffic congestion, speed of response by town employees and the level of taxation for businesses.

In the year 2030, travelers on The One — the dedicated bus service planned for the Richmond Highway (Route 1) corridor — will be able to wait for their next ride while taking in artwork designed by local students.

Proposed artwork for seven of the nine future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit stations is now online, and county residents can share their preferences by filling out a survey that is open through April 3.

There will also be a drop-in open house on Wednesday (March 29) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School.

Each work is based around themes selected with community input, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. For example, the themes for the Hybla Valley station are retail hub, diversity and multiculturalism.

There are two artworks listed for that station. One features bright colors and “is meant to represent the past making way for the bright diverse future,” according to the included student narrative.

The other is sketched in black and white.

“Students focused on the passage of time, evolution of communication, and how the community has changed and evolved and become more diverse,” the student narrative reads, in part.

Student artwork for the Huntington, Kings Crossing and Beacon Hill stations comes from photography students at Hayfield Secondary School.

“These students created imagery responding to the theme PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE,” the booklet says. “It was their intention to educate citizens and visitors of the Route 1 corridor about the rich history of the land we stand on, while also preserving the present and looking towards the future of our changing community.”

The Woodlawn station got five art submissions — the most of any station. Designs for the Gum Springs and Hyland Center stations have not been completed yet.

Including artwork that reflects “the history, identity, and character of the neighborhoods surrounding each station area” is the goal of the “Community Charm” initiative, according to the Richmond Highway BRT page on the county’s website. The selected windscreen designs will be semi-permanent.

“Student artwork will inspire the first windscreen design, which may evolve or change over time,” the survey says.

Gathering feedback on the artwork is the fourth step in FCDOT’s work to finalize designs for the windscreen area at each station. Next, an executive committee will take a final vote and provide feedback to FCDOT and a consultant design team, which will then make any necessary adaptations to the works.

The time has come for Vienna to decide as a community how the former Faith Baptist Church property at 301 Center Street South can best be utilized.

The Town of Vienna launched a survey earlier this week to gather public feedback on potential future uses for the 3-acre site, now known as the Annex.

Open to town residents and non-residents, the community perspective questionnaire is part of a long-term use study that the town has undertaken after hiring the consulting firm Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site in November.

“We want to ensure the reimagined Annex property evolves into something the entire community can enjoy,” Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert said. “That’s why it’s important for community members to respond to our survey and let us know what they see as priorities or unmet needs. Their input will help inform the Town Council’s decision on what comes next for the Annex.”

What's next for the Annex? The Town wants your feedback on how the 301 Center St. S. property should be used. Tell us your thoughts at the Community Workshop on Tuesday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the @VPDVA Community Room or take the online survey: https://t.co/k5QwKZot4T. pic.twitter.com/DnBtWi7xHy

— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) March 7, 2023

When the town purchased the former church for $5.5 million in 2020, the acquisition was seen as a fortuitously timed fix to the impending challenge of finding a temporary home for the Vienna Police Department while its new station was under construction.

Now that the police have moved into the new station, however, the town council has been reluctant to commit any funds to the church property, including for repairs, without having a long-term plan in place.

Intended to guide the consulting firm, the community questionnaire asks respondents what activities they value in Vienna and what amenities are currently lacking in the town, from recreational and educational opportunities to public art and retail options.

The survey will be open through May 1. Community members will also get to provide feedback at an in-person workshop that will be held in the new police station (215 Center Street South) at 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28.

The town council will discuss the study’s goals at a conference session on March 20. The consultant is scheduled to present its final recommendations on June 12.

Work on establishing a new economic vision for the Lake Anne area is underway.

In collaboration with consulting firm Streetsense, the county is currently courting feedback via a public survey on economic visioning for the Lake Anne Commercial Revitation Area, an area that was designated as a possible hotspot for commercial revitalization in 1998.

The survey comes after Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn jumpstarted an effort to establish a vision for the area.

“The goal is to develop a market appropriate, aspirational economic vision that builds on the historic and unique characteristics of the Lake Anne area,” the survey says.

In a letter distributed to area residents and stakeholders, Alcorn stressed that the purpose is to build consensus around the vision for the area.

“Both the supervisor and county staff have no preconceived ideas about specific outcomes but hope that it is a vision that combines an understanding of the local market with the interest of the Lake Anne community,” the letter said.

The survey, which is open through March 10, is public and open to all.

Streetsense is working on a multi-month study as part of its work on the vision. It will include community engagement with residents an business owners, including virtual listening sessions by the media consulting firm.

A half-day, in-person workshop is also planned for April to develop a program of uses and experiences that define the Lake Anne story.

The consultant is expected to present findings from the public engagement phase in May, prior to publishing its final report, which is slated to come forward in early June.

Fairfax County is seeking public feedback to reduce the chances of future residents and visitors confusing Tysons Corner Center with Tysons Galleria, among other potential mix-ups.

The county launched a Tysons Wayfinding and Signage Survey on Feb. 14 in partnership with the Tysons Community Alliance, which formed last fall as the next-stage evolution of the nonprofit Tysons Partnership.

“We are excited to be working with the County on this important initiative,” Tysons Community Alliance acting CEO Rich Bradley said. “Wayfinding is the first touch point for many people as they enter and move around a place. It should be welcoming and reflect the area”s sense of community and as such we want people to participate in the survey and provide their ideas.”

Focused on how to “improve the experience” of getting around Tysons, questions in the survey deal with modes of transportation used for traveling, ways people describe Tysons, and the usefulness of digital signage for sharing information.

The survey will be open until Monday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m.

Survey responses will play an important role in informing the development of a Tysons-wide wayfinding strategy. Be sure to submit your feedback before the survey closes on Monday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m.

— Dalia Palchik (@SupvPalchik) February 14, 2023

Officially created on Oct. 13, 2022, the Tysons Community Alliance serves as an advocacy organization for residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the area, overseeing the implementation of the county’s comprehensive plan.

The group has been tasked with developing branding for Tysons, supporting its economic growth, placemaking, and improving mobility. Its funding comes from the county budget and an economic opportunity grant, though it will likely be supported by a special tax in the long term.

In addition to conducting the wayfinding survey, the alliance is getting ready to launch an updated logo, website and social media accounts, all of which will be formally unveiled tomorrow (Wednesday), per a media alert.

“Bookmark this page to discover why the time is right to join the vanguard of stakeholders who are committed to the ongoing evolution of Tysons, a thriving 21st century destination for business, retail and families,” the page at tysonsva.org says. “Our new website is launching soon!”

With the Herndon Metro Station now fully operational, the Town of Herndon is positioning itself to chart the future of a 94-acre area surrounding the station.

The town is working with a five-firm consultant team to determine how that transit-related growth area (TRG) could change in the coming years. The outcome includes a TRG study that will provide long-term visioning for the town.

Most recently, the town and consultant team are courting public feedback on the future of development in that area. The 10-minute survey asks a series of questions on what new activities and buildings respondents would like to see within the TRG area.

Anne Curtis, a spokesperson for the town, told FFXnow that information from the survey will guide the teams’ work as they develop future visions for redevelopment. Right now, the area is mostly composed of low-rise office buildings and surface parking lots.

“All factors are being considered including public input, information from the current property owners, input from the Town Council, Advisory Committee, Architectural Review Board, Planning Commission and work by the consultants including existing site analysis, infrastructure capacity, roadway capacity and traffic generation, and real estate market analysis,” Curtis wrote in a statement.

The study includes several firms, which are led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

The town expects the visioning process to continue through the late winter and early spring, with additional opportunities for input, Curtis said.

An exact project timeline was not immediately available, but the town does intend to develop the plan — which started in the spring of this year — within 18 months.

The study comes at the request of property owners within the TRG, who agreed in 2021 to pay up to $500,000 for a consultant to develop a small area plan that will provide a conceptual vision for future development. The Herndon Town Council approved the agreement in October of 2021.

This is not the first plan to address development near the Herndon Metro Station — a planning process that has been ongoing for decades.

For example, in 2008, the town moved to switch its comprehensive plan’s land use classification for non-residential areas around the station from service and industry-oriented uses to a more mixed-use, transit-oriented focus.

A new survey of Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) students shows local teens have been facing a decline in mental health over the last few years.

The Fairfax County Youth Survey is an anonymous and voluntary survey of students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The newest survey, compiled from the 2021 school year, involved the participation of 33,479 students. There was no survey during 2020, making this the first look at student health since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

The report said FCPS students were more depressed than at any other time in the past decade.

“In 2021, the rates of feeling persistent sadness or hopelessness among Fairfax County youth were highest in the past 10 years,” the report said.

FCPS is hardly alone in this: the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report earlier this year reporting poor mental health among teens and children nationwide. While Fairfax County’s figures are high, they’re still below the national average.

The report said that every measure of depression showed a marked increase over the past few years:

The greatest increase was observed in the percentage of students with persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Overall, almost two-fifths of the students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade (38.1%) reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row in the past year that they stopped doing some usual activities. More than 41% (41.6%) of 12th grade students reported such feelings, as compared to 35.0% of 8th grade students. Overall, the percentage of students reporting this level of sadness was about 8 percentage points higher than in 2019 (29.9%), reaching the highest point in the past 10 years.

The report also found that female, Hispanic, and LGBTQ students as well as students from food-insecure homes were all more likely to experience depression.

Students also reported an increase in bullying at home from parents or other adults.

“One in four students (24.8%) reported having been bullied, taunted, ridiculed, or teased by a parent or other adult in their household in the past year,” the report said, “which increased from 22.9% in 2019, and is the highest in the past 6 years.”

Around 8% of students reported experiencing physical abuse at home.

Additional highlights from the report include:

• The rates of reporting persistent feelings of sadness/hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts increased among Fairfax County youth this year, following the national trends.
• More than 38% of the students in 8th, 10th and 12th grade reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row in the past year that they stopped doing some usual activities (persistently sad or hopeless). Approximately 17% reported suicidal thoughts and 6% reported suicide attempts.
• Female students were more likely to express high stress, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, consider attempting suicide and attempt suicide compared to male students.
• Students of Hispanic ethnicity and students of other/multiple races were most likely to express feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness, consider suicide and attempt suicide.
• Students who identified themselves as transgender or gay/lesbian/bisexual reported higher rates of stress, feelings of sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The data shows that they also face greater challenges that can affect their mental health including emotional and physical abuse by a parent or adult, forced sexual intercourse and sexual harassment.
• Students who reported a lack of food in their home were more likely to report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than those from food-secure homes.

The full report is available online.

Photo via Christian Erfurt/Unsplash

Fairfax County is seeking the public’s help with adding “charm” to the upcoming Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations.

Announced Tuesday (Aug. 2), a public survey is now open, surveying residents on what locally inspired design elements and artwork — “community charm” — should be added to each of the nine new BRT stations set to come to Richmond Highway by 2030.

“The ‘Community Charm’ initiative is focused on integrating artwork into each BRT station to reflect the history, identity, and character of the neighborhoods surrounding each station area,” the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) said in its news release. “Students from local schools [are] to design artwork for the windscreen area based on themes developed with the community.”

The county notes that over the last several years, it has asked the community for input into the station’s “potential themes.” This survey, which closes on Aug. 14, provides a final chance for thoughts prior to those themes being chosen.

Questions in the survey focus on ranking the importance of including historical, cultural, and physical landmarks in each station’s artwork.

For example, for the Penn Daw station, the survey asks residents to rank how they would prioritize the corridor’s history of roadside and historic motels, diversity and multiculturism, and physical landmarks of Hunting Creek and the Potomac River.

At the Woodlawn station, it asks to rank in order of importance the Pope-Leighey House, Woodlawn Plantation, the history of enslaved people in the community, Dogue Creek, and the Quaker community.

After the survey closes, the county’s Department of Planning and Development and History Commission will develop “narratives” for each station using the publicly-chosen themes. Starting around late fall or early winter, students will work on the designs before presenting them to the community for more feedback next spring, according to FCDOT.

After all that, a Richmond Highway BRT Executive Commission is expected to vote on the final designs in late spring 2023.

With pop-up events scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 9-10) at Gum Springs Community Center and Old Mount Vernon High School, respectively, county staff will be available to talk in person about the community charm initiative as well as the overall BRT project over the next several weeks.

Named “The One” earlier this year, the Richmond Highway BRT will consist of nine stations built along an 8-mile stretch. The stations will be constructed in two sections. It’s not expected to be completed until 2030.