Public Works and Environmental Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administrative offices are open to the public. Appointments are preferred. Please call or email 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
703-324-5800 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 449 Fairfax, VA 22035
Carey Needham
Director, Capital Facilities

Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center

Project Overview

An exciting and innovative project is underway in the heart of Fairfax City that will bring health, wellness and recreation together on one campus. Fairfax City and Fairfax County are jointly redeveloping the campus at the current Joseph Willard Health Center (JWHC)/Sherwood Community Center location. Once complete, the City-operated community center and a County-operated health and human services center will provide integrated services to both City and County residents.

The joint redevelopment project came about following years-long evaluations conducted by both the City and County. A very unique joint redevelopment agreement is now in place to develop a conceptual plan for this campus and the City and County are working closely together to make it happen.

Click Images to Enlarge

Joseph Willard Health Center
Joseph Willard Health Center
Green Acres Community Center
Green Acres Community Center
Sherwood Community Center
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center

Winter 2024 Design Showcases

In-person

An in-person Design Showcase Open House was held at the Stacy C Community Center on January 13, 2024. View the presentation (PDF).

Virtual

A virtual Design Showcase meeting was held on January 18, 2024. View the presentation (PDF).

FAQs

Click here for a list of answers to the most commonly-asked questions for the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center Project.

Final Concept Design

After all the feedback gathered for the new Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center, a design concept has been selected.

Fall Community Meetings

Virtual and in-person open houses were held on November 16 and 19 to share conceptual designs with the community and receive feedback.

Virtual Open House

A virtual open house was held on November 16, 2022, via a Zoom meeting. View the 11/16 presentation PDF.

In-Person Open House

An in-person community meeting was held at Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (3740 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030) on November 19, 2022. View the 11/19 presentation PDF.

Any questions on the design concepts can be sent via email at Willard-SherwoodProject@fairfaxcounty.gov or at the City of Fairfax webpage: Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center | Engage Fairfax (fairfaxva.gov)

Previous Community Meetings

In-Person and Virtual Community Meetings were held in January and February. A video of the In-Person Drop-In event and presentations from the Virtual Community Meetings are shared below. Future Community Meetings are being planned and information for them will be posted on this website.

In-Person: A “Drop-In” event was held at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (3740 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030) on February 23, 2022 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Virtual: Two virtual Zoom Open House Community Meetings were held on January 26 and 29, 2022. See links below for meeting presentations and videos.

Community Meetings Presentations

View the presentation - Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center Community Open House 01-26-2022

 

Main Room Presentation

Breakout Room 1

Breakout Room 2

Breakout Room 3

Breakout Room 4

View the presentation - Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center Community Open House 01-29-2022

 

Main session and Breakout room 2

 

Breakout room 1

 

Breakout room 3

 

Breakout room 4

 

Project Information

Joseph Willard Health Center (JWHC)

  • Located at 3750 Blenheim Blvd (previously Old Lee Highway) on property owned by Fairfax County
  • Facility and programs operated by Fairfax County
  • Licensed medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, speech and hearing, and X-ray service facility, including Fairfax County Health Department vital records and administrative spaces
  • Offers programs and services aimed at promoting the health and well-being of infants, children, and adults of all ages
  • Designated as the FCHD Continuity of Operations (COOP) site

2017-2018 JWHC Feasibility Study:

  • Evaluated future space needs and potential renovation or redevelopment of the site to accommodate future Fairfax County health and human service needs.
  • Existing facility built in the 1950s with a major addition in the 1960s and a renovation in the 1970s
  • Current physical layout and clinic room configurations impede efficient and functional work processes
  • Study identified limitations of the current layout and existing structure, cannot appropriately accommodate future programmatic and operational needs
  • Building systems and infrastructure have reached the end of their useful life
  • Need for redevelopment to enhance operations in the event of emergencies

Green Acres Community Center

  • A former school building (constructed in 1961) that has been used as a community center since 2002
  • The 40,000 sq. ft. building and 10-acre site are owned by the City of Fairfax
  • The center features the City’s senior center, exercise facility and a small gymnasium, as well as multipurpose rooms used for classes and rentals
  • Part of the building is leased to a child care facility focused on serving the needs of lower-income families
  • The property contains athletic fields, a playground, playing courts, and a bocce court
  • The building needs significant renovations for accessibility, efficient operation and to provide features and amenities that are desired by City residents

Green Acres Feasibility Study:

  • A feasibility study for the future of the Green Acres Center was conducted in 2015-16.
  • Examined numerous issues pertaining to the Green Acres site and its various uses
  • Recommendation to build a new community center at a different location to include a senior center, full-size gymnasium, fitness center, kitchen, multipurpose spaces, a lobby/social areas, and storage/ support/administrative space.

Sherwood Community Center

  • Located at 3740 Old Lee Highway on property owned by Fairfax City
  • Identified for relocation of some of the programs from City’s Green Acres Center

The joint development will accommodate the needs identified by both feasibility studies and allow the Health Department to provide essential services during emergencies or operational interruptions. The redevelopment will also meet the community center needs identified in the Green Acres study.

The project includes demolition of the current JWHC and construction of a new, approximately 102,800 square feet facility in its place at 3750 Blenheim Blvd., connecting to and expanding the existing Sherwood Center at 3740 Blenheim Blvd. The project is intended to co-locate and integrate programming of health and human services and a community center to serve both City and County residents. The current funding for this project is included within both jurisdiction’s Capital Improvement Plans. More information about funding can be found at 2020 Community Health and Human Services Facilities Bonds Explanation.

View Aerial photo

This campus will offer many different programs and services designed to meet the needs of individuals of all ages and abilities throughout Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. To that end, County and City staff are seeking input to ensure that the campus is designed to meet the needs and interests of the surrounding community. While some of the programs in the facility have already been designated; there will be multiple opportunities for community involvement and engagement throughout the process to discuss a variety of topics including site concepts, facility amenities, community center programming, and construction logistics. Notices for open houses and other public meetings will be posted on this webpage and shared with the community through social media, newsletters, and other channels used by the City and County.

Project questions and comments from the public may be directed via e-mail to the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center project team at Willard-SherwoodProject@fairfaxcounty.gov. Questions can also be posted on the City of Fairfax Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center

Fairfax Virtual Assistant