Arbor Day
Arbor Day is an annual City of Fairfax celebration organized in partnership with the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC), typically involving tree planting, community participation, and educational programming. 4 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Pat Rodio Park
Pat Rodio Park is a municipal park that has been undergoing a playground relocation and broader redevelopment effort. As of October 2024, staff began seeking a new playground location; by November 2024 a site had been identified, with tree planting and public outreach planned.
- Apr 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
The 40th annual Arbor Day celebration is scheduled for April 25th at Pat Rodio Park, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Willard Sherwood
The Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center (WSHCC) is a City of Fairfax project to construct a new health and community center, intended in part to replace the aging Green Acres facility for senior services. As of April 2025, the project's future was uncertain due to staffing and building security concerns, with a full City Council presentation scheduled for April 22, 2025, and all city trails work paused in the interim.
- Apr 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
The 40th annual Arbor Day celebration is scheduled for April 25th at Pat Rodio Park, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Asian Festival on Main
The Asian Festival on Main is an annual outdoor festival held in historic downtown Fairfax City, organized by the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA) and originally created in 2021 by Wendy Wong, co-owner of the Standard Barbershop, in partnership with several sponsors. Attendance has grown each year, making it one of the largest Asian festivals in the DMV region.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5hCommunity Member Updates
Diana Gibson reported working with Sophia Chapin at the New School to create a youth poetry contest for Arbor Day, with a winner from each city school.
Urban Forest Master Plan
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is the City of Fairfax's first comprehensive, 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest. Development began in May 2024 and proceeded through two Steering Committee meetings, two public open houses (July and October 2024, with a third in October 2025), stakeholder interviews, a public survey, and ongoing presentations to the Planning Commission, PRAB, Environmental Sustainability Committee, and City Council.
- Oct 10, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 8bStakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee
Arbor Day will be held October 26 at Kutner Park.
- Feb 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 8bStakeholder Updates – Environmental Sustainability Committee
Arbor Day will be held alongside HisTree Day at Historic Blenheim in April.
- Jan 8, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 9Matters of the Members
Rusty Russell noted this Arbor Day marks the 40th anniversary of Fairfax's Tree City USA certification and is expected to be a more significant celebration than in prior years.
- Mar 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5bStakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee
The 40th annual Arbor Day event was noted as coming up soon.
- May 4, 2026School Board · item 1.06Arbor Day Student Poetry Contest Winners
[1.06] Arbor Day Poetry Contest winners from all four city schools were recognized at the meeting, each reading their poem and receiving a certificate and gift card. Superintendent Wright reported attending the Arbor Day Event.
- May 14, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
Arbor Day was reported as a huge success with 50+ people in attendance.
In full
In October 2024, the event was held at Kutner Park (October 26). For 2025, the event was planned to coincide with HisTree Day at Historic Blenheim in April. The 2026 edition was a milestone: the city's 40th year as a Tree City USA–certified community, making it a notably larger celebration than prior years.
It was held April 25, 2026, at Pat Rodio Park from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and was officially proclaimed by Mayor Catherine S. Reed (with Arbor Day proclaimed as April 24, 2026 in the proclamation, and the event itself occurring April 25). The 2026 event featured student poetry recitations, tree giveaways, tree planting along a creek (reforesting an area after a playground was removed), and drew 50+ attendees; it was subsequently reported as a huge success.
A youth poetry contest, initiated by the ESC in collaboration with Sophia Chapin at the New School, produced winners from all four city schools, who also read their poems at the May 4, 2026 School Board meeting and received certificates and gift cards.