VOICE to Host Community Forum for Improved Recreational Facilities

Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) has joined forces with the Mount Vernon Athletic Boosters and West Potomac Athletic Boosters to urge local legislators to invest in recreation facilities in the Mount Vernon area.

VOICE will host a community meeting at on Monday to urge public officials to allocate a portion of the impending $75 million Fairfax County Park bond to:

• help fund synthetic turf fields at West Potomac and Mount Vernon High Schools 
• to organize a public-private partnership to create an open recreation field near Audubon
• to improve fields at local parks
• to make changes to Fairfax County Connector service to help students get home after school 
• and to support building robust afterschool programs for elementary school youth, according to an advisory sent by VOICE.

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland, Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, Fairfax County School Board Representative Dan Storck, and Park Authority Board Member Lynwood Gorham are expected to attend this public meeting.

Athletic Booster Club President Mike Galliot has been working hard to continue Jeff Todd’s legacy of fighting for better athletic facilities for the Mount Vernon community. Galliot will attend the VOICE meeting Monday night with athletes and parents from both schools, as well as the West Potomac High School Athletic Boosters.

“We’ve joined forces to try and see how we can get attention to the lack of adequate recreational facilities for community, not just the high schools but some of the other communities along Route 1,” Galliot explained.

The Mount Vernon Athletic Boosters recently raised $4,000 from its recent Casino Night fundraiser. All told, the Mount Vernon Athletic Boosters have raised $25,000 and will raise more funds in July at its Michael Skinner Community Day Golf Tournament.  

The plan is to get turf fields in the stadium and practice field behind MVHS; the overall cost of two turf fields is $1.3 million, Galliot explained. West Potomac is also exploring that option.

The community meeting is scheduled to take place Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.