The View From Over Here: RCA Community Forum Brings Back No-Birds Part 2

At last week's community forum hosted by the Reston Citizens Association, RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon presented the joint RCC/Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) proposal for a 70,000 square foot indoor recreation facility at Baron Cameron Park to 60 or so folks in attendance. 

She noted the substantial cost savings resulting from building on land already owned by FCPA.  She stressed the need for it as a major swimming venue, including a 50-meter pool, as well as a place for exercise facilities, meeting space and multipurpose rooms needed by our growing community.

Browns Chapel-area residents have a history of successfully opposing community projects near the Baron Cameron site — including what would have been Reston’s second high school, an earlier indoor rec facility, and covered tennis courts.  They had a strong contingent at the forum, and they came prepared to fight the RCC/FCPA proposal with all its benefits.    

While not yielding on the question of need for a facility, they turned to their core question--site selection.  That means anywhere but in our back yard!  Given the growth that is certain to follow the arrival of rail service and the pressure of developers, it is clear to me and hopefully other Reston residents that additional indoor facilities will be especially beneficial and financially feasible.  But, as far as location, there are in fact options, including ones on land owned by the Park Authority.

Three FCPA-owned sites were mentioned by RCA Board member Dick Rogers and acknowledged by Ms. Gordon:  1) the 68 acres at Baron Cameron as proposed, 2) the even larger FCPA property at Lake Fairfax, and, 3) a little-known 5 or 6-acre site in Town Center euphemistically named “Reston Town Green” up from the North County Government Center/Police station across from the Spectrum.

The Baron Cameron site is readily accessible and could easily accommodate the estimated five acres needed for the proposed facility, according to Ms. Gordon.  The Lake Fairfax site also has more than adequate space, but is quite a hike for most Reston residents - very inconvenient. 

The Town Center site has enough land, according to Ms. Gordon’s estimate, and has the major advantage of being more centrally located, at the Town Center focal point for major projected residential and commercial growth.  And, it is or will be an accessible location where extensive parking facilities exist and more are
envisioned.

While RCC, an agency of Fairfax County Government with a Reston flavor and direction, and the FCPA strongly favor the Baron Cameron site, a very good case can be made for the Town Center location.  And, while I personally might enjoy another round of the Browns Chapel NIMBYs versus the community combat, if I were to bet on the outcome I’d have to go with the battle-hardened BCN troops. 
But, why waste all the energy, vituperation, and likely defeat when, as Terry Maynard of RCA said at the meeting, “we do have viable alternatives.” 

Now, if FCPA has room for flexibility, we could get down to seriously planning a really good facility serving the whole Reston community-plus, and, maybe shave a couple of years off the job of getting it done!