Tell Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that parks matter to you!

A summertime walk in Huntley Meadows. Photo by Serenella Linares.

A summertime walk in Huntley Meadows. Photo by Serenella Linares.

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4/11/22 UPDATE: Our advocacy is getting noticed – please add your voice if you haven’t already!

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Our supervisors need to hear from everyone who uses parks
before the budget hearings start on April 12.

Make your voice heard now!

Why your voice is so urgently needed:
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking feedback on the annual budget. The current budget proposal shows our parks getting far less money than they need to stay healthy and truly benefit all Fairfax County residents. As a voter and a supporter of our parks, please speak up using the red “Start writing” button below!

What do parks mean to you?
During these last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, did you use parks as a place to safely meeting up with friends; as a place to exercise; as a place to connect with nature; or simply as a place to find the peacefulness we often can’t get elsewhere?

The pandemic has made one thing very clear: natural, green spaces filled with native trees and other native vegetation are more important than ever to the mental and physical health of people across all communities.

Here is what we need:

Help us build a tidal wave of support for our parks just by sending a quick email. 

  • Your email can be short!
    • Stating your support for funding our parks is what matters!
  • Tell your supervisor about why parks are important to you.
  • Ask your supervisor to speak up for more funding the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA).
    • Racial and social equity principles in “One Fairfax” should guide FCPA’s budget.
    • Please fully fund the Equitable Access Program for $5 million.
    • Please invest in sustainably protecting our parks natural resources by funding the full $751,954 requested.
    • Current bond funding levels must be retained to prevent divestment in our park facilities.
  • Want more details?

     

    About Renee Grebe

    Renee is the Northern Virginia Conservation Advocate at ANS.
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    2 Comments

    1. Our parks are a very important part of our lives in Fairfax County, They need to be maintained, and cleared of the invasive plants to maintain their health. Natural surroundings are important to one’s mental health and our neighbors around the county all need parks no matter their economic status. Please support more funding for the Parks. Dottie Dane

    2. When we moved to Cabell’s Mill we had no idea what importance Ellanor C.Lawrence Park would have in our lives, but for the last 20+ years we have walked there with our friends and our dogs most days of the week. Our parks are the best of Fairfax County. They are open to all, of any age, and require no annual subscription. They give us so much: education, exercise, and the natural stress-relief of time spent outside four walls. Beauty and peace exist in the parks. They provide a safe place to take visitors and to meet new friends. We are so grateful we have had the opportunity to enjoy these benefits.

      But the pandemic has created ever-increasing demands on our park. The numbers of people who use it have skyrocketed. Climate change has brought invasive species that require additional time, labor, and expenditure to prevent loss of habitat to native species. Road construction in Fairfax brings continuous challenges to all forms of life in the parks. We know personally the people who take care of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park–it’s a pretty small crew to get the job done. They care deeply about the park and have the great depth of knowledge needed to maintain it. They do all they can, but they need much more help.I am writing about “our” park, but there are similar needs in all of the Fairfax County Parks.

      Please fully fund our parks! Without our immediate support our parks will literally lose ground, become lesser, degrade. Future residents of Fairfax County may have even greater need for them than do we.

    Comments are closed