Fairfax County has released its 2025 Annual Report, detailing the numerous ways county leaders and our agencies made decisions on the county’s priorities and the projects to pursue over the past year.
Released concurrently with the county executive’s FY 2026 Advertised Budget presentation, the report is the county’s update on progress made in 2024 toward meeting goals in the Countywide Strategic Plan. This year’s report is 90 pages, highlighting accomplishments in 10 thematic areas called “community outcomes.”
Several hundred new programs, expanded initiatives and ongoing projects are detailed in the report. It’s a lot to read, and we hope you will. But with so many finalized projects, new partnerships and ongoing initiatives hitting critical milestones, some of our best work over the past year may have slipped by your attention.
Here are 10 accomplishments in 2024 you may have missed, as highlighted in our latest report.
1. Cultural and Recreational Opportunities
The county opened a new dual-purpose basketball/futsal court at Stratton Woods Park in Reston, which serves more than 80,000 visitors each year. The Great Outdoors Fund and Volkswagen partnered with the county on this new court, which supports the growing popularity of futsal. The opening event showcased the power of partnerships to deliver high-quality amenities in public spaces and inaugurated the futsal court with youth clinic programming by U.S. Sports Camps, featuring a special visit from members of the U.S. Men’s National Futsal Team.
2. Economic Opportunity
Aspiring entrepreneurs have a new tool to help connect them to business owner expertise through Fairfax CORE (Connecting Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs). The program provides resources needed to establish, expand and evolve their businesses in the county. Fairfax CORE features an online navigator providing access to more than 115 entrepreneur support organizations in and around the county.
3. Safety and Security
The Summer Crime Prevention Initiative enhanced community safety during warmer months when crime tends to rise. The June-August initiative focused on increasing police presence in high-crime areas, engaging with businesses and residents, and promoting awareness of crime prevention strategies. The effort led to more than 90 criminal charges and more than 330 interactions with people in vehicles and pedestrians to educate and enforce laws. By fostering stronger community-police partnerships, the initiative helped reduce crime rates and improve the overall quality of life for county residents and visitors.
4. Effective and Efficient Government
Modernizing services and streamlining processes is good for residents and county operations. The enhanced online tax administration portal now has features that allow taxpayers to access real-time account information and view past payments. Additionally, payment in person is as easy as a phone tap now for those with smartphones. The county now accepts Apple Pay and Google’s Tap to Pay at the counter. For those with land development needs, the county is using in-person and telephone metrics to ensure that the department is properly staffed during peak times of the day, maintaining desired hold times of three minutes or less for phone calls and 10 minutes or less for in-person visits.
5. Mobility and Transportation
The county continues making it easier and safer to leave the car behind when you visit or live in Tysons. Development continued on the Tysons Community Circuit, a planned 4.75-mile loop that links public transit with improved pathways for biking and walking. Currently, 1.15 miles of the circuit are open. The completion of the circuit will provide enhanced pedestrian crossings, expand bike lanes and improve public transit connectivity, making the area safer and more accessible. This project is one example of planners using newly developed metrics to study and evaluate pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to expand ways of safely and comfortably getting around within the county’s activity centers.
6. Lifelong Education and Learning
A former high school that is on land that was once part of George Washington’s estate is getting new life as the Human Development Center in Mt. Vernon. The county broke ground on a renovation of the historic building that will provide education, entertainment and enrichment services for residents of all ages. The 1930s-era building is getting an upgrade in sustainability, as well. The project incorporates a geothermal system to ensure 25% energy efficiency. Additionally, the facility includes electric vehicle charging stations and employs Low Impact Development facilities for effective stormwater management.
7. Housing and Neighborhood Livability
An underutilized parking lot for the Fairfax County Government Center will be the future location of an affordable home community. The county broke ground on the Residences at Government Center II, which will have 279 units for low- and moderate-income residents. The development will feature two five-story residential buildings with environmental and accessibility considerations, as well as a daycare center.
8. Environment and Energy
Why toss a broken item when you can fix it? The county partnered with our libraries to promote repair and reuse at a series of free Fix-It Clinics. Volunteers with a range of repair skills offered free help to members of the public. Fixers helped visitors repair small appliances, sharpen knives, and worked with a variety of materials, including fabric, knitted items, jewelry and electronics and computers.
9. Healthy Communities
Trainings and partnerships helped residents improve their ability to respond to community challenges and support each other. More than 2,100 people received opioid overdose and naloxone education (REVIVE!) training, and 762 individuals were trained in Mental Health First Aid, equipping them to help others experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use challenge. Furthermore, 212 individuals completed Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention training, and 150 individuals received training on Adverse Childhood Experiences to understand the effects of childhood adversity and trauma on development.
10. Empowerment and Support for Residents Facing Vulnerability
The county’s extreme heat response ensures that vulnerable residents have access to air-conditioned spaces and necessary resources during very hot days. When activated, the response helps keep residents cool and safe by opening overflow space at emergency shelters and offering respite from the heat at all libraries, community centers, Rec Centers, and human services regional offices. Summer 2024 was hotter than usual, leading to a 418 percent increase in cooling center usage compared to last summer, with 1,301 visits to the 47 cooling centers. Additionally, the county collaborated with a network of interagency partners, local non-profits, residents, and volunteers to launch an extreme heat emergency relief project at Harmony Place Mobile Home Park, Alexandria, in the county’s Franconia District.
Why the Annual Report and the Strategic Plan Matter to You
These highlights – and many others bulleted in the full report – demonstrate how the county is using a thoughtful approach based on data to improve our quality of life. From enhancing public safety to expanding economic opportunities, the county remains focused on delivering meaningful actions for all residents.
To achieve the goals in the Countywide Strategic Plan, a special committee of county leaders uses an action-focused approach. They create teams of experts from different agencies to come up with new ideas that save money, improve processes, and help make services accessible to anyone eligible.
Before trying out new ideas, the committee evaluates how they will help solve big problems and whether they can be done with the current budget. They also use new tools and data collection to understand what the community needs. These tools show where the county needs to take action and also help community partners create more programs and services. The committee then connects existing projects across agencies and departments to work together better.
The report shows our ongoing effort to work together and make informed decisions to meet the goals laid out in the strategic plan.
More Information
To review the full report, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/strategicplan.
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