2023 Annual Report

Vision: Leading the model community where all can Live, Work, Play and Get Involved™.

Mission:

To preserve and enhance the Reston community through outstanding leadership, service and stewardship of our resources.

Core Values: Service, Collaboration, Stewardship, Innovation, Leadership

A Model 60 Years

In 2024, Reston will mark 60 years as the premier planned community and a model for similar types of communities across the nation. Reston has changed quite a bit in those six decades, and as the leaders of Reston Association, we are proud to be a part of the leadership that helps to shape the policies and vision for Reston while at the same time ensuring it stays true to its original mission and welcomes input from the neighbors who chose Reston as their home.

Throughout this past year, we were able to determine just what RA assets and programs our members value most through our very successful Community Survey that looked at RA’s pathways and trails, pools, courts and other resources, and asked our members their opinions on those resources and what, if any, changes should be made. Thanks to the efforts a group of very dedicated volunteers and the RA staff, more than 1,700 members provided valuable input into this survey.

The staff will begin implementing many of those suggestions in 2024. Thanks go out to all the members who took time to complete the survey and share thoughts with us.

This year brought a return to “normalcy” many of us hadn’t seen since pre-pandemic. Our camps and pools were back to full operations and capacity, and our members continue to tell us they love to get outside and enjoy our lakes, trails and other natural resources.

This year also brought a brand-new signature event to Reston with our inaugural Winterfest celebration. This three-day festival brought the community together to kick off the holiday season. Families enjoyed the walk-through light display that covered Brown’s Chapel Park in thousands of holiday light displays. Friends gathered around the firepits to enjoy s’mores or local brews, and everyone was able to enjoy the Enchanted Forest, beautifully decorated by our generous sponsoring organizations.

Winterfest also had a charitable element, as all the trees in that Forest were then donated to families in need in the Reston area. Our entire staff went above and beyond to create a magical event for our community that we hope will become part of Reston families’ holiday traditions. The event exceeded all attendance projections, and the feedback we received was simply inspiring. Winterfest 2024 planning is already well underway, and we can’t wait to share this wonderful event with all of you once again.

This was also a year of increased advocacy for our members at levels RA hasn’t experienced before. When rumors of a proposed casino in our community broke in late September, our Board and staff heard almost immediately and universally that Restonians did not want such a venture here, and RA responded. We worked with our local legislators and representatives in Richmond to tell lawmakers that this proposal was not something Reston wanted – especially on the heels of our dedicated Reston Master Plan update that specifically included the input and support of the community for any future development.

Our advocacy was successful in having Reston removed from a list of possible locations and the bill was ultimately not advanced in this year’s session. Our message remains clear, however. RA will continue to advocate for our members to ensure the values of our community and our careful planning commitments remain true.

Throughout these pages, you’ll see that RA has taken on a vast variety of projects, initiatives and programs over the past year, and each one of those endeavors are for the benefit of you, our members. Each project we implement, from the Hunter’s Woods ballfield renovation to our very successful Reston Camps venture to the valued standards set forth by our covenants committee and the dedicated work of our maintenance and Central Services teams, is implemented with our members in mind. We’re here to ensure Reston remains the place we’ve all chosen to call home, and we do our very best to keep Reston the best place to Live, Work, Play and Get Involved.

John Farrell, Board President 2023-24

Cummins, AICP, Chief Executive Officer, Reston Association

Mac

Board of Directors

John Farrell President At-Large District RA-BODPresident@reston.org

Jennifer Jushchuk Vice President South Lakes District RA-BODVicePresident@reston.org

Robert T. Petrine Treasurer At-Large RA-BODTreasurer@reston.org

Travis Johnson Secretary Hunters Woods/Dogwood District RA-HWDWDistrict@reston.org

Trevor Grywatch At-Large District RA-BODATLARGE2@reston.org

Irwin Flashman

Lake Anne/Tall Oaks District

RA-LATODistrict@reston.org

Jalal Mapar At-Large RA-BODATLARGE@reston.org

Margaret Perry

Apartment Owners’ Representative RA-BODAOREP@reston.org

Laurie Dodd North Point District RA-NPDistrict@reston.org

Mac Cummins

AICP, CEO RA-CEO@reston.org

Department Highlights and Related Summaries

RA certified a total of 146 new lifeguards, water safety instructors and pool operators and recertified an additional 46.

Summer camps were 88% full; non-member registrations increased to 35%.

Nature House Staff conducted 275 programs for 7,030 participants as well as five special events.

Facebook

Total Followers: 9,035

Total Follower Growth: 347 or 3.84%

Total Reach: 1,092,798

Total Engagement: 179,222

Recreation and Environmental Education

The Recreation and Environmental Education Department saw an incredibly successful 2023. Camps, tennis and aquatics numbers all held steady throughout the season, and the events team recorded record attendance levels throughout the year. Of note was the inaugural Winterfest, which exceeded all first-year goals by attracting nearly 5,000 attendees and wonderful feedback from the community.

Aquatics

The Aquatics team saw a modest increase in pool visits in 2023 even with the continued construction closures of Lake Thoreau and Shadowood Pools during the 2023 season. RA certified a total of 146 new lifeguards, water safety instructors and pool operators and recertified an additional 46. Water fitness programs exceeded revenue goals, with the largest increases in water aerobics and group swim lessons. Nearly ¾ of seasonal staff came back for another season with RA.

Maintenance efforts also performed very well; staff maintained 24-hour response times on most large and small repairs/replacements and were able to keep maintenance-related pool closures to a minimum.

Lake Audubon, North Shore, Autumnwood and Ridge Heights Pools all saw maintenance renovations, and several facilities also had LED lighting installed. Renovations at Lake Thoreau and Shadowood Pools are ongoing and should be completed by the 2024 season.

Camps

Camp enrollment in 2023 remained strong, with a total of 2,025 campers and record-high revenue. Summer camps were 88% full; non-member registrations increased to 35%, and we had a record 99 new staff members leading camps this past summer. Additionally, thanks to the generous support of Friends of Reston, 35 children were able to attend camp thanks to scholarships, which was up from 24 children in 2022.

Events

The Events team also marked significant increases this year with a total of 51 events and a whopping 59% increase in attendance in 2023 over the previous year. The inaugural Winterfest, which promises to become a signature event for RA, was certainly a highlight, as nearly 5,000 people visited over the three-day event to wander through the various holiday lights at Brown’s Chapel Park,

visit with Santa, and browse the 50+ decorated holiday trees in the Enchanted Forest. But that wasn’t all – RA’s long-standing events, from the biannual Yard Sale to Movies in the Park and Appraisal Roadshows, all maintained their place as community favorites. This year also marked the return of chartered bus trips for the community; participants were able to enjoy everything from shows at the Kennedy Center to Nationals baseball games and more.

The Events team is eagerly looking forward to the return of one of RA’s longest-running and most popular events in 2024 with Senior Movie Day. The opening of the LOOK Cinemas in RTC brings Senior Movie Day’s two-year hiatus to an end, and audiences are excited for its comeback.

Tennis

Tennis participation and programming remained strong in 2023 despite increased competition from other local jurisdictions. RA’s tennis courts hosted a variety of tournaments, including the USTA adult and junior programs as well as Oakcrest school. A special congratulations to the Reston tennis team, who emerged victorious after the Northern Virginia Tennis League Championship.

Tennis lessons held steady in 2023 over 2022, with junior group lessons having 662 participants (down from 756), adult group lessons with 393 participants (up from 356) and private instruction with 390 lessons (down from 400). Revenue goals were met, and staff continues to look for innovative ways to provide programming and instruction that exceeds county and competition standards.

Pickleball

With its status as one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, it is no surprise that RA continues to face challenges with finding an adequate number of pickleball facilities to accommodate the growing number of pickleball players. While the community survey indicates that the pickleball community in Reston is still relatively small compared to those focused on other recreational activities, pickleball interest amongst RA members continues to grow.

Pickleball group lessons saw 282 participants in 2023 compared to 196 in 2022, and last year the Association conducted 101 private or semi-private lessons, up from 78 in the previous year. These statistics helped RA meet its net budget goals, even though an increase in court pass fees for non-members saw a drop in pickleball pass participants.

Walker Nature Center

Walker Nature Center continues to trend upwards in programming and visitation. Staff conducted 275 programs for 7,030 participants as well as five special events, up 16% from the previous year. Similarly, walk-in visits to the Nature House counted 5,482 in 2023, up nearly 35% from 2022, and rental numbers were up modestly for all three facilities, and rental income grew 19% in 2023, generating $17,844. It’s clear the Reston community values its outdoor resources and the programming provided by the Nature Center.

Volunteer Reston

It’s no secret that volunteers are essential to ensuring RA’s programs, events and other efforts are successful throughout the year, and in 2023, those volunteers gave back to the community more than ever before.

A total of 1,126 RA volunteers contributed a total of 4,050 hours in 2023, which when valued at independent sector wages ($32.59) contributes $131,990 labor benefit to RA.

1,126 RA volunteers contributed a total of 4,050 hours in 2023.

What’s more – those volunteer hours are as varied as the contributors themselves. RA held a total of 55 volunteer opportunities throughout the year ranging from environmental efforts to RA events and corporate and school projects. Highlights include:

• Environmental Projects, such as stream monitoring, lakes cleanup and Arbor Day efforts

• Community Events, such as Movies in the Parks, the Community Yard Sale, Community Survey and Winterfest

• Walker Nature Center programs, including the Spring Festival, Halloween House & Trail, Egg-stravaganza and more

A total of 71 RA events relied on volunteer support throughout the year, and those events simply would not have seen success without the assistance of these dedicated volunteers. In addition to the many individuals and families who volunteer their time, RA volunteers were representing corporate partners such as ATPCO, Kimley-Horn, Volkswagen of America and the Cornerstones Defense Project. Many others represented community organizations ranging from RCC and Leadership Fairfax to Friends of Reston, Reston Museum, CHCC at Southgate and Dogwood Elementary. We look forward to continuing these exciting and inspirational collaborations for the betterment of our community.

Capital Projects

Last year marked one of the Capital Projects Department’s biggest years to date. With a cumulative project execution sum of more than $4.7M, 2023 marked the largest in RA history.

Lake Thoreau Pool renovations, the single largest project in organizational history, was completed in 2023 and will formally reopen for the 2024 aquatics season. The project entailed nearly a 90% replacement of the facility including new pool basins and deck, a 400 sqft bathhouse addition, complete ADA accessibility, and expansion of the parking lot.

Shadowood Pool’s refurbishment is also progressing well. The first phase was completed in 2023, which included a replaced bathhouse roof and squaring of the main pool for lap swimming. Phase Two is now underway and includes conversion of the wading pool into a splash pad, installation of gas heating for the main pool, and interior bathhouse and pool deck updates. The facility is anticipated to reopen in time for the 2024 aquatics season.

The Hunters Woods Ballfield redevelopment was completed ahead of schedule and under budget in 2023.

This project provided the community with a new park that includes a new pathway network, landscaping with native plants, improved drainage, and a free little library. This was a community-based effort with the Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition and RA to repurpose the underutilized Hunters Woods Ballfield behind Hunters Woods Village Center into a passive recreation area.

Hook Road Recreation area received its site plan approval from Fairfax County and the DRB for Phase One of the project. This project will reposition the baseball fields for improved safety and install a pathway network to connect the park together. Work on the Hook Road project will begin in 2024.

The Capital Projects team’s cumulative project execution sum of more than $4.7M in 2023 marked the largest in RA history.

Approvals were also received for two upcoming tennis projects planned for 2024. Both the Glade Clay Tennis Courts and Barton Hill Tennis Courts will face renovations in 2024 to improve the experience for both our asphalt and clay tennis court users.

Communications

RA’s Communications team is dedicated to keeping members informed and updated on the programs, policies and activities provided by the Association. In 2023, the team worked through significant staff turnover to seamlessly continue those informational materials and continued its efforts to find new and effective ways to share its message with the RA membership and the community at large.

Big changes are on the way for one of Communications’ most valuable tools; at the end of 2023, contracts were finalized to bring a new and much-improved website experience for Reston Association that will offer members new and simple ways to connect with staff, find information and take advantage of all RA has to offer. The new reston.org website will provide additional opportunities for engagement and information sharing with members and is also designed to help to accommodate a growing number of mobile users. The site is currently in development and will be unveiled later in 2024.

RA’s digital outreach expanded throughout 2023, especially in its dedicated email marketing and social media efforts. Advocacy campaigns were prominently highlighted on the reston.org website, providing members with the latest information they needed on a variety of topical issues. Additionally, that outreach expanded to social media; engagement on all platforms increased, with the largest being on LinkedIn, which was up 15% following some targeted campaigns, and social media efforts are now also being integrated into sponsorship campaigns for large signature events.

RA publications, both print and digital, also maintained a robust presence in helping to ensure members are informed and updated about actions involving RA, programming opportunities and special events hosted by the organization.

Open rates on all digital publications remains extremely high compared to industry standard, with all publications averaging open rates of more than 50%. Subscriptions remained steady year-over-year with only minor fluctuations. Additionally, the Reston Today promotional video series remains strong, and it has also now been supplemented with shorter “Reston Minute” segments and other video promotions to better share the story of RA. Print publications also remain strong; the quarterly Activities Guide is sent to more than 21,000 households and is routinely listed as one of the top vessels members use to receive information on RA programs and events.

The Communications team also produced the quarterly Branching Out newsletter, the 2022 Annual Report and refreshed the annual Members’ Welcome Guide in addition to producing hundreds of ads, flyers, brochures and other promotional collateral for the organization.

Throughout the year, as Board of Directors meetings and other efforts began to transition back to in-person settings, the Communications staff was tasked with providing operational and technical support for those meetings, both for in-person participants and the subsequent YouTube livestream and also for hybrid participants via the Zoom platform.

2023 RA NEWS

Amount sent average: 8,467 Average 12-month open rate: 54.45% Year-over-year comparison: + 2 %

In addition to regular monthly Board of Directors meetings, the team supported numerous Special Board meetings and a Town Hall focusing on the 2023 Community Survey, and supported virtual-only virtual Public Hearings on the budget, 12 monthly Design Review Board meetings, the Election Information Session, Candidates’ Forum and the Annual Members’ Meeting.

Central Services Facility

RA’s Central Services and Maintenance teams are charged with ensuring our pathways, recreational facilities and natural resources are maintained and cared for throughout the year. These staff members do everything from clearing snow from pathways and beautifying landscape beds to monitoring water quality at our lakes and monitoring the health and quality of our trees and other natural resources. The team paints and constructs RA facility elements and overall guarantees the safety and stability of the amenities RA members value.

Watershed staff and volunteer clean up events removed more than 900 pounds of litter from Reston’s lakes and streams.

The team worked with more than 100 volunteers to total 296 hours of volunteer assistance in two fishing events, two litter cleanups, and 29 citizen science water quality monitoring trips. RA’s Areas Crew also continued to improve and beautify RA’s 355 landscape beds, and the Natural Areas team planted 500-600 native trees in 2023.

RA facilities, including pools, courts and other facilities are all maintained by the Central Services teams. In 2023, crews worked to make repairs to lighting at North Hills Tennis Courts and worked to fill cracks in tennis hardcourts at Lake Newport, Shadowood and North Shore.

The Natural Areas team planted 500-600 native trees in 2023.

Crews also ensured court safety by sealing cracks at RA’s multipurpose basketball courts and implemented tot lot enhancements at both Lake Anne Park and Glade. All benches at RA tennis courts have been adapted and are now made from recycled plastic.

Rental efforts also remained strong. The CSF team renewed 173 Recreation Vehicle Storage spaces, over 400 garden plots at four locations and 22 ball fields for over 2,000 participants throughout the year.

Covenants

Covenants staff’s focus and deliverables throughout 2023 were centered around optimizing the member experience when it comes to Covenants transactions and member servicing. These efforts included streamlining internal processes for Design Review Board (DRB) applications and increasing external messaging and education for members and real estate professionals.

The Covenants team’s premiere outreach offering of Show and Tell cluster and condominium walking tours continued its success and maintained its goal of ensuring positive interaction with members.

This year the team conducted 29 separate meetings; responses from sub-associations and their memberships have been universally positive.

Covenants processed a total of 768 resale packages and one estoppel, adding more than $237,000 of non-assessment revenue to the budget. Covenants processed 1,979 DRB applications; 93% of which were approved, and the team also completed 370 post-DRB property inspections to ensure projects adhered to the approvals received. Covenants processed more than 100 complaints received by RA members on alleged covenants violations.

Covenants also expanded outreach programming to engage condominium associations with dedicated content in each of six issues of the departments Cluster Connect newsletter and engage single family member property owners directly via an in-person open house held at RA’s headquarters in October 2023.

The team launched and maintains a sub-association directory accessible on Reston.org, offering direct points of contact to participating cluster and condominium association, and it completed targeted outreach for members, title companies, and real estate agents to enhance transparency on RA’s resale process, including distribution of a Resales Frequently Asked Questions pamphlet and holding an open house informational and Q&A event.

Additionally, the team finalized revisions to Resolution 5 Covenants Committee Administration & Operations and Resolution 1 Legal Committee Administration & Operations, which were approved by the Board of Directors in June and July 2023 and increased transparency and provided clarity in how each resolution affects process and procedures for members. Covenants staff also proposed 25 additions and 26 revisions to design guidelines to the DRB to reduce review levels and streamline the design review process. Design guideline revisions are ongoing, as is continued outreach to help provide exceptional services to the RA membership.

Moving into 2024, Covenants staff are committed to maintaining and improving exceptional service to customers via additional outreach through Show and Tell, Meet and Greet, and condo-focused event programming; video tutorials and workshops. The team also expects to review and evaluate current Use/ Maintenance Resolutions for updates and make recommendations to the applicable Committees and the Board of Directors and continue to perform resale rechecks and post-DRB reviews to ensure compliance with the Use/Maintenance Standards and Design Covenants the Reston community values.

The team’s premiere outreach offering of Show and Tell cluster and condominium walking tours continued its success.

Human Resources

RA’s Human Resources Department focused largely in 2023 on the Association’s efforts in recruitment, onboarding and training practices, along with an intensive review of the Association’s work-life balance efforts tailored to accommodate flexible hybrid schedules. This strategic approach not only fosters employee satisfaction and engagement but also enables the Association to tap into a broader talent pool and adapt to changing market dynamics. By researching and planning for the implementation of robust onboarding and training programs, Reston Association underscores its commitment to employee success and organizational growth.

The Human Resources Department has focused additional resources and attention on expanding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives. Looking ahead, these efforts will continue to serve as a cornerstone of our organizational culture. Through ongoing training and initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for all employees, we aim to not only enhance employee engagement but also drive innovation and creativity within our workforce while enhancing interdepartmental collaboration, streamlining processes, and leveraging technology to elevate the overall People & Culture experience within the organization.

This commitment to the successful implementation of strategic goals underscores HR’s dedication to fostering a positive workplace culture and achieving organizational excellence. Through ongoing initiatives and continued efforts, the organization is poised for sustained success in attracting, retaining, and developing top talent, ensuring RA’s continued growth and competitiveness in the years to come.

Information Technology

The Information Technology team has been working with multiple groups within the Association and with RA’s IT Committee to plan and implement technology improvements in several key areas. IT worked directly with Communications throughout the year to select a vendor for the new RA website. Design is currently underway with a release expected later in 2024.

The RecTrac system was upgraded this year to include an update to the user interface, new business analytics and the addition of a new payment system that allows members to pay for goods and services using multiple types of credit cards at the various community venues, at Member Services, and online.

More than 90% of members surveyed indicated they were very satisfied with the communication from Member Services.

Microsoft Teams Voice was installed this year for all RA staff, which allows for seamless integration between calls and Teams chats. A new call center service was also implemented for Member Services to improve service delivery for Members.

Member Services

The RecTrac system was upgraded… to an improved user interface, new business analytics and the addition of a new payment system.

The Member Services team worked diligently throughout the year to ensure top-notch customer service to our membership; more than 90% of members surveyed indicated they were very satisfied with the communication from Member Services’ front line staff.

That front line staff also took its welcoming and helpful nature on the road this year by staffing a booth at the Lake Anne Farmers Market to greet members and answer any questions about activities or programs. Member Services staffed the booth with volunteers for a total of 19 weekends in 2023 from 8 a.m. - noon.

Facility rentals, managed by Member Services, also continued to have a strong presence throughout the year.

The team managed a total of 499 rentals at the Conference Center, Lake House, Glade Room and Brown’s Chapel throughout the year, representing 2,245 hours of activity.

Friends of Reston

Established in 1998, Friends of Reston is a 501c3 organization that performs scientific, educational and charitable projects in support of Reston Association. Just a few of the community projects include park improvements, youth scholarships for camp, tennis, pickleball, swimming and nature scholarships, environmental education, and natural area restorations.

In 2023, the Friends made an impactful donation of just over $22,000 for the youth scholarship program thanks to earlier fundraising campaigns like the Red’s Table Roundup, the Friends of Reston Fall 5K, the RTC Holiday train rides and the German Armed Forces Command Christmas market. The RA scholarship program helps sends children in Reston to summer camp.

The Friends also helped to fund the Summer School & Pool program in cooperation with Terraset and Dogwood Elementary Schools. This program provided transportation to free swim lessons for over 50 students. In addition, Friends of Reston supported the Walker Nature Education centers Spring Festival, Environmental Film Series, Corporate Volunteer events, and sponsored the first Winterfest Enchanted Forest providing holiday trees to families in need.

The Friends of Reston joined RA, Public Art Reston and community partners in 2023 to implement a community-wide voting initiative to develop a visible, local symbol memorialized in uniquely decorated sculptures.

This Reston Icon project selected the fox, with an image created by Reston artist Tracie Griffith Tso, as that local symbol. This icon will become a feature of the community, an indelible part of Reston’s public art collection and whimsical reflection of Reston’s environmental ethos.

Looking forward, Friends of Reston are excited to build upon previous success and in the upcoming year, aim to continue current initiatives and create new partnerships to support Reston Association members.

Friends of Reston celebrates its 25th year anniversary

2023 Year End Financial Summary

Revenue and Expenses

• Total revenues increased by $1.8 million (M) versus the 2023 budget and $2.7M on a year-over-year (YoY) basis

º Assessments and Fees - +$351K

º Interest Income up 45% YoY due to favorable interest rate on MMA account opened in 2023

º Overall, Tennis and Aquatic revenue are in line with prior year results and up 5% to ’23 budget

º Camp revenue up 6% compared to ’23 budget. STEM Camp offerings up 25% YoY

º Central Service Facility - +$1.2M

- Increase due primarily to sale of wetlands and stream mitigation credits

• Expenses continue to run under budget by $381K, but total operating expenses increased by $707K on a YoY basis.

º Versus the budget, a majority of the positive variance is lower people costs ($254K) than anticipated. Given the number of senior staff hires made during 2023 and anticipated hires in 2024, this trend will discontinue in 2024.

º On a year-over-year basis, the $707K increase in expenses was driven by:

■ An increase of $668K in people costs (salaries, benefits, and seasonal help);

■ An increase of $119K in a variety of outside professional services supporting management, finance, and computer support. Includes the retention of a virtual Chief Information Officer

Balance Sheet

Cash and Investments

º Cash available to fund operations remains quite strong. Unrestricted cash totaled $4.3M

º Restricted cash (composed of RRRF and CAARF cash and investments, the CAT Fund, Wetland Tax Credits, Stream Mitigation, and deferred compensation) totaled $12.0M

Capital Assets

º Capital assets grew by $2.6M, net of accumulated depreciation, as assets, both new and replacements, were acquired during 2023.

Right To Use Assets (RUA)

º Reston Association has changed the recording of the lease of its corporate headquarters to comply with ASC 842, Accounting for Leases.

■ This accounting pronouncement requires RA to record the present value of its lease obligation over the remaining term of the lease less certain adjustments. In addition, RA has recognized the value of its exclusive use of the space over that same term as an asset.

Total Liabilities

º Except for the lease on the headquarters building, RA has no external long-term debt. The Association’s short-term debt consists of accounts payable and accrued expenses associated with its personnel costs.

º All but 7% of the increase in total liabilities is associated with the accounting for the lease on the headquarters that requires the association to amortize its lease liability over the lease’s term that ends on June 30, 2030.

2023 Financial Statements (unaudited)

2023 Balance Sheet (Unaudited) Assets

2023 Statement of Activities (Unaudited)