Like many Restonians, I just learned of the RA/RCC feasibility study, the expenditure of $92,000, and the astounding proposal to construct a super-sized recreation facility in Browns Chapel Park.

The site being considered for such large scale development violates all good land use principles and
natural resource management standards. There seems to be some irony here since Reston has always prided itself on holding to such principles in development projects and still advertises itself as an entity that honors natural resource stewardship. For those of us, like you and your family, who have lived here for decades, this proposal is a travesty. To name the facility Robert Simon Rec Center just completes the irony.

Beyond the location is the proposed method of financing and supporting the center. To use Special Tax District 5 as the financial base for a countywide facility is incredibly blatant. Theories abound: since the county (read Park Authority) is not in a position to construct another rec center at this time, the individuals driving the project plan to use STD5 as the vehicle for the construction bonds and further, for supporting, along with RA, the already recognized deficit operations. At some point, perhaps, as the continuing deficit drains RA to the extreme, the Park Authority will be approached to take over the rec center. In short: this is a concerted effort to bypass the county bond program protocol and achieve a county facility at the expense of a single community, i.e., Reston. Of course this puts Bill Bouie in an awkward position because he wears both the RCC vice chair and the Park Authority Board chair hats simultaneously. The perception is that the county, beyond the RCC, is
involved in this, in one way or another; and that RA is the broker. Beyond what is possibly hyperbole, the misuse of STD5 for a countywide facility, where Reston residents will make up only about 22% of the users, while perhaps not technically illegal, is certainly unethical. I think of those neighboring communities that demanded and received severance from STD5. This seems to be turning that situation up-side-down in some way.

To compound the situation, residents trying to learn the truth are now being told that developers are pushing the Browns Chapel Rec Center project, contributing funds in its support; that lawyers are offering their services pro bono in an effort to find a way to proceed with the project and the issuance of bonds without the need for a STD5 referendum.

I know you have written in your e-newsletter that you are not involved in this effort. At the May 18th meeting at Lake Anne RCC, a member of RCC also declared that you were not a part of the plan. However, while I certainly accept and appreciate your position, I do think it important that you know there are a variety of views and perceptions throughout the community that challenge your neutrality. You and your staff are probably aware of the situation, but I felt the need to share some of the mindsets – hence this e-mail.