Dear Mount Vernon residents,
My name is Gerry Hyland and I have served as the Mount Vernon District supervisor for 28 years. I welcome you to the Mount Vernon District which is the best district in all of Fairfax County because of the wonderful people and the resources we have here.
Mount Vernon is blessed to have all the infrastructure necessary to serve its citizens to include recreation centers, parks, trails, the best farmers’ markets in Fairfax County, the INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital which ranks in the top 10 hospitals in the metropolitan area, just to name a few.
The function of your supervisor and staff is to provide assistance in your dealing with Fairfax County, such as stormwater management, zoning issues, human service problems. We act as a liaison with permitting questions and transportation issues when involving the Virginia Department of Transportation. The bottom line is: If you need help with the county, you need to call the supervisor’s office and we will respond to you and assist with what you have requested.
As to what we have here in the Mount Vernon District, we have George Washington’s wonderful Mount Vernon Estate, which is the most notable historical site in the county. In addition, on the Woodlawn Estate property we have the Pope Leigh House, an example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, and the Arcadia Center which has a demonstration garden used to teach people how to farm and enjoy agriculture. Then there is Gunston Hall, home of George Mason, the author of the Bill of Rights, located on Mason Neck where we also have a Federal Reserve, a state park and a regional park. Then there is the Workhouse Arts Center located on the historic D.C. prison property; also located there is the championship Laurel Hill 18-hole public golf course. Then we have two recreation centers — one located near the Belle View Shopping Center and the other located across from Mount Vernon High School; two off leash dog parks, one at West Grove on Ft. Hunt Road and one at Grist Mill Park located on Route 235. And, my favorite, Wegman’s Grocery, is located at the end of Jeff Todd Way and Telegraph Road. (I love to cook.)
Finally, it is my strong belief that for government to work, it must be bottom up versus top down and that means citizens’ input on issues that concerns their quality of life must be communicated to their supervisor. In that respect, we have civic associations, neighborhood watch, the Mount Vernon Civic Council Association, South County Federation (located in Lorton) and an active Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce, Ventures in Community, a collaboration of churches in the Mount Vernon community, Southeast Health Planning Task Force, and numerous boards and commissions which have representatives appointed from the Mount Vernon District. As your supervisor, I strongly encourage you to participate individually or join those organizations so that your voice will be heard — resulting in decisions made by Fairfax County government that will benefit from your input and will represent your best interest.
Again, I welcome you to the Mount Vernon community and sincerely hope you enjoy an eclectic community that truly has something for all the people.
It has been a pleasure and honor to represent you as your Mount Vernon District supervisor.
Yours in Public Service,
Gerry Hyland