Dear Neighbor,

On May 16 and 19, Stuff the Bus collected food donations to support local nonprofits at 21 locations throughout Fairfax County. During this two-day event, Stuff the Bus collected over 33.6 tons of food for local nonprofits. Du e to the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, food pantries are experiencing unprecedented demand. These community donations will help food pantries restock their shelves so they can continue serving families and individuals in need. A huge thank you to all who participated. If you are looking for more ways to donate, visit Volunteer Fairfax's Donation Page.

I am also pleased to share that the Park Authority has begun reopening parks and parking lots today in advance of Memorial Day Weekend. Thank you to everyone who contacted my office and shared concerns about the need to reopen the parks and address the impacts of closed parking lots on surrounding communities. My office was in frequent communication with the Park Authority to advocate for responsible reopening. Safe access to outdoor facilities is important and I encourage you to take advantage of the parks this weekend, while following social distancing guidance. More information on the phased reopening is included below.

At the end of April, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that all Metrorail Orange and Silver Line stations in Fairfax County will be closed this summer for a significant platform improvement project and to tie the new silver line stations into the existing network. I shared information about the closures and available bus routes and shuttle service to help you get where you need to go this summer in an earlier email notice, but I am including information again in this email as the closures will begin this weekend.

I have also included information below about StayHomeVirginia.com, a new resource for housing-centered information, and a request from the County's Health Department for donations of cloth face coverings.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email [email protected] or call 703-356-0551.

Sincerely,

John

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) staff began the process of clearing barricades and opening parking lots at its 427 parks today, Wednesday, May 20 and will continue through Friday, May 22. Parks and parking lots will be open for community use during Memorial Day Weekend and beyond with the limitations described below.

Parks will reopen for limited use in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines from Governor Northam’s office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The following Park Authority amenities will remain closed at this time:

Park visitors are asked to adhere to the physical distancing guidelines and small group guidelines (do not exceed ten people), to avoid closed facilities or apparatus, and to keep in mind that restrooms and park buildings will not be open at this time.

For the latest information about how the coronavirus is impacting parks and for answers to many frequently asked questions, visit the FCPA Coronavirus Response page. For more information, contact the Park Authority at 703-324-8700 or send an email to [email protected].

The Virginia Housing Development Authority has partnered with Governor Northam to create StayHomeVirginia.com, a website for housing-centered information about programs, service, and resources to help Virginians who have experienced job or income loss and other impacts due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Guidance and resources are available for renters, homeowners, individuals who are experiencing homelessness, and landlords. The site outlines information on federal and state protections and includes guidance on how to work with landlords, financial institutions, and others to sustainably utilize temporary eviction and foreclosure protections during this time.

Related Fairfax County Resources

For families needing emergency shelter, contact Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. For individuals seeking emergency shelter, contact one of the singles shelters in the County for an assessment:

Families or individuals experiencing domestic violence should call the Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline at 703-360-7273, TTY 711.

At the end of April, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that all Metrorail Orange and Silver Line stations in Fairfax County will be closed beginning May 23. The closures will continue through the summer and likely into the fall.

The station closures will advance the two largest capital projects in Virginia - the demolition and reconstruction of the station platforms at four Metrorail Orange Line stations and work to connect the five new Metrorail Silver Line stations to the existing transit network.

Read more in my previous notice or visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/travel-alerts/metro-platforms for more information and travel alternatives during the closure.

The Fairfax County Health Department is seeking donations of cloth face coverings to help protect vulnerable members of our community. The cloth face covering donations will support local nonprofit providers and the low-income client households they serve.

The CDC continues to recommend the use of cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

The following are helpful resources for making cloth face coverings:

Have a donation? Fill out this form or call 931-981-9698 and a member of the County's donations team will coordinate your donation.

Fairfax County is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for coronavirus text alerts and to visit the frequently updated website listed below.