Background: The YMCA Fairfax County Reston will celebrate its silver jubilee this October. 

This intergenerational facility has served our community well for the past 25 years and came from a public-private partnership between the “Y,” Reston Land and Fairfax County.

In the early 1990s, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington began exploring options for a new facility in Western Fairfax County. This sparked a collaborative effort between YMCA CEO Herman Grohn, Reston Land Corporation CEO Jim Cleveland, and then Hunter Mill District Supervisor Bob Dix. Cleveland suggested looking at a property that the corporation had previously proffered to Fairfax County that was zoned for recreational use.

Because the county lacked the resources for a new recreation center at the time, Supervisor Dix led the group to pursue a public-private partnership to build a new “Y” on this county-owned land. He also requested that the YMCA team include a 10,000 square-foot permanent teen center that continues to operate today under the Department Neighborhood and Community Services.

Following a private fundraising campaign, the “Y” opened the doors of its 50,000 square-foot facility in 2000, becoming vital to the fabric of the Reston community since then.

The Reston YMCA serves as a vital hub for youth development, accessible wellness, and senior engagement, fostering physical, mental, and emotional health for neighbors of all ages and backgrounds. Demonstrating a deep commitment to inclusivity, the organization has provided over $2 million in subsidized memberships thanks to partnerships with local businesses.

The organization has also partnered with local schools to support academic success, reinforce literacy and learning, and help ensure that children enter school ready to succeed.

Motion: Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask without objection that the Office of Public Affairs prepare a resolution to recognize the Reston YMCA’s 25th anniversary to be presented in the Board room on September 29, 2026.