NOVA Parks
NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) is a regional parks authority that manages facilities and trails serving the City of Fairfax and surrounding jurisdictions, including the 44-mile W&OD Trail, Meadowlark Gardens, Bull Run Regional Park, Gateway Park, and other sites. 8 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Courthouse Plaza
Courthouse Plaza (10300 Willard Way and 3922 Blenheim Boulevard) is a shopping center redevelopment project in the CR Commercial Retail/Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District, proposed by Combined Courthouse, LLC. The project has proceeded through two distinct application cycles.
- Jul 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 4Stakeholder Updates
Douglas Stewart reported no updates from NOVA Parks.
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.
- City Council Orientation
NOVA Parks has completed design plans for restoring wetlands and native habitat at Gateway Park and is now going through permitting. Douglas Stewart reported that Dominion Energy is cutting down a large number of trees along the WO&D trail.
- Apr 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
NOVA Parks representative Douglas Stewart was absent; no update provided.
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
NOVA Parks representative Douglas Stewart was absent; no update provided.
Gateway Park
- Mar 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5cStakeholder Update – NOVA Parks
NOVA Parks is almost ready to award a contract for the restoration of Gateway Park.
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.
- Apr 10, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
Douglas Stewart reported that Dominion cleared 4 miles of trees along the W&OD Trail in the Vienna-Dunn Loring segment and has plans for the remaining 29 miles; after opposition from local counties Dominion has paused. NOVA Parks is working on a new MOU with Dominion to protect natural resources. He also noted that Executive Director Paul Gilbert will retire in December and a national search firm has been hired.
- May 19, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
Douglas Stewart reported that NOVA Parks and the Town of Vienna announced plans to construct a visitors' center on the W&OD Trail in downtown Vienna at 125 Church St, and that Dominion is planning its second phase of tree cutting on the W&OD trail from Gallows Rd in Dunn Loring to Shreve Rd near Falls Church, with a 2–3 week trail closure expected.
- Sep 11, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6Stakeholder Updates
Hired Justin Wilson as new Executive Director (starting October), succeeding retiring Paul Gilbert; also continuing negotiations with Dominion over tree cutting along the W&OD trail following Dominion's clear-cutting of a 4-mile section and termination of the existing MOU.
- Jan 8, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
Douglas Stewart reported that NOVA Parks' three holiday lights shows attracted more than 200,000 visitors and that NOVA Parks is working with Dominion Energy on an updated MOU for tree management on the W&OD Trail.
The 2035 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Guide is a living document developed post-adoption of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan to track implementation of the plan's 333 total action items, as well as companion Implementation Guides for four adopted Small Area Plans (Old Town, Northfax, Camp Washington, and Fairfax Circle). The guides are maintained by planning staff — principally Planner II Amy Lynn Denny — and are updated on a roughly semi-annual cycle: winter updates are packaged with the Planning Commission's Annual Report to City Council (typically considered in late winter/early spring), and summer updates are presented as standalone work session items.
- Sep 11, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6Stakeholder Updates
Hired Justin Wilson as new Executive Director (starting October), succeeding retiring Paul Gilbert; also continuing negotiations with Dominion over tree cutting along the W&OD trail following Dominion's clear-cutting of a 4-mile section and termination of the existing MOU.
Thaiss Park
Thaiss Park is a City park undergoing a full redevelopment project contracted to Bright Masonry, Inc. for $7,725,650, approved by City Council on October 8, 2024. Construction began in December 2024 following utility relocation work and full park closure; the cross-county trail was kept open but made inaccessible from the park during construction.
- City Council Orientation
NOVA Parks has completed design plans for restoring wetlands and native habitat at Gateway Park and is now going through permitting. Douglas Stewart reported that Dominion Energy is cutting down a large number of trees along the WO&D trail.
Van Dyck Redevelopment
The Van Dyck Redevelopment is a funded parks project in the City's capital pipeline that has been in a holding pattern tied to sequencing with other major construction efforts. Through late 2024, the project was placed on hold pending the start of Thaiss Park construction, with no substantive engineering activity.
- City Council Orientation
NOVA Parks has completed design plans for restoring wetlands and native habitat at Gateway Park and is now going through permitting. Douglas Stewart reported that Dominion Energy is cutting down a large number of trees along the WO&D trail.
- Nov 14, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 8cNOVA Parks – Douglas Stewart
Reservoir Park recently opened; Bull Run Festival of Lights opens November 15th; Dominion Power is doing tree trimming on the W&OD trail.
- Dec 12, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 8cNOVA Parks – Douglas Stewart
NOVA Parks announced an upcoming talk on the history of the W&OD trail at the Fairfax City library and a new grant program for Title I schools for field trips to NOVA Parks.
- NOVA Parks – Douglas Stewart
Douglas Stewart reported nothing new from NOVA Parks at this meeting.
- Feb 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 8cStakeholder Updates – NOVA Parks
Meadowlark Gardens erected a commemorative sign honoring four Howard University students who challenged segregated transportation while commuting to the Gardens.
- Jun 12, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5cStakeholder Update – NOVA Parks
Dominion is conducting summer tree cutting on the W&OD trail; NOVA Parks has communicated concern about the scope and lack of a restoration plan, and is working with Dominion on a revised MOU for vegetation management.
- Stakeholder Update – NOVA Parks
Justin Wilson began as NOVA Parks' new Director; outgoing Director Paul Gilbert received the prestigious Pugsley Medal in September for his conservation contributions, including conserving 3,500 acres and establishing over 15 new regional parks.
- Nov 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5cStakeholder Updates – NOVA Parks
NOVA Parks' Winter Walk of Lights, Festival of Lights, and Ice and Lights events are open through January. Executive Director Justin Wilson is scheduled to brief City Council on December 9, with Gateway Park plans likely part of the briefing.
- Dec 9, 2025City Council · item 3dPresentation and update of NOVA Parks by Justin Wilson, Executive Director
NOVA Parks Executive Director presented an update on NOVA Parks activities and partnerships at the December 9 meeting.
- Dec 11, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5cStakeholder Update – NOVA Parks (Douglas Stewart)
NOVA Parks Executive Director Justin Wilson presented plans for Gateway Park improvements to Mayor and Council on December 9, including wetland restoration, planting 200+ trees and shrubs, invasive species management, and new trails and boardwalk; groundbreaking planned for 2026 pending permits, with the project budgeted at slightly over $1 million (City contributing $500,000). NOVA Parks also launched a grant program funding field trips for Title 1 school students, with the next round opening in winter 2026.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5cStakeholder Update – NOVA Parks
NOVA Parks and Dominion Energy reached a new non-binding agreement for managing vegetation along the W&OD corridor, including replanting in areas previously clear-cut and establishing practices to reduce invasive plants and support pollinators. A CIP submission for NOVA Parks regional pay per person in the City was included.
- May 14, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
NOVA Parks reported on the planned W&OD Trail Visitors' Center near the Town Green in Vienna (state budget funding pending), the Korean Bell Garden Celebration on May 16 at Meadowlark Gardens, and two Juneteenth events: the 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run Regional Park on June 13th and an event at Tinner Hill Regional Park on June 19th.
- Jun 11, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5cStakeholder Updates – NOVA Parks
NOVA Parks adopted its 2027 budget of $43.3 million, extended W&OD Trail hours to 5am–9pm year-round, co-produced a documentary with Howard University about the 1944 Student Bus Protest, and is holding its 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run Regional Park on June 13th.
- Sep 10, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6Stakeholder Updates
Liaison Douglas Stewart was scheduled to provide a stakeholder update on behalf of NOVA Parks.
- Oct 8, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 4Stakeholder Updates
A NOVA Parks stakeholder update was scheduled to be delivered by Douglas Stewart at this meeting.
In full
The NOVA Parks liaison to the City's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) is Douglas Stewart, who provides regular stakeholder updates. Key ongoing matters include: (1) a major ecological restoration project at Gateway Park, a NOVA Parks-managed site leased from the City since 1994 (expiring 2034), budgeted at slightly over $1 million with the City contributing $500,000, involving wetland restoration, planting 200+ trees and shrubs, invasive species management, and new trails and a boardwalk — design is complete, permitting is underway, contract award was nearly ready as of March 2026, with groundbreaking targeted for 2026 and construction hoped to complete in 2026; (2) a prolonged dispute with Dominion Energy over clear-cutting of trees along the W&OD Trail, in which Dominion cleared a 4-mile segment near Vienna/Dunn Loring, terminated the existing MOU, and proceeded with further cutting, prompting NOVA Parks to negotiate a revised agreement — as of February 2026, a new non-binding vegetation management agreement was reached covering replanting, future maintenance coordination, and invasive plant reduction; and (3) a planned W&OD Trail Visitors' Center near the Town Green in Vienna at 125 Church St, pending state budget funding. Leadership transitioned in October 2025 when Justin Wilson (former Alexandria City Council member and mayor) succeeded retiring Executive Director Paul Gilbert, who received the Pugsley Medal for his conservation legacy including 3,500 acres conserved and 15+ new regional parks.
NOVA Parks adopted a 2027 budget of $43.3 million and extended W&OD Trail hours to 5am–9pm year-round. A new grant program for Title I/public school field trips has been launched, with a winter 2026 funding round. NOVA Parks also co-produced a documentary with Howard University about the 1944 Student Bus Protest.