Politics & Government

Tennis Not Likely At Potential RCC Facility

Reston Community Center executive director says she is confident Reston Association can serve needs of the tennis community.

Reston Community Center Executive Director Leila Gordon says tennis is not likely to be part of the planning for the new RCC facility under consideration for Baron Cameron Park.

"Tennis is not in my wheelhouse," Gordon told the Reston Association Board of Directors at a meeting last week. "Tennis is very much an RA line of business. We count on RA to take the lead in regard to tennis.

"Tennis is a major asset for Reston Association.  RCC has no interest in running a competing tennis program nor do we have that capability.  We are confident RA will successfully serve its tennis community."

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RA and RCC worked together four years ago on a proposal to bring a $65 million recreation facility that included indoor tennis to RA's Brown's Chapel Park. That facility was met with lots of negative opinion from residents and was never built.

More recently, RA considered building a smaller indoor tennis facility at Lake Newport. That was met with mixed public reaction too, and the RA board ultimately decided not to put the issue to a member referendum for now.

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Last month, RCC announced it is looking to a new facility at Baron Cameron, on 68 acres of land owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority, who would work with RCC on the project. The financing for the facility would come from Small Tax District 5, which includes Reston. The cost is estimated to be about $35 million, but an exact figure will not be known until RCC knows what will be built. 

The main focus of the center is a 50-meter indoor pool, which will alleviate overcrowding at the current pool at RCC Hunters Woods.

Meanwhile, RCC is working with Brailsford & Dunlavey, the same facility planning and program management firm used in 2008.

RCC has planned a series of public feedback opportunities. The next one is at 6:30 p.m. Monday at RCC Hunters Woods.

"We are in the process of listening to the community," Gordon told the RA board. "I am sure we are going to hear about parking, and from field users, garden users, and dog park users about preserving amenities. I am confident we are going to hear about funding as we do when considering building any facility - as you all know."

One subject that has already come up: why build at Baron Cameron, which had also been mentioned as a possible location for a new FCPS high school? Some citizens have suggested on Patch that the facility might be better suited for Lake Fairfax Park.

Gordon says Lake Fairfax is part of Small Tax District 5, but it not suitable for a new facility for several reasons. Among them: Lake Fairfax already has a Master Plan for new improvements and projects are already in the works there.

"Baron Cameron Park is the right location to consider from RCC’s perspective because we won’t have to pay for land acquisition costs by virtue of the partnership with the Park Authority," said Gordon. "It is in an area of Small District 5 (North Reston) that is underserved with respect to indoor aquatics and fitness related recreation amenities; it is zoned for active recreation; and it is well-sited with respect to egress/ingress issues."

Gordon told the RA board she "disagrees" with Baron Cameron land being used for schools.

"The school system had [the land] for a long time," she said. "I think schools of tomorrow are going to be vastly different than what we have today.  There is a question about whether demographics really do suggest whether another high school campus is going to be needed here."

Future feedback sessions:

March 11, 6:30 p.m. - Interim report from Brailsford & Dunlavey; responses to input from February meeting.

March 18, 6:30 p.m. - RCC Finance Committee review of staff report; opportunity for public comment.

March 25, 6:30 p.m. - Long Range Planning Committee: Focus Group Session on Indoor Recreation Facility Program. RSVP is requested at RCCContact@fairfaxcounty.gov.

April 1, 8 p.m. - Regular RCC Board Meeting; Opportunity for public comment. (also on May 6 and June 3)

April 8, 6:30 p.m. - RCC Finance Committee Meeting; Recommendations on budget outline/instructions to staff; opportunity for public comment.

Late April/May - Park Authority Master Planning community input process begins (tentative).

May 13, 6:30 p.m.  - Finance Committe Review of Staff's FY15 Budget Outline.

June 17 - Annual Public Hearing for Programs and Budget.

 

More:

RCC Outlines Process for New Facility

RCC Considering New Rec Center

What's On Your Rec Center Wish List?

 

 

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