6.27.24

Dear Neighbor,

Our Summer Entertainment Series is off to a great start, with two successful Arts in the Parks children's events in the books.

Arts in the Parks will continue through the summer on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. at Wakefield Park in front of the Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Rd, Annandale).

Our Braddock Nights evening concerts begin next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Lake Park (5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax) and Lake Accotink Park (7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield) and will continue throughout the summer.

For information about weather cancellations, you can call the hotline at (703) 324-7469 (SHOW) one hour prior to the scheduled start time of a show for an update.

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Braddock District news and updates.

Continue reading below for more information on:

• Small Pet Adoption Fees Temporarily Waived
• VDOT Lifts Lane Closures for July 4 Travel
• Heat Safety Tips
• Arts in the Parks
• Scam Alert
• School's Out!
• Share Your Thoughts about the Fairfax Center Area Study
• FCDOT Daily Travel Transformation
• Plan Forward
• Nominations Open for the Friends of Trees Awards

Small Pet Adoption

Fees Temporarily Waived

VDOT Lifts Lane Closures

for July 4 Travel

Heat Safety Tips

Arts in the Parks

The first two concerts of the Braddock District Arts in the Parks Children's Series have been a blast!

Concerts are every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Wakefield Park in front of the Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Road, Annandale) until August 17.

In the event of inclement weather, call the FCPA concert hotline at (703) 324-SHOW (7469) one hour before a show's scheduled start time for an update.

View FCPA's schedule of Arts in the Parks concerts.

We are seeking volunteers to help make these concerts successful, so if you are interested in volunteering, please email Supervisor Walkinshaw's office.

Scam Alert

The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office has issued the following statement regarding a telephone scam falsely claiming to be a Fairfax County Sheriff:

In the latest scam, a person identifying himself as "Lt. James Perry" with the Fairfax County Sheriff's "Department" "civil service division." Please note that we have no employee named James Perry, our agency is not called "department" and we have no division called "civil service." The phone number he provides does not belong to us nor does the email address. Whatever he wants you to call or email him about is not legitimate. Please do not contact him!   

Telephone scammers, FALSELY claiming to be Sheriff’s deputies are seeking personal information and threatening you with arrest so that they can take your money. The Sheriff's Office will never call you and make threats, claiming that a warrant is outstanding for your failure to appear in court or that you missed jury duty, failed to pay a utility bill or owe the IRS for unpaid taxes. The same is true for the courts and the police.

Other fraudulent callers have said that you have to pay a fine to correct a mix-up on personal information. They want Google gift cards, or they direct you to go to Walmart, CVS or Rite Aid and purchase a green dot money card. Later they might ask for a picture of your debit card and driver's license. They might ask you to meet them at the Courthouse on Chain Bridge Road or our administrative office on Main Street.

In all of these cases, HANG UP! It's a scam! Even if the caller leaves you a message, DO NOT CALL BACK. Do not meet them anywhere. Do not give them the whereabouts of anyone you know. The scammers might seem knowledgeable about the Sheriff's Office because they have read about us on the website. They leave fake messages and create fake recordings for your return call. Please do not fall for these scammers! They want to scare you so they can take your money.

Do not give out personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, passwords, or any other identifying information about yourself or your family members. Regularly monitor all of your financial statements, and always use strong passwords.

Learn more about avoiding various scams, how to recover from identity theft, and how to report if you have been the victim of a financial crime. Please share this information with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

• If you are the victim of a scam in Fairfax County, report it to through the Police Department’s Financial Crimes Information and Reporting System.
• To verify if you or someone else may have an outstanding warrant, call the Police Department’s warrant desk at (703) 246-4231 | TTY 711.
• To confirm a jury duty summons, contact the Circuit Court jury duty clerk at (703) 246-7816 and press 0. (TTY 711).
• For information about tax scams, visit the IRS consumer alerts page.
• To learn more about identity theft reporting and recovery, review the Federal Trade Commission’s help guide.
• To learn more about consumer issues, visit Fairfax County’s consumer education page.

Plan Forward

Fairfax County has launched Plan Forward, a project focusing specifically on the Policy Plan which is a component of the Comprehensive Plan, the county’s long-term vision for land use. The Policy Plan covers elements such as land use, transportation, housing, environment, economic development, heritage resources, public facilities, human services, parks and recreation, revitalization, and visual and performing arts.

The update is intended to integrate current County strategies such as One Fairfax and Resilient Fairfax into the Policy Plan and enhance residents’ quality of life by reflecting modern needs and values.

Plan Forward is an important opportunity for residents to ensure updated Comprehensive Plan policies such as land use, housing, sustainability, and transportation, enhance the quality of life for everyone in Fairfax. To get involved:

• Join an in-person or virtual community meeting
• Virtual Community Kick-Off Meeting on June 27 (7:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
• Join on Teams or call in at (571) 429-5982 (Access Code: 354532148#)
• Sign up for Plan Forward email updates
• Sign up to participate in topic-specific, group meetings
• Share what you see for the future of Fairfax County
• Answer the Plan Forward community survey

Community input is critical to reflect the planning vision of those who live and work in Fairfax. Visit the Plan Forward website for more information and to help shape the future of Fairfax County.

Share Your Thoughts about the Fairfax Center Area Study

Fairfax County wants your input on the future of the Fairfax Center Area! Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in their online poll.



The Fairfax Center Area Study is evaluating changes to the long-range land use plan for the 5,500-acre area between Route 50 and Route 29. The study will refine recommendations for the Fairfax Center Area’s Core, including the County’s Government Center, Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax Corner, and other commercial and residential developments, and focuses on creating a mixed-use, walkable, and vibrant community. The study will include a transportation analysis and consider updates to accommodate existing and future developments.

The Government Center visioning process is another critical component of this study. Developed nearly 40 years ago, the Government Center campus’ role and its surrounding area are being re-evaluated in light of modern needs and policies, including the Countywide Strategic Plan and the One Fairfax equity policy.

Community feedback is crucial to create a thriving, inclusive, and well-planned Fairfax Center Area. All who live, work, shop, recreate, or do business in the Fairfax Center area are encouraged to share their thoughts through the online poll, before it closes on Friday, July 26. The responses will help the study’s Task Force form recommendations for how the area can evolve in the years to come.

Click here to share your thoughts on the Fairfax Center Area. If you know someone with a connection to the Fairfax Center area, please share the poll with them and help us spread the word!

Ongoing updates and future engagement opportunities will be available on the project webpage. Updates will continue to be shared with subscribers of this Comprehensive Plan Amendment's e-mail list.

School's Out!

Fairfax County Public Schools are now on summer break! Below are a few resources to supplement some of FCPS' services.

Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations

This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations until Friday, August 2. Any FCPS parent or secondary student can schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or social worker by phone or videoconference. 

Parents of students in any grade level can request a consultation to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.

We encourage all families to take advantage of this service. Request a consultation or call and leave a message at (703) 503-2520.

Summer Reading Adventure

Youth and adults can join the Fairfax County Public Library's (FCPL) Summer Reading Adventure and earn prizes when they reach their reading goals! You can find out more and sign up on FCPL's website.

Guide to Summer

There are plenty of things to do in Fairfax County this summer. View the County's quick guide to summer.

Using FCPS Facilities

In addition to all the possibilities at County parks and other places to enjoy summer, Fairfax County Public Schools also welcome you to use campus grounds. School blacktops, playgrounds, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, and tracks are available for use by individuals (not organized groups) without being scheduled.

Please keep the following in mind when using these facilities:

• Use is allowed from dawn to dusk, except during school hours or when being used for school activities or other scheduled programs.
• Facilities must be shared with anyone else who wishes to use them.
• Please leave the facilities as you found them. Remove any waste or debris from the property.
• Animals, alcohol, drones, and tobacco products are prohibited on school grounds.

Visit FCPS' availability webpage for more information on the usage of school grounds and facilities.

Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect This Summer

Child abuse does not take a summer break.

The Department of Family Services has some suggestions on how you can help prevent child abuse and neglect:

1. Be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect
2. Familiarize yourself with the Child Supervision Guidelines.
3. Refer families to the Parent Support Line available Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at (703) 324-7720.
4. If you have concerns about a child’s safety, call the Child Protective Services’ 24-hour hotline at (703) 324-7400.
5. Spread the Word about free Virtual Body Safety Classes, open to any Pre-K through 6th grade student living in Fairfax County.
6. Children thrive when they have regular interactions with responsive, caring adults. You can make a difference by mentoring or volunteering with teens, being a safe and caring adult in a child’s life, or providing support and encouragement to struggling parents.

FCDOT Daily Travel Transformation

On Saturday, June 22, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation's (FCDOT) recently announced transformation of the Fairfax Connector bus service along the I-66 corridor and beyond began.

Residents and visitors can benefit from expanded park-and-ride options, increased frequency, streamlined bus service routes, and new bus stop locations designed to make traveling throughout Fairfax County and the region more convenient for everyone. Read more about the transformation.

Routes Impacted:

• 310, 321, 322, 393, 396, 423, 432, 461, 463, 574, 605, 615, 622, 630, 642, 660, 698, 699

New Service:

• 427, 598, 625, 651, 662, 663, 671, 672

Discontinued Routes:

• 424, 466, 621, 623, 624, 631, 632, 634, 640, 641, 650, 652, 724

*Nearly all discontinued routes were modified or replaced by new service*

The major transportation network restructuring provides Connector customers with more travel options between Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna, and Tysons (CCVT) by creating transfer points at the new Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Park and Ride locations. Buses at this newly designed Monument Drive hub, adjacent to Fairfax Corner (retail, dining, and entertainment), run every 5 to 7 minutes during morning and afternoon rush hours. There are over 800 free parking spaces for passengers, with EV charging stations coming soon.

You can read more about the changes, including the new scooter policy, on FCDOT's website.

Nominations Open for the Friends of Trees Awards

The Fairfax County Tree Commission recently announced that nominations for its 2023-2024 Friends of Trees Awards are now open and will close on July 31.

Individuals and organizations may be nominated (or self-nominated) for various tree-related projects or programs that have demonstrated outstanding conservation-based actions to preserve, protect or plant trees. Developers who go “above and beyond” County requirements to preserve and protect trees and associated habitats are also eligible for this award.

A nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Protect and preserve existing trees and associated habitats
• Increase Fairfax County’s tree canopy and its related habitats
• Educate and inspire people to plant more trees and properly maintain them
• Convey an understanding of both the value and benefit of trees

The nomination categories include:

• Individual volunteer
• Non-profit group or business
• For-profit company
• Development Community

Winners will be announced in the fall of 2024. Please use the nomination form online.

Since 1999, the Friends of Trees awards have highlighted exceptional and innovative tree conservation actions in Fairfax County. For more information, visit the Tree Commission’s website. You can email questions about the awards to treecommission@fairfaxcounty.gov.