Featured News

NPS is proposing an increase in entrance fees at Great Falls Park, and is seeking public comment. This would be the first entrance fee increase in nine years. The proposed changes would generate an additional $500,00 annually that would be used to improve park facilities, infrastructure and visitor services at Great Falls Park.

A 3-day vehicle pass would increase from $5 to $15 (but for a 7-day pass). Annual Park passes would increase from $20 to $30 - still a comparative value compared to many recreation options. Motorcycle and Pedestrian pass fees would also increase.

If you are interested in learning more or registering your opinion, please go to ParkPlanning.NPS.gov/GreatFallsParkFees

The owners of the 52-acre property known as “Brooks Farm” in Great Falls and developer Basheer & Edgemoore have applied to Fairfax County to rezone the property from RA (Rural Agricultural District) to RE (Residential Estate District) and proposed developing the property with 23 new single-family detached homes as a cluster subdivision. On December 3, 2014, GFCA hosted a public meeting regarding this rezoning application. The meeting was to allow the developer to present to the community its development plans, and for community members to ask questions and raise concerns. Speakers at the meeting included representatives of the developer and Fairfax County staff, as well as several Great Falls residents with concerns about the proposed development and its potential effects on the community. Roughly 130 Great Falls residents attended, as did Supervisor John Foust.

More information on the meeting, and GFCA plans to evaluate the Brooks Farm proposal, can be viewed here.

On December 2 the Transportation Committee and representatives from neighborhoods that border Route 7 met to discuss the Route 7 Widening project. As this will have a significant impact on the community, GFCA felt that it was important to ensure that residents were aware of plans and had an opportunity to let the committee and GFCA know their opinions and concerns before the VDOT design is completed. While information gathered at this meeting has been sent to VDOT for their review and consideration, GFCA has not taken a position on these issues pending further discussion.

Further information and a summary of community feedback can be found here.

The GFCA held a public discussion on cleanup plans for the Exxon groundwater contamination during our Town Hall meeting on November 11. About 60 residents and business leaders attended, and many questions were asked.

Representatives of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Mr. Alex Wardle and Mr. Randy Chapman, presented.  As did representatives of Fairfax Petroleum.

GFCA representatives reiterated our demand for a more robust and more complete cleanup.  On Dec 1, GFCA's President submitted formal comments asking that the plan be strengthened.

For more information, go here.

The public hearing on Basheer Redevelopment's rezoning request, to allow cluster development on a 50-acre farm site along Springvale Rd, has been moved.  It will now be held on Wed Dec 3, 7:30 p.m., at Forestville Elementary School.  A large audience is expected.

More information here.

Event details here.

The Board of Supervisors today approved a master plan which would add more than 1,000 miles of new cycling routes over the next 30 years - including major routes in Great Falls.

For more information, click here.

On September 25, GFCA met with the owners of the contaminated old Exxon gas station site and reviewed their pending proposal for additional cleanup of the spreading underground water contamination created by the gasoline additive MTBE in groundwater. Here is the current contamination plume map.

On September 30, GFCA sent a letter to the owners (Fairfax Petroleum) asking them to reevaluate a critical element of their proposal. The owners are proposing a single well for removing contaminated groundwater.  GFCA and its professional consultant believe that 3 wells, situated strategically at different points of the spreading contamination, will do a better job of eliminating contamination, and faster.

More information can be found here.

GFCA's Second Annual Urban Tree Walk. 

Join two local tree experts on a walk around the Great Falls Grange Park and down Innsbruck Avenue to learn about some of our finest local tree species. They'll show you the difference between a white pine and a Virginia pine, and a red oak and a red bud tree. This GFCA program is fun for adults and children alike! Wear some good walking shoes, bring a bottle of water and meet us in front of the Grange at 1 pm on Sunday, September 28.  See here for event information.  For questions, contact Bill Canis at bcanis@yahoo.com.

GFCA's Transportation Committee just released the results of a survey conducted early in 2014 to collect community opinions on transportation questions and trails in Great Falls.

More on the findings are available here. 

The findings will also be presented with discussion at GFCA's Town Hall meeting on Sept 9.

GFCA and other community organizations have been long-time supporters of the concept of Resident Curatorship (RC) as a commonsense solution to the need to preserve historic county-owned buildings, such as the farmhouse on Turner Farm in Great Falls. In concept, an RC program could help the restoration and preservation of historic buildings by leasing buildings to private parties who agree to restore and maintain them properly.  This summer, Fairfax County released a proposed RC program for comment.  After review, the GFCA and the Great Falls Historical Society (GFHS) have joined forces in calling for changes to the proposal. 

GFCA and GFHS formed a Working Group in July to review the nearly 250-page report that Fairfax County developed proposing a county RC program.  In a letter to the County sent on Aug 6, GFCA and GFHS called for a stronger set of criteria in selecting historic properties, urged that the Turner Farmhouse be selected as the County’s pilot project to demonstrate how the RC works, and called for a public hearing so other community groups and residents could comment on the RC plan.  The recommendations developed by the Great Falls working group also suggested changes to program administration, standards for curator selection, and leasing terms.  Click here for a copy of the Working Group recommendations.

Last year, GFCA passed a resolution supporting the Mark Turner Farmhouse on Georgetown Pike as a primary candidate for the new RC program. Unfortunately, this historic home has become a community eyesore with no upkeep since acquired by FCPA four years ago.  It is hoped that quick action to implement an RC program could lead to restoration of the Turner Farmhouse and other historic structures owned by the County.