I'm surprised that Lake Fairfax Park has yet to be mentioned. Only 100 out of approximately 300 available acres are being utilized there at this given moment, and they already have a well established infrastructure for aquatics (Pumping systems, lifeguards, maintenance and administration, etc.). Also, I take great exception to Mr. Bouie using two separate positions of his own to the advantage of this project, with one being Reston based (RCC (Vice-Chairmanship), who will run the facility), and the other county based (The Fairfax County Park Authority (Chairmanship), which is in charge of designating and placing this facility within our community). This reeks of "Good ol' boy politics" at its finest, is immensely dishonorable as it represents a gross conflict of interest, and it mustn't be allowed.

The Board of Governors' proposal leaves unaddressed two vitally important questions: who will pay for a new facility and where it will be located.
The current arrangement for recreational facilities in Reston is patently unfair. Reston residents pay their share of the Park Authority's funding. (About 60% of the Park Authority's funds come from tax revenues.) Nevertheless, the Park Authority provides little of no facilities within Reston. Reston residents also pay for the Reston Community Center. (Over 80% of RCC's funds come from tax revenues.) The Board of Governors owes the community, at least, an explanation of why they think Reston residents should bear the costs of any new recreational facility. Why should recreational facilities be funded differently from schools or the police?
Second, Lake Fairfax Park stands largely undeveloped. Building a new facility there will raise none of the difficult issues that any new construction in Reston will raise. Again, the Board of Governors and the Park Authority owe the community an explanation of why they have chosen the less appropriate site.

I'd be interested to know the revenue and expenses of the current RCC indoor pool. It appears overcrowded to me, but that doesn't always mean it's paying for itself.

I agree with your sentiments Jim Hubbard. I have long wondered the same and thought the setup seemed unfair.

The proposed rec center site location and cost just doesn't make sense. There are many better locations for a facility like this that are near to transportation and areas designated to be high density. For example, there is a large vacant lot behind the current YMCA. The YMCA has expressed eagerness to partner with RCC or FCPA to expand their facility in this area. The cost would be significantly less than building at Baron Cameron as they could take advantage of the existing YMCA facilities. The location is ideal as it is adjacent to Town Center.
This begs the question -- Why doesn't FCPA partner with the YMCA? It would cost everyone less tax dollars. Why won't RCC even talk to the YMCA about a partnership? The answer I'm afraid is that RCC and others behind this project are not just motivated by altruistic motives. There is definitely some empire building going on. RCC and Bill Bouie want to make sure they are the ones running the new facility, even though there are alternatives at a better location that would cost the tax payers a lot less money.

I believe, since the proposal is to fund the facility out of small tax district funds, that the facility must be built in the tax district. Lake Fairfax is not in the tax district. When it was proposed, several years ago, for RCC to partner with the Y to build a Skate Park it was turned down as the lot behind the Y not being a feaseable location. The proposed location is about as community central as they can get and transportation should not be a problem. FCPA and RCC have come up with a viable plan for a badly needed community of our current size let alone what it will look like after the development the county has planned over the next ten years. Good for them. Fred

Lake Fairfax is the perfect location and FCPA can build it, pay for it and run it. RCC should stick to what they are good at and what is not typically offered through FCPA. That is classes and camps and theater. Fitness and swimming should be provided through FCPA or the YMCA. The YMCA could expand their building onto the vacant lot behind them. I know this was turned down for a skatepark, but that was a different type of facility. This lot will eventually be built on and expanding fitness and/or aquatics is a good use of the lot. We in SD5 should not have to pay for a rec center when the rest of the county gets it for free.