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Jan. 15, 2026, UPDATE: Watch the Jan. 13, 2026, public hearing.
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The Fern Street Pedestrian/Bicycle Connector Path project is currently in design, and the city wants your feedback on the design details. The current project exhibits show the concept plan and include examples of proposed features and design details. The exhibits will also be displayed at the project site (Park Road and Fern Street) through Dec. 14 so that residents may see this information in context.
Ask questions or leave comments below. You may also attend a public hearing for this project to provide comments in person. The public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026, during the regular city council meeting.
About the Project
The City of Fairfax adopted the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan in 2022. This project is included in the plan to improve the biking and walking connection between the commercial destinations on Route 29 and the Westmore neighborhood south of Park Road. The path and landscaping improvements will be installed in the right of way owned by the city, adjacent to the Fairfax Junction shopping center parking lot.
The preliminary concept was developed in 2023. On Sept. 12, 2023, the city council unanimously endorsed the city’s FY24 Transportation Alternatives Applications for the Fern Street Pedestrian/Bicycle Connector Path. The city has received the funding and is developing the final design for construction. Transportation Alternatives is a federal grant that provides 80% of the funding ($285,119). Local transportation funding will fund the 20% match ($71,280).
Jan. 15, 2026, UPDATE: Watch the Jan. 13, 2026, public hearing.
###
The Fern Street Pedestrian/Bicycle Connector Path project is currently in design, and the city wants your feedback on the design details. The current project exhibits show the concept plan and include examples of proposed features and design details. The exhibits will also be displayed at the project site (Park Road and Fern Street) through Dec. 14 so that residents may see this information in context.
Ask questions or leave comments below. You may also attend a public hearing for this project to provide comments in person. The public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026, during the regular city council meeting.
About the Project
The City of Fairfax adopted the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan in 2022. This project is included in the plan to improve the biking and walking connection between the commercial destinations on Route 29 and the Westmore neighborhood south of Park Road. The path and landscaping improvements will be installed in the right of way owned by the city, adjacent to the Fairfax Junction shopping center parking lot.
The preliminary concept was developed in 2023. On Sept. 12, 2023, the city council unanimously endorsed the city’s FY24 Transportation Alternatives Applications for the Fern Street Pedestrian/Bicycle Connector Path. The city has received the funding and is developing the final design for construction. Transportation Alternatives is a federal grant that provides 80% of the funding ($285,119). Local transportation funding will fund the 20% match ($71,280).
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A nice looking project but with potential problems: 1. Please consider a pedestrian overpass/skywalk over Rt. 29. Walking or cycling across this road is an easy way to win a Darwin Award. 2. Please don't include benches. Do include lighting, and funds for plant/shrub trimming to eliminate hiding places for campers. 3. Please schedule more police patrols after the project is finished. This area is already used by homeless folks sleeping in their cars, and entering / wandering the neighborhood to panhandle at Walmart or camp in Fairfax Villa Park or the dog park. (One died in a portapotty a few years ago. Please, no Throne installation. ) 4. The ditch at the west edge of this property is the headwaters of Accotink Creek. Long-term residents know it has flooded in very heavy rain, hurricane or snow melt events. A rain garden might not be enough flood control. 5. I hope this park will be permanent and not merely a cosmetic placeholder for a future street in 20 years, if the City goes back on their word. Residents do not want the potential for more cut-through traffic trying to avoid the frightening Kamp Washington intersection at rush hour. Or hurrying to Walmart.
KarenAM
14 days ago
Looks great! I would suggest adding a crosswalk and stop sign at the Park Road & Fern Street intersection - making it a 3-way stop - to ensure pedestrian safety. I would also love to see native trees planted along Park Road on the city owned side (backing up to the commercial property) to ensure a cohesive design and serve as a barrier/directive for pedestrians coming from the commercial lot to ensure they use the path instead of cutting through Westmore properties.
TGeaghan
17 days ago
Great subproject to the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan. I will use this path from my house on Fairfax Street to the bus stop. Keep up the good work.
Russ
about 2 months ago
Looks like an okay project but really, can't this be designed on the back of a napkin? It's a 10' winding sidewalk. As others mentioned, keep the lights on because the homeless population brought to the City will take residence here once they're done harassing motorists at Walmart. Please stop with the talk of how this helps biking. Every project this city does claims to help those of us who regularly bike with ZERO metrics on how many people regularly ride their bikes in the City. [Hint: Very, very few; probably 1% or less]. Go for it, but like every other project in the City, what are the recurring maintenance and upkeep costs that are omitted in every project plan (e.g. refuse servicing, landscape maintenance, snow removal, etc)?
DACOX45
about 2 months ago
i think we be better served with a one way exit thru street to rte 29. but since they want to spend money , do it right. cut down all those ugly pine trees first , so that they won’t fall and crush everything in the immediate area. since they are covered with ivy and between 60 to 80 ft high, they are bound to come down in heavy winds just like most of the ones on Park Rd
Rjones
about 2 months ago
Thank you. It all looks great. Yes to everything. I have one concern- Please make sure the lights are on always. If the lights go out is there a system that lets the city know the light is out? I say this because it can be a area of concern for safety when it is dark in the fall and winter and there is no light to see where you are going. How long will it take to change the light? Other wise the design looks beautiful. Thank you.
Isolina
about 2 months ago
Great idea. I concur with the comments below - yes to benches and native trees and don't forget the doggie waste stations.
segger
2 months ago
This is s great project! Yes to pedestrian, yes to bicycles, yes to benches and native trees!
LisaC
2 months ago
i'm glad you are following the consensus of the neighborhood when we had a walk through. Thoughts, make sure the benches do not allow you to sleep on it - we have issues with non-housed people in the abandoned print shop and 7-11. make sure there are doggy poop bags as dogtopia is right there. you do have a few willow oaks there , which are native. they grew there in the soil i prepared for roses i planted there 25 years ago.
kevin b
2 months ago
Yes yes yes
pptcadvertising
over 2 years ago
As the landscaping is planned im sure people and pollinators would appreciate native plantings, and especially staying away from invasives. There are many groups able to guide on suitable natives
A nice looking project but with potential problems:
1. Please consider a pedestrian overpass/skywalk over Rt. 29. Walking or cycling across this road is an easy way to win a Darwin Award.
2. Please don't include benches. Do include lighting, and funds for plant/shrub trimming to eliminate hiding places for campers.
3. Please schedule more police patrols after the project is finished. This area is already used by homeless folks sleeping in their cars, and entering / wandering the neighborhood to panhandle at Walmart or camp in Fairfax Villa Park or the dog park. (One died in a portapotty a few years ago. Please, no Throne installation. )
4. The ditch at the west edge of this property is the headwaters of Accotink Creek. Long-term residents know it has flooded in very heavy rain, hurricane or snow melt events. A rain garden might not be enough flood control.
5. I hope this park will be permanent and not merely a cosmetic placeholder for a future street in 20 years, if the City goes back on their word.
Residents do not want the potential for more cut-through traffic trying to avoid the frightening Kamp Washington intersection at rush hour. Or hurrying to Walmart.
Looks great! I would suggest adding a crosswalk and stop sign at the Park Road & Fern Street intersection - making it a 3-way stop - to ensure pedestrian safety. I would also love to see native trees planted along Park Road on the city owned side (backing up to the commercial property) to ensure a cohesive design and serve as a barrier/directive for pedestrians coming from the commercial lot to ensure they use the path instead of cutting through Westmore properties.
Great subproject to the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan. I will use this path from my house on Fairfax Street to the bus stop. Keep up the good work.
Looks like an okay project but really, can't this be designed on the back of a napkin? It's a 10' winding sidewalk. As others mentioned, keep the lights on because the homeless population brought to the City will take residence here once they're done harassing motorists at Walmart. Please stop with the talk of how this helps biking. Every project this city does claims to help those of us who regularly bike with ZERO metrics on how many people regularly ride their bikes in the City. [Hint: Very, very few; probably 1% or less]. Go for it, but like every other project in the City, what are the recurring maintenance and upkeep costs that are omitted in every project plan (e.g. refuse servicing, landscape maintenance, snow removal, etc)?
i think we be better served with a one way exit thru street to rte 29. but since they want to spend money , do it right. cut down all those ugly pine trees first , so that they won’t fall and crush everything in the immediate area. since they are covered with ivy and between 60 to 80 ft high, they are bound to come down in heavy winds just like most of the ones on Park Rd
Thank you. It all looks great. Yes to everything.
I have one concern- Please make sure the lights are on always.
If the lights go out is there a system that lets the city know the light is out?
I say this because it can be a area of concern for safety when it is dark in the fall and winter and there is no light to see where you are going. How long will it take to change the light? Other wise the design looks beautiful. Thank you.
Great idea. I concur with the comments below - yes to benches and native trees and don't forget the doggie waste stations.
This is s great project! Yes to pedestrian, yes to bicycles, yes to benches and native trees!
i'm glad you are following the consensus of the neighborhood when we had a walk through. Thoughts, make sure the benches do not allow you to sleep on it - we have issues with non-housed people in the abandoned print shop and 7-11. make sure there are doggy poop bags as dogtopia is right there. you do have a few willow oaks there , which are native. they grew there in the soil i prepared for roses i planted there 25 years ago.
Yes yes yes
As the landscaping is planned im sure people and pollinators would appreciate native plantings, and especially staying away from invasives. There are many groups able to guide on suitable natives