Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual observance recognized by the City of Fairfax each February through mayoral proclamation and related civic events. 2 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
George Snyder Trail
The George Snyder Trail was a planned off-street shared-use path project (VDOT UPC 112816) intended to improve multimodal connectivity along Fairfax Boulevard in the City of Fairfax. The project drew sustained and significant public opposition throughout its consideration.
- Feb 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6aSummary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
$75,000 requested to fund heritage month celebrations including Black History Month, Women's History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Asian Festival.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aNew Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
A Black History Month reception and proclamation was held on February 10th.
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.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aNew Business – Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
A Black History Month reception and proclamation was held on February 10th.
- Jan 28, 2025City Council · item 4aPresentation of a proclamation acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax
A proclamation was presented acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax.
- Feb 10, 2026City Council · item 3aPresentation of a proclamation acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax
City of Fairfax recognized February as Black History Month via proclamation at this meeting.
In full
On January 28, 2025, Mayor Read presented a proclamation acknowledging February as Black History Month to Reverend Jeffery O. Johnson, Sr., Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
Separately, in February 2025, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) was briefed on a $75,000 budget request to fund heritage month celebrations including Black History Month, Women's History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Asian Festival. On February 10, 2026, Mayor Catherine S. Reed again presented a proclamation — themed "A Century of Black History Commemorations," marking 100 years since National Negro History Week began in 1926 — to Dr.
Michael Nickens (Doc Nix) and Stacey Yvonne Claytor, accompanied by a Black History Month reception held earlier that evening. The PRAB was briefed on the February 10, 2026 proclamation and reception at its February 12, 2026 meeting.