Approved Materials - Reston Community Center
Approved Materials - Reston Community Center
Approved Materials - Reston Community Center
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March 25, 2013 Long Range Planning Committee Meeting Report<br />
park users are supposed to go if the dog park is taken away. She said the Oakton park is rated for 25<br />
dogs. Herndon is comparable size to <strong>Reston</strong>, but is maxed out too. She does support an indoor<br />
recreation center, but believes the <strong>Reston</strong> dog park should be expanded.<br />
Kay Schmid, <strong>Reston</strong> resident, gave the following remarks (provided in their entirety as submitted):<br />
I oppose a new sports complex at Baron Cameron Park. I am not opposed to the facility; however, it is a<br />
terrible idea to locate it at Baron Cameron Park. Among the concerns:<br />
First: The park’s unique character as natural area plus athletic fields would be jeopardized by this<br />
development.<br />
· My home overlooks the park. By day we enjoy tree-filled views, and at night, peaceful darkness.<br />
This morning from my kitchen window, I enjoyed watching deer in the park’s snow-covered fields.<br />
· My family plays sports on the athletic fields, and we enjoy the playground.<br />
· In the open fields of the park, we have enjoyed taking our children to look at the stars or watch a<br />
meteor shower.<br />
· Lights, pavement, traffic, and the physical structure of this development would threaten all of this.<br />
Second: Neighboring homes, including mine, would be negatively impacted by this development.<br />
· The value and enjoyment of our homes would suffer if our views over the park are replaced with a<br />
huge building, lights, and parking lots.<br />
· Light pollution from this development would disturb our properties by night.<br />
· Traffic is already a problem on Wiehle and Baron Cameron. It can be difficult to turn out of our<br />
neighborhood onto Wiehle(especially if there is a car turning out of the park). The neighborhood<br />
cannot accommodate the influx of more cars into the park.<br />
Third: Neighbors and park patrons have not been adequately informed.<br />
· I was unaware of the plans until three days ago. I soon discovered that most of my neighbors did not<br />
know about the project, either.<br />
· Unaccountably, there are two hearings scheduled this week, when many families are out of town for<br />
spring break.<br />
· The park regularly features placards advertising RA, RCC, and Park Authority business. It’s clear<br />
you know how to promote something when you want to. Why have there been no signs, no real<br />
effort to involve the people most connected to the park<br />
Finally: The proposed complex should be built on a pre-developed site, making every effort to preserve<br />
green space in <strong>Reston</strong>. What about Tall Oaks<br />
· The village center has been struggling for years. Similar to the way RCC Hunters Woods<br />
strengthens its plaza, a rec center would revitalize Tall Oaks, and preserve green space in<br />
<strong>Reston</strong>.<br />
Given the many problems this development would create for Baron Cameron Park and its neighbors, and<br />
considering the availability of at least one pre-developed site nearby, I hope you will spare our Park.<br />
Cheryl Sprague, <strong>Reston</strong>, resident, is a current RCC aquatics patron who said she is here to support<br />
water therapy. She said we are in need of a pool that can help disabled people. She indicated that 45<br />
percent of people in <strong>Reston</strong> are seeing a physical therapist or are being recommended to see a doctor.<br />
At this time, we have great programs at RCC Hunters Woods, but it’s too cold for people that truly need it.<br />
She reiterated that she supports a therapeutic pool. She doesn’t want to take away nature though, so<br />
she is in favor of looking into different sites.<br />
Diane Thompson, <strong>Reston</strong> resident, said she has lived in <strong>Reston</strong> for 34 years. She said she is not an<br />
activist, but didn’t know anything about this meeting until a few days ago. She said her neighbors didn’t<br />
know either. She indicated that this is the first night of Passover and spring break and there are a large<br />
number of people who wanted to attend this meeting and simply couldn’t be here. She is in favor of open<br />
space. She suggested that Isaac Newton and Tall Oaks are better options that won’t destroy open<br />
space. She also suggested that Spectrum could maybe give money She asked to please preserve the<br />
little open space we have left.<br />
Following the meeting, Diane sent the following comments, presented in their entirety as submitted:<br />
I am opposed to using the open space on Baron Cameron for a new Recreation <strong>Center</strong> for <strong>Reston</strong>. There<br />
is little open space remaining in <strong>Reston</strong> and the location is not easily accessible by public transportation<br />
and the traffic at the corner of Baron Cameron and Whiele is terrible. I also do not think it fair that <strong>Reston</strong><br />
should have to pay for building the facility when the other county Rec <strong>Center</strong>s are paid for by the county.<br />
Perhaps it would be better located in Fairfax Park and it certainly should be paid for by the county.<br />
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