Approved Materials - Reston Community Center

March 25, 2013 Long Range Planning Committee Meeting Report
Public Comment:
Bart Astor, member of Reston Association Fiscal Committee, said that the committee is anxious to
partner with RCC. The committee thinks there are overlapping expertise and interests and he hopes RA
and RCC can work in unison.
Jeannie Crowley, Reston resident, indicated that she is standing up for her two dogs. She believes it’s
important to bring them to the Baron Cameron dog park on a daily basis. Her comments received
applause and standing up support from a total of 33 attendees.
After the meeting, Jeannie provided the Board with the following comments, presented in their entirety:
I am writing to represent the Baron Cameron dog park. I avail myself of the dog park every weekday
morning before work. It is a vital part of my dog care, as I live in a condo townhouse with a very small
yard. I am in good company, too. The park is frequented by hundreds every day, from my observations.
I was jogging by in the rain on Sun., Mar. 17, and despite the weather, many dogs were exercising in the
park. Please take this into consideration when you are reviewing any new development proposals.
Linda Flickinger, Reston resident, is concerned with the loss of open space and she feels as though
the open space will be diminished. She stated that open space is difficult to replace. Her comments
received applause from a total of 42 attendees that support open space.
Chip George, board member for the Newport Shores Cluster Association and Reston resident, said
that he is a resident of 1431 Waterfront Rd. in Reston. He stated that his house is one of seven homes
that would have this facility in his backyard. He reminded everyone of the attempt to build a facility at
Brown’s Chapel Park several years ago, during which his community was vocal against the loss of green
space, proximity to residential neighborhoods and Lake Newport, and the negative affect it would have on
property values. He stated that he has not seen a site layout for this proposal. He anticipates being
against this proposal too, particularly if the trees, open space and the dog park will go away.
Leila responded that RCC does not have a site layout yet because they wanted to hear community input
before proceeding with a plan and that there is no contemplation of those park features being lost.
Chip continued and said that on a personal note, he has school-age children. He referenced a white
paper from Dick Rogers which suggested that Reston is about to explode in population, the schools are
overcrowded, and will need the Baron Cameron Park space for a new school. He agrees with this paper
and said that he thinks the Park Authority should give the property back to Fairfax County for school use.
Chip is also concerned with residents of Small Tax District 5 paying for a new recreation center. He said
that if there’s that much extra money from taxes, we should get rid of the tax. His comments received
applause/standing support from a total of 30 attendees that oppose the new rec center being paid for by
Small Tax District 5.
Leila asked if those 30 were opposed to a new facility in general. There was general discussion and
many attendees voiced a substantial level of concern about unknown changes to Baron Cameron Park,
what the costs would be and who would pay for it. Leila responded that we cannot put a plan together
until we hear input from the community.
Rachel Kranz, Reston resident, said that she moved here three years ago and have been thoroughly
pleased with the space that is offered to the many apartment residents. She said she came from a house
where her parents owned five acres and she enjoyed playing outside. She said this community continues
to take away land space for kids, grownups and dogs to play, because “they” want to see what
opportunities bigger facilities could provide. She thinks the opportunities are already there for people to
utilize and they do so every single day. She indicated that building something so big would be an
“eyesore” since you can see it from the road. She asked the group if they wanted to play next to a giant
rec center or play next to fields upon fields upon fields She reiterated her support for open space and
the outdoors. As has been said before, she said open space is something that can be destroyed easily
and is difficult to get back. In the end, she believes that the open space means more to the people of
Reston than another big facility that residents have to pay for.
Beverly Larison, Reston resident, is a current RCC aquatics patron and indicated that she loves
Reston. She loves open space. She love dogs and owns dogs. But she would also love an indoor
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