I testified before the Fairfax County Planning Commission on Wednesday night after the Athletic Council meeting. The hearing was about the long term development plan in Tysons. My presentation dealt with putting fields on the top of buildings, parking decks, etc.
This is an issue that I have touched on before and even have a page dedicated to it here on this blog.
We need to start looking at these types of options – not only in Tysons but all over Fairfax. When the county looks at building a parking deck at a VRE stop, letting a developer build a new town center, or considers renovations to a shopping center, serious consideration should be given to making athletic facilities part of the equation.
We are in desperate need of basketball courts, baseball/softball fields, and rectangular fields for football, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, etc. This option gives us a chance to meet the need and not have so many issues with buying land, parking, lights, etc.