The renovated rec center in Mount Vernon will be a big addition in 2025.
Mount Vernon ice skaters and recreation center users will be glad to hear that the newly rebuilt recreation facility that has been out of action for the past couple of years will finally be open this spring, providing an upscale resource that has been missed by many. This is only one of the district improvements coming in 2025.
“It will be a fantastic addition,” said Supervisor Dan Storck (D-Mount Vernon), “truly a night and day change.”
The 75,000 square-foot expansion to the facility includes a two-story fitness center, a second ice rink, multi-purpose areas, pool, indoor track and additional building upgrades.
Other improvements in Mount Vernon include transportation improvements on Richmond Highway, a new park in the Quander Road area, Kings Crossing improvements, a new CEO at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, and plans for future bike lanes on Fort Hunt Road. Fairfax County has dedicated “a lot of money to do a lot of infrastructure improvements,” Storck said.
This year’s haunted house around Halloween at the Workhouse was a hit, said Storck. “I think they had the best year ever,” he said. In addition the new Bunnyman Brewery opened at the Workhouse.
In Lorton, the “Lorton Vision 2040” plan has moved further along, with many getting a look at what is planned for years in the future. This gives residents an opportunity to become part of the planning process. Supervisor Storck is behind this initiative.
The Alexandria Crossing area near Quander Road has recently gotten a boost when developers recently built townhouses along with the high-rise apartments in close proximity to the Huntington Metro Station. It’s a classic example of transit-oriented development, where mass transportation is close to housing.
Indoor Skiing
One project that is not moving along is the indoor ski slopes at the former Lorton landfill area. In a letter from Fairfax County to Alpine X, dated Dec. 18, 2024, the future of the county's only indoor ski facility looks bleak. "The Interim Agreement will terminate a Comprehensive Agreement coming into effect to govern the project going forward. We share your disappointment that, due to various economic challenges (e.g., estimated construction costs, interest rates, etc.), the project has not moved forward for additional review during the Interim Agreement window," the letter read. Storck still has hopes for the project, but funding is an issue. "They have not raised the amount needed," he said.