When Fairfax City Council approved the George Snyder Trail project in January 2024, it seemed as if it was a done deal. City staff and consultants went forward with their plans to make it a reality.

Yet while many residents were happy about the trail, many others weren’t. They objected to the hundreds of trees that would be cut down to make way for it, didn’t want a paved path in the woods, and decried the disturbance of the birds and wildlife it would cause.

Indeed, following the trail’s approval, an impassioned and stubbornly persistent contingent of people opposing this project spoke against it at nearly every Council meeting since then, hoping to get the members to change their minds.

Fast forward to 2025 – and five new members on the Council – and the opponents have these members contemplating making a drastic change to the originally approved plan. (See main story.) They’re now considering only building half the trail or even canceling the project outright.

“Most of the emails I’ve received say that, if it’s built, they’d like a different alignment,” said Councilmember Tom Peterson during Council’s March 11 work session. “I wonder if VDOT could help us find a better project than what we have before us.”

The nearly 2-mile-long George Snyder Trail has been on the City’s Comprehensive Plan since 2012. Currently, it’s planned for construction along the southern side of Accotink Creek, running east-west between Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) and Fairfax Boulevard (Route 50). 

During a Council work session in July 2023, John Gordon, who owns the WillowWood I and II office buildings, said having access to a bike trail directly from those buildings “will help attract more businesses and real-estate revenue to the City.” And City Sustainability Coordinator Stefanie Kupka said since the trail will encourage people to bike and walk instead of driving, it would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and pollution.

Still, although most of the project area would remain wooded, more than 500 trees would have to be removed so the trail – including boardwalks and bridges – could be built. So at that same work session, resident Katherine Johnson presented a petition with 1,577 signatures asking Council to preserve Fairfax’s forests and “move the trail to a less ecologically damaging area.”

Residents spoke out again at the March 11 Council meeting, with Marianna Fournier saying they want to know they’re being heard. Phil Latasa, representing the Friends of Accotink Creek, said he didn’t want the trail to cause “the clearing away of a swath of our few, remaining forests and precious, wetland habitats.”

“Our forests and wetlands aren’t improved by pavement,” he continued. “Alternatives employing existing, paved infrastructure are there. It’s time to cut our losses. We implore the City to forgo the George Snyder Trail.”

Judy Fraser read a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) report stating there’s been “no public opposition” to this project. “[But] yes, there’s been substantial, public opposition to this project,” she said. “This allegation should not be part of this [document].”

Furthermore, added Fraser, “It states, ‘No substantial controversy on environmental grounds is anticipated.” That’s also outdated. This project should not go forward with these documents in its portfolio.” She then urged the councilmembers to “ask questions, demand answers. You have some colleagues who want to explore more creative options.”

Douglas Stewart, speaking on behalf of Fairfax City Citizens for Smarter Growth, said his group has “fully supported the George Snyder Trail since its inception because of the connectivity [it offers] and because it provides regional access [to other trails] for bicyclists, and also within Fairfax City to emerging areas, offices and shopping centers.”

“This connectivity is lacking on the eastern side of the City,” said Stewart. “We’ve also heard the concerns; and we do support moving forward with [just] the western end of the trail. That has fewer impacts and will connect to WillowWood.”

Also speaking was Sophie McNeil, who’ll graduate from VCU this fall with a degree in environmental studies. She also worked for Research Environmental Solutions. “It’s the country’s largest environmental-consulting organization, and I learned a lot,” she said. “I don’t support the Snyder Trail plan or the Country Club Hills connection.

“I live in that neighborhood, and I and my friends grew up playing in there. And that’s why I’m an environmental studies major and want to go into repairing our ecosystems. [Otherwise], how are kids supposed to learn to care about something if it’s not there? We have already existing trail plans that need to be attended to, and we don’t need this bike path straight through my backyard. This plan isn’t in the best interests of the youth; we don’t need it.”

Jack Kull said this trail is in his backyard, too. “All we’re asking is, give common sense a chance,” he said. “If you’re not going to kill this project, at least modify it enough that it will not be a financial burden and will not destroy the environment.”

“The previous City Councils didn’t consider the public objections to the trail,” added Shelley Vance. “City residents have had repeated pushbacks and objections to this project since at least March 2020.” But despite their outcry, she said, the trail’s design kept marching on to completion. She also contended Fairfax didn’t do an adequate job of notifying affected residents about this project.

“The City just kept bulldozing forward, without serious consideration for the concerns of City residents,” said Vance. “This Council needs to step up and listen to the majority of the citizens who want an alternative that preserves the woods.”