Draper Drive Park
Summary
Draper Drive Park is a City of Fairfax park situated north of Fairfax Boulevard, bordered by residential neighborhoods and containing trails and restroom facilities. Several distinct municipal actions have involved the park. In September 2024, the City Council unanimously approved (6-0) local artist Jessica Pidcock to paint a public art mural on the north-facing facade of the park's restroom structure, funded by plastic bag tax revenues; the mural depicts woodland creatures cleaning up a pond area and is mounted on a removable panel for easy maintenance. Around the same period (October 2024), Draper Drive Park was identified as a higher-priority location for a unarmed security pilot program alongside Stafford Drive Park and the Old Town Business area, due to high traffic, trail access, and proximity to residential communities. By early 2025, newly installed permanent restrooms at the park were in use, noted positively in the context of hosted soccer tournaments. Most recently, at the May 2026 Council meeting, Draper Drive Park was identified as a key node in a proposed alternative alignment for the Wilcoxon Trail Extension, which would route the trail along Draper Drive and Beach Drive through the park to connect neighborhoods north and south of Fairfax Boulevard; the Council gave consensus to advance a feasibility study and public outreach using already-appropriated funds.
Open questions & options on the table
- Outcome of the unarmed security pilot program at Draper Drive Park — no resolution recorded.
- Results of the Wilcoxon Trail Extension feasibility study and public outreach process, including whether the alternative alignment through Draper Drive Park will be formally adopted.
- Whether the proposed stream restoration project along the portion of Draper Drive Park's stream corridor will proceed, and whether necessary private property easements and floodplain work can be secured.
What members have said
At the September 24, 2024 meeting, Mayor Reed expressed enthusiastic support for the Draper Drive Park restroom mural, commenting that she is 'all in' for more public art on bathrooms.
At the September 24, 2024 meeting, Council Member Staley made the motion to approve Jessica Pidcock to paint the mural at Draper Drive Park, both during the initial consent agenda motion and again when the item was pulled for separate consideration.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[8d] The park's restroom structure was approved as the site for the new public art mural.
passedApprove Jessica Pidcock to paint the mural at Draper Drive Park restrooms.✓ Bates✓ Doyle Feingold✓ Greenfield✓ Lim✓ Ross✓ Stehle[11a] Draper Drive Park was identified as a potential route component in the alternative alignment concept for the Wilcoxon Trail Extension.