GOCA Update Sept 5, 2025

Dear Oakton Neighbors and Friends,

Two weeks ago, we gathered for the fifth annual Oakton Day in the Park. The idea behind this celebration is to make Oakton feel like a true community, and not just a zip code. This year, we were thrilled that a record number of our neighbors joined us–over 950 residents–and many shared that they truly felt the small-town spirit that makes this event and Oakton special.  

We hope you felt it too!

Community News

• Update on AT&T Site Development

• County Consideration of Consolidated Trash Collection Paused

• New Appointee to FCPA Board for Providence District

GOCA News

• Pony Rides in Oakton Community Park

• Oakton History Bus Tour With Popular Local Historian Jim Lewis

• Oakton Day 2025 Draws Record Numbers 

• News from the Historic Schoolhouse  

Other Items

• Protect NOVA Park and the W&OD Trail

• “A Night at the Game”

• Providence Day & Back To School Celebration

• Informational Webinar on a Possible Tysons Casino

• Friends of Oakton Library Fall Book Sale

• The Grounds’ “Outsiders Only” Event

• Spotlight on a Community Nonprofit: JustServe

• Upcoming Sessions To Remove Invasive Plants

Community News

Update on AT&T Site Development. On August 27th, EYA hosted a public presentation of its revised proposal for rezoning the AT&T site located at 3033 Chain Bridge Road. The evening provided an opportunity for interested residents to ask questions and voice opinions to EYA. Additionally, a revised transportation study addressing the impact of the development has been posted on the County website and is currently under review by FCDOT and VDOT. This is distinct from the traffic study of Chain Bridge Road being funded at the initiative of Supervisor Palchik, which is expected to be completed by Spring next year. Whether or not there are subsequent changes to the current rezoning proposal, the expected timeline for the proposal to go for review by Zoning is later this Fall. Continue to watch for further analysis from GOCA, Options for Oakton and Smart Growth for Oakton. EYA invites you to send questions or comments to EYA, and we encourage you to reach out to Supervisor Palchik and Commissioner Hancock with your feedback.

County Consideration of Consolidated Trash Collection Paused. The Board of Supervisors has been considering a proposal to have the County contract for trash and recycling services for residents. The argument for this is to reduce the number of trucks that pass through our neighborhoods, support single-family neighborhoods without HOAs in a position to bargain for services, encourage cost savings through consolidation and stronger collective bargaining leverage, and to be in a better position to integrate new environmental initiatives such as composting. Critics of the idea worry about the government's ability to control the costs, the impact on individual vendors, and the potential creation of monopolies. As of now, the public hearing on consolidating trash collection has been postponed until more information has been gathered. We encourage interested Oakton residents to voice their views of this initiative to the offices of their District Supervisor and also to GOCA.

New Appointee to FCPA Board for Providence District. Some of you may have met Mike Reynolds at Oakton Day in the Park.  He is the new representative, appointed by Supervisor Palchik, for the Providence District on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. Mike has had 40 years of experience at the National Park Service. We look forward to working with him!

GOCA News

Pony Rides in Oakton Community Park. Saturday, September 20, 11 am - 2 pm. We will again host pony rides for kids in the Park. Thank you to GOCA Board Member Linda Byrne for making this available to our community.  Cost is $10 per rider and registration is limited. If you are interested, please register here. 

Oakton History Bus Tour With Popular Local Historian Jim Lewis. Think you know Oakton? Learn its history! Join us on Saturday, October 4 from 9 am - 1 pm for a captivating and entertaining tour led by acclaimed local historian Jim Lewis. We'll begin in Oakton—formerly known as Flint Hill—and delve into our area's rich past, including its pivotal role during the Civil War and its connection to the early 1900s electric trolley system that ran through the area. From there, we’ll travel along historic Hunter Mill Road where you’ll discover fascinating sites and hear the compelling stories that bring our rich local history to life. All from the comfort of a luxury coach bus with snacks included. Register here by September 30th. 

Oakton Day 2025 Draws Record Numbers. Sunday, August 24th’s event drew over 950 people from  the Oakton community.  Thanks to all those who volunteered to make this year’s event a huge success!  And special thanks to the following local sponsors whose contributions to this event allowed it to be offered free to the public:

Backyard Bird Feeder

Deb Cohen Real Estate

Hunter Mill Animal Hospital

Image Flooring, Kitchen and Bath

Montessori School of Hunter Mill

Raymond James

Service Source

Sunrise at Hunter Mill

Valerie Kappler Real Estate

News From the Historic Schoolhouse. GOCA continues its work to make the schoolhouse a greater resource to the Oakton community, as it was over a century ago. Those of you who were able to stop in at Oakton Day glimpsed some of our latest acquisitions, including a teacher’s desk, chalkboard, display cabinet, and a framed  portrait of George Washington, as was very often found hanging in schoolhouses in the 19th century. We have two educators developing a program through which local fourth-graders will be able to take field trips to the building to learn what school was like in Oakton’s early days.  And we are working on an initiative to build a small pavilion to provide restrooms, tables, and perhaps a small kitchen facility. In the meantime, we want to make the building available for use by local nonprofits. If you are interested in getting involved, please email us. 

Other Items

Protect NOVA Park and the W&OD Trail. TODAY Saturday, September 6, 10 - 11 am . Please join Fairfax Families for Safe Streets and a coalition of non-profits and community organizations who are working together to protect NOVA Parks' remaining trees on the W&OD Trail from Dominion's clear cutting.  Show your support and send a message to Dominion, our elected officials, and other decision makers to stop the tree clearing and renegotiate an agreement. Learn more here.

“A Night at the Game”. Friday, September 12, 7 pm. The Fairfax County School Board is encouraging the broader Providence District community to attend an Oakton High School football game and celebrate the incredible talent and spirit of Cougars football, cheer, marching band, color guard, and more. Register here. 

Providence Day & Back To School Celebration. Saturday, September 20, 10 am - 1 pm.  The Providence District invites you to join your community for this celebratory event at George C. Marshall High School.  You are invited to dance, make art, play games, and connect with others. You can find more details here.  

Informational Webinar on a Possible Tysons Casino. September 24, 7 - 8 pm. The Tysons Stakeholders Alliance will host an informational webinar about ongoing consideration of a casino in Fairfax County. Topics to be covered include the current status of the casino proposal and what to expect next; how a casino would impact the local economy, and how a casino would likely affect the fabric of our community. There will be an opportunity to submit questions to panelists at the end of the webinar.  Register here. 

Friends of Oakton Library Fall Book Sale. Wednesday, October 15 - Saturday, October 18. For more information, please visit Friends of Oakton Library. For other upcoming activities and events at the Oakton Library, please click here.

The Grounds’ “Outsiders Only” Event. Saturday, October 18, 10 am - 4 pm. Oakton’s unique new venue, The Grounds of Livev at 10728 Vale Road, is hosting an Outsiders Only event featuring over 50 local artisans and makers, including live music, local food and beverage vendors. It will be a festival celebrating our creative community with a day full of shopping and supporting all things local. You can purchase tickets here. 

Spotlight on a Community Organization: JustServe. You might have met this group at Oakton Day. To give you more information, the mission of JustServe, a nonprofit organization organized by Oakton neighbors Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is to unite and strengthen communities by providing a free digital platform where nonprofit organizations can post their needs and volunteers can find opportunities to serve. By making these connections, JustServe hopes to foster better relationships and cooperation in our community. To learn more, visit this site. 

Upcoming Sessions To Remove Invasive Plants.

• Oakton Community Park, Saturday, September 13, 9-11 am and 1-3 pm.  If interested in helping, please contact Willow Martin.

• Blake Lane Park, Sunday, September 14, 5 - 7 pm. Register here; and Sunday, September 21, 4 - 6 pm, Register here.

• Oakmont Park, 3200 Jermantown Road, September 27, 10 am - 12 pm. Register here. This session celebrates National Public Lands Day. 

With best regards,

The GOCA Board

Lauren Crum and Shelley Deutch, Co-ChairsLinda Byrne, Jackie Davey, Mark Deaton, Janet Kerr-Tener (Founding Co-Chair), Kris Olsen, Robin Thurman, Gary Wong and Albert Wu

 See our website at: www.greateroakton.com

GOCA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, and 100% of your donations go to our community efforts.  To donate, please visit our Paypal link.  If you would like to become more actively involved, email us at contact@greateroakton.com and we can match you with the right opportunity.