Van Dyck Park
Van Dyck Park is a City of Fairfax park undergoing a multi-phase redevelopment process. 9 separate matters touch this place; each has its own status.
WSHCC
The West Side Human Community Center (WSHCC) is a city parks capital project that progressed through budgetary planning, land use approval, and City Council authorization over approximately one year. Through mid-2025, staff was preparing low, medium, and high cost-recovery scenarios for the facility, with community preference noted for open gym time over heavy rental use.
- Jun 11, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 3Joint Senior Council Meeting
The Van Dyck Park Master Plan was mentioned by the Senior Council as a park project they would like PRAB to advocate for.
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.
- Jun 11, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 3Joint Senior Council Meeting
The Van Dyck Park Master Plan was mentioned by the Senior Council as a park project they would like PRAB to advocate for.
- May 26, 2026City Council · item 9aConsideration of an Award of Construction Contract to Meadville Land Service, Inc. in the amount of approximately $628,655 for Providence Park and Van Dyck Park Outfall Restoration
Van Dyck Park is one of the two parks whose outfall restoration is the subject of the awarded construction contract.
passedAuthorization for Purchasing Agent to award construction contract of $628,655.00 to Meadville Land Service, Inc. for Providence Park and Van Dyck Park outfall restoration✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
CIP Update
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is an ongoing, multi-year budget planning effort covering infrastructure, facilities, parks, and recreation investments across the district and city. On October 20, 2025, Acting Superintendent Dan Phillips presented an updated CIP budget to the School Board during a Work Session, incorporating added HVAC funding and revised cost estimates for the football turf field replacement and softball field; that updated CIP was slated to be brought forward at the next regular School Board meeting.
- New Business – CIP Update
The Van Dyck Park Master Plan design deadline was pushed to FY28 in the CIP submission.
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
Identified as one of the parks where invasive plant removal efforts have been focused by the Stewardship Coordinator and Forest Rescuer volunteers.
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.
- Summary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
Construction start date pushed to FY28 to avoid overlap with the Blenheim Boulevard and Willard Sherwood Center construction projects. Invasive plant removal at Van Dyck Park last weekend was reported as successful; additional removals are listed on Engage Fairfax.
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.
- Nov 14, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aProject Updates – Master Plan, Pat Rodio, Van Dyck Redevelopment, Old Town Renovation, KJM Turf
A fence was placed between Van Dyck Park and St. Leo the Great Church and school; a trail easement from the archdiocese is unlikely at this time.
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.
- Nov 14, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aProject Updates – Master Plan, Pat Rodio, Van Dyck Redevelopment, Old Town Renovation, KJM Turf
A fence was placed between Van Dyck Park and St. Leo the Great Church and school; a trail easement from the archdiocese is unlikely at this time.
KJM Turf
The KJM Turf project is a long-running effort (at least 10 years in development) to renovate the KJM athletic fields, with options for either synthetic or natural turf. As of October 2024, staff was working with consultant Timmons to develop preliminary plans and a detailed budget for both options.
- Nov 14, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7aProject Updates – Master Plan, Pat Rodio, Van Dyck Redevelopment, Old Town Renovation, KJM Turf
A fence was placed between Van Dyck Park and St. Leo the Great Church and school; a trail easement from the archdiocese is unlikely at this time.
- OTH/OTS – Update
A construction start date of April 1 has been set for the Splash Pad (OTS); it is expected to be up and running by Memorial Day.
- Old Business – Van Dyck Update
The tennis court and pickleball court lights are out; staff hopes to repair them soon.
- Nov 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6cOld Business – City Playground Updates
The dragonfly equipment piece is broken and cannot be replaced; several climbers and steppers focused on preschool-age children will be installed in its place.
In full
The broader redevelopment and Master Plan design were originally held pending the start of construction at Thaiss Park, then further delayed: as of February 2025, the construction start was pushed to FY28 to avoid overlap with the Blenheim Boulevard and Willard Sherwood Center construction projects, and by February 2026 the Master Plan design deadline was also formally pushed to FY28 in the CIP submission. In the meantime, incremental work has continued: invasive plant removal efforts by the Stewardship Coordinator and Forest Rescuer volunteers have taken place at the park (reported successful as of February 2025 and ongoing through April 2025); a fence was placed between Van Dyck Park and St. Leo the Great Church and school, with a trail easement from the archdiocese considered unlikely; and in May 2026, City Council unanimously approved a $628,655 construction contract to Meadville Land Service, Inc. for outfall restoration at Van Dyck and Providence Parks.
Smaller maintenance issues have also arisen: tennis and pickleball court lights were reported out in October 2025, with repairs hoped for soon, and a broken dragonfly play equipment piece is being replaced with climbers and steppers for preschool-age children as of November 2025. The Senior Council identified the Van Dyck Park Master Plan as a priority project they want PRAB to advocate for, as of June 2026.