In Honor of Fran Wallingford

Families visiting Eakin Park off Prosperity will soon notice a new bench, honoring longtime friend, neighbor,
MCA board member, and land-use expert Fran Wallingford, thanks to a joint donation by the MCA and Pine
Ridge Civic Association.

Fran passed away two years ago on October 7, 2023. It’s hard to measure her impact in Fairfax, both large and
small. One tribute after her death lauded her impact on major developments, including Mosaic, with quotes
from Supervisors around the county. Another from her neighbors in Pine Ridge noted her contributions to land
use close to home, including protecting Pine Ridge from becoming a “cut through community.”

For the MCA, Fran was a welcome voice of patience, reason, and kindness. At the start of my own tenure at
MCA, Fran shared her knowledge of zoning over breakfast and long, weekly phone calls. She had a gift for
personalizing the language of land use that is rare in an industry of lawyers and wonks. She never referred to
“green space,” but instead talked about “places for a kid to kick a ball.” For her, land was always about the
people who used it. The MCA hopes that when you visit Eakin, you have a chance to remember Fran and her
commitment to the people who live here.