Woodlands and open space is disappearing. As County residents, we can do something about it. This petition drive is by citizens of Fairfax County to request that the current and/or incoming Supervisor of the Mount Vernon District take action to preserve the former Fairchild property and effectuate a transfer of the land to the Park Authority so that it will be preserved as a County Park.

WHEREAS , the land parcel known as the Fairchild property in the 6300
block of Richmond Highway located on approximately nine acres of woodlands is environmentally significant as it contains several headwater branches and
springs of the Quander Brook stream valley of the Belle Haven watershed;

WHEREAS , the land parcel is historically significant as being the
location of Camp Vermont, a camp for Union forces during the Civil War era;

WHEREAS , air and water quality improve when land like this is preserved
and the ecological services provided by this property in its restored natural
state as a park far outweigh the public cost of the erosion and sedimentation
damage it is generating in its degraded state to Hunting Creek, the Potomac,
and the Chesapeake Bay;

WHEREAS , this property was given to Fairfax County as a land donation for
the expressed purpose of becoming community serving parkland; and the property was previously shown on Fairfax County planning maps and documents as future parkland;

WHEREAS , Fairfax County has embarked on environmental initiatives to
preserve forested areas to help improve air quality and to protect, restore and
enhance our water quality, especially at the headwaters of rivers and streams;

WHEREAS , the Mount Vernon Planning District has the second lowest
percentage of County parkland compared with other Fairfax County Planning
Districts ;

WHEREAS , the Mount Vernon Planning District has the fourth highest
percentage of population density compared with other Fairfax County Planning
Districts, and this density will increase with new metro stations planned at
Beacon Mall and Hybla Valley;

WHEREAS , the Kings Crossing and Penn Daw area of the Mount Vernon
Planning District is rapidly urbanizing with increased development close to the
Huntington Metro Rail Station and attracting young professionals, who expect
park amenities like walking, biking, and dog walking trails;

WHEREAS , land values are increasing in this area making future land
acquisition cost prohibitive; We, the undersigned, citizens of Fairfax County
Virginia call upon the members of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board to
accept transfer of ownership from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors of
this donated property to add to their inventory of land holdings and to work
with County staff and agencies, citizen and local businesses to seek strategies
and solutions to mitigate damages in compliance with the Board of Supervisors approved Belle Haven Watershed Plan and to include this land parcel in planning for future park and recreation resources in the Mount Vernon Planning District.

We, the undersigned, citizens of Fairfax County, support the creation of a Fairfax County Park on the former Fairchild Property and urge the Mt Vernon Supervisor to take immediate action to preserve this land as a County Park for use by generations to come.