Good Day,

A few weeks ago, we watched our County Executive propose a budget that cuts funding for Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), further entrenching a system of inequity in a time where our county has committed itself to One Fairfax as its highest priority. This is in direct opposition to the Board of Supervisors’ emphasis on One Fairfax and in opposition to the county’s climate initiatives including CECAP and ResilientFairfax. The proposed funding is even more unconscionable with the change in FCPA’s bond cycle from every 4yrs to every 6yrs.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s mission is:

To enrich quality of life for all members of the community through an enduring park system that provides a healthy environment, preserves natural and cultural heritage, offers inspiring recreational experiences, and promotes healthy lifestyles.

This mission has been completely compromised with the proposed budget. The County Executive only granted 10% of the $5 million in funding needed to pilot an equity program that would provide our most vulnerable residents access to many of FCPA’s fee-based programs. And only granted $50,000 of the $751,954 for natural resource management FCPA requested. These budget requests are needed to balance the heavily fee-based funding for FCPA that has created a system that underfunds parks in low-income communities, underfunds natural preservation, and shifts capital improvement funding to the fee-based properties (recreation centers, golf courses, equestrian centers, etc.) that low-income citizens cannot afford to use.

The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) published a study, Parks & Recreation in Underserved Areas: A Public Health Perspective, that found “disparities in park distribution and park access exist across communities particularly in neighborhoods that largely consist of low income and racial/ethnic populations.” Neighborhood parks in low-income areas often suffer from inadequate maintenance resulting in aged equipment, aggressive overgrowth of invasives, minimal landscaping, and trees that are not cared for regularly. The study showed that people shy away from under-maintained parks even if they have no alternative. This issue becomes even more urgent with the large number of studies that show children need time outside with unstructured play for physical health, mental health, improved sensory skills, increased attention spans, and for cognitive development. All Fairfax citizens deserve access to a well-maintained park.

As a member of Fairfax NAACP, I urgently request that the Board of Supervisors increase funding for FCPA to the following levels:

1. $5 million to provide funds for the implementation of the One Fairfax program, with continued funding at this or higher level for FY24, FY25, FY26, and beyond.  

2. $751,954 to provide funds to implement sustainable natural resource management and to improve management of natural resources in Fairfax County Parks, with continued funding at this or higher level for FY24, FY25, FY26, and beyond.  

3. Reject the County Executive’s proposed FY23 bond cycle change, maintaining the 4-year bond cycle and increasing this to $150 million every 4 years. This should include the option to approve an off-cycle bond issue that would cover the unfunded backlog of capital maintenance and repair projects ($250 million) in our aging FCPA buildings and infrastructure.

4. Increase FCPA’s allocated share of the General Fund (before revenue sharing with schools) from 0.6% to 1%, specifically to increase funding for sustainable natural resources management.  

Thank you,

Fairfax County NAACP