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Neighbors,
Wow! What an incredible day! More than 500 Lorton residents joined us on Saturday, October 15 to celebrate the opening of the Lorton Community Center & Library, beautifully designed to bring the community and services together in one place. This day was a celebration for Lorton and I couldn't be prouder of sharing this facility with all of you. Residents will be able to participate in afterschool programs, fitness classes, gym sports, SACC, therapeutic recreation, camps for youth, and computer and technology instruction. The entire facility provides bright, natural light, the redesigned library has comfortable nooks for our youngest readers, gathering places for teens to collaborate, open spaces for seniors to learn, and ample space for the Lorton Community Action Center to serve our neediest neighbors. In just a few weeks since opening, the center is already a hub for so many residents. As twelve-year-old Ivan Robles eloquently proclaimed, "I'm happy that this facility was built where we have the opportunity to have more programs and a safe place to play and study." I look forward to seeing Ivan, his friends, and family enjoying the center for years to come.
Construction began on this $27.3 million project in July 2020. Originally, the community center was planned to open first, with the library funding and renovation to occur years later. This made no sense to me, and I worked with my Board colleagues and the County Executive to expedite the funding for the library renovations, bringing you the first co-located library and community center in Fairfax County. In addition, families are enjoying the outdoor 1.7 acres park with three new playgrounds, fitness area, open field, picnic tables, plaza and trail loop. Melding the past and present together, the park is also still dedicated as the Harry Lattimore Playground, Lorton's unofficial mayor from 1970-2004.
“To put together a building like this...and to be able to do it as expertly as [county staff] have done it with the community in mind, it’s an amazing, amazing feat,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. Former Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland also shared his dedication to move this renovation up in the county's funding queue, and how his Lorton Ombudsperson, Marcia Hanson, was so committed to bringing this facility to life. This was a labor of love for so many of us.
This grand opening marked yet another project in the larger county plan to continue growing and revitalizing the Mount Vernon area. Our Fire and Rescue Department recently moved into a new Lorton Volunteer Fire Station over the summer, and a new South County Police Station and Animal Shelter site is in progress and set to open in spring 2023.
Thank you South County Church, Moose Loyal Order Woodbridge Lodge No 583, South County Federation, South County High School, South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Fairfax County Police Department for supporting the event.
Also thank you to the Community Advisory Group that worked tirelessly to provide input on the type of community center they envisioned for Lorton. I'm grateful for your many volunteer hours and service:
Tae Choi, Linda Patterson, Karen Corbett Sanders, Betty Dang, Temecca Gallman-Wright, Elsa Galvan, Eric Robles, Martin Rizer, Chris Ambrose, Howard Bishop, Christine Morin, Angela Rosado, and Peter Weyland.
Also, to the countless Fairfax County staff that worked long hours to design, build, furnish, and staff this wonderful facility. This includes Fairfax County Libraries, Neighborhood and Community Services, Fairfax County Park Authority, and the Department of Public Works.
The Lorton Community Center and Library is located at 9520 Richmond Highway. The Community Center is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and the Library is open from 1 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
This is a great time to live in Lorton and I look forward to seeing you there. As a reminder my second Saturday office hours will begin in December from 9 - 11:30 a.m. call my office to make an appointment.
Watch the celebration here...
Respectfully yours in public service,
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