Success Stories

On June 25th, the members of the Annandale+ Group of Fairfax PRISM, held their first social event! Hosted by the residents of Whispering Lane, attendees enjoyed a chance to enjoy the newly reclaimed space along Whispering Lane and Columbia Pike. The gazebo area is owned wholly by the neighborhood but was abandoned years ago due to confusion over ownership and lack of funding. During that time the ground and stand of young trees was overwhelmed by numerous invasives, chief among them English Ivy!

The loss was highly visible as this entrance to the neighborhood features a neighborhood sign and the aforementioned gazebo all underneath a wonderful pine tree. Two enterprising residents took it upon themselves to resuscitate the little corner by slowly and gradually removing the ivy from the brick wall, the gazebo and the ground. Work continues to proceed in the stand of trees where numerous young trees are already reaching upward to the sun!

The volunteers and neighbors of the Annandale+ group got to hear -- first hand -- how this work was done, some of the remaining concerns, and to relay some of their own experiences in their own communities. We appreciate the efforts being made by residents in their neighborhoods to work on highly visible locations like these, but also their own yards and more secluded spots where more problems lay. We look forward to getting together again for another summer social as we plan our next initiative in the community!