In a small but meaningful ceremony, Fairfax City officials gathered with members of the Woman’s Club of Fairfax on Oct. 25, to dedicate a bench in the City’s School Street Park. It’s the only bench in this peaceful park in a residential area between School Street and University Drive and is seen as a welcome addition there.

Representing Fairfax City were Mayor Catherine Read and City Council members Anthony Amos, Rachel McQuillen and Stacy Hall. The latter two pulled double duty, as they’re also members of the Woman’s Club of Fairfax.

“We’re dedicating the bench in memory of all our club members who’ve passed away,” said member Janet Jaworski. “Our club adopted this park in June 2023 through the Parks and Rec Department’s Adopt-A-Spot program; and since then, we’ve helped maintain it.”

She said the club wanted this pocket park to look attractive since “parents walk their kids through here to get to the Daniels Run Elementary school bus on University Drive.” As for the bench, Jaworski said, “We also wanted a place here where people could sit and relax.”

The Woman’s Club of Fairfax has nearly 50 members, and its president is Martha Peacock, who addressed attendees during the dedication ceremony. And after welcoming everyone there, she, too, said the new bench is for all park visitors to use and enjoy.

“The Woman’s Club of Fairfax is a unified group of women brought together for charitable purposes dedicated to enhancing and strengthening this community,” she said. “We’ve been in Fairfax City for almost 70 years, and many amazing women have been a part of our sisterhood.

“Two years ago, under the leadership of our environmental co-chairs, Janet Jaworski and Mary Driver-Downs, we adopted the School Street Park. We meet here quarterly to make sure the weeds are tended, and we’ve planted some new plants to beautify the park.”

“Then we added a whimsical feature to the park with the installation of Roxie, the painted-rock ‘snake,’” continued Peacock. “She welcomes guests when we’re not present and shares rocks to brighten people’s lives. This past year, we added a yellow-tulip garden to heighten awareness in our community of the stigma surrounding mental illness.

“Today we’re pleased to present another addition to the park in the form of a bench which we were able to procure through the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. The funds for it were generated by club members and donors who supported the work of our club. The bench will be a permanent tribute to the many women who’ve been a part of our organization throughout the past 70 years.”

“It will be a tangible invitation to rest, linger and enjoy this lovely park,” said Peacock. “Furthermore, we’ve installed a plaque on the bench commemorating members of our club who are no longer living, but whose lives live on in the work of the club.”