Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Open Space topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge council to convert Robinson property into a memorial park
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Vienna Town Council to preserve the town‑owned Robinson parcel as a permanent park honoring Charlie and Maud Robinson, citing a reported $9 million bequest, historic ties and accessibility benefits for special‑needs families.
Several Vienna residents used the public‑comment period May 18 to urge the council to convert the town‑owned Robinson parcel into a permanent memorial park honoring Charlie and Maud Robinson.
Miguel Ordonez told the council the Robinsons' bequest of $9,000,000 should be used to create a modest, environmentally sensitive park that preserves open meadow, increases tree canopy and provides low‑impact recreation, including accessible paths and equipment for special‑needs children.
Nancy Motes, representing the Airhill Garden Club and citing the Robinsons' long service, said the club intends to partner with the town on commemorative elements and plantings at 124 Courthouse Road SW. Longtime resident Bill Comerford stressed the parcel's rarity near downtown (about 32,000 square feet) and argued that loss to development would be irreversible.
Lisa Waters, a Fairfax County Public Schools teacher and parent of a nonverbal 13‑year‑old, asked the council to include sensory‑friendly spaces, accessible turf/walkways and an adult‑size changing table to make the park usable for families with mobility and caring needs.
Council members did not take formal action during public comment but directed staff to note community input; the matter appears later on project and capital planning tracks for further council consideration.
