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Gum Springs Community Center
NEW GUM SPRINGS CIVIC ASSOCIATION (NGSCA)
NGSCA represents the residents of Gum Springs, which is the oldest African American community in Fairfax County, VA.  

Gum Springs is within walking distance of shopping, Sherwood Regional Library, INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital, Mount Vernon Governmental Center that houses the Mount Vernon Police Station and the Mount Vernon Magisterial District Supervisor Office and churches of various denominations to include Bethlehem Baptist Church, Harvest Assembly Baptist Church, St. John Baptist Church, Woodlawn-Faith UMC, Cornerstone Church of Christ, Greater Morning Star Apostolic Church and Mt. Vernon Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Gum Springs
Established 1833
​The oldest African American community in Fairfax County
Things Get Solved
When You Get Involved!

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR COMMUNITY PARK - OPENING INFORMATION
​Martin Luther King Park 
The MLK Park will be opened for the Memorial Day weekend with the following restrictions:
  • No use of the athletic field;
  • No use of the playground; 
  • No events that may bring large gatherings; and
  • The sheltered/pavilion will be open without permits.
Music will be allowed as long as there is a reasonable volume level.  Therefore, visitors should be respectful by keeping music within the earshot of their area and not infringe on other visitors in the park.  Also, groups are limited to 10 and to maintain social distancing.
​Martin Luther King Pool
Although the Fairfax County Park Authority recently announced the opening of its parks, Fairfax County is currently at Phase Zero and public pool openings are not included.  It is anticipated that the County may transition to Phase One on May 29th. 
    The opening of public pools to include the MLK pool will be based on CDC guidelines and the feasibility for configuring the MLK pool for the safety of staff and visitors.  These guidelines are to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to protect staff and visitors. 
    For example, the MLK pool has a capacity to accommodate at least 100 visitors at one time.  
Based on restrictions because of the current environment, the MLK pool would need to be reconfigured to install lanes--one visitor per lane for 10 lanes. 
​     This reconfiguration may only accommodate 20 visitors at the pool but only 10 visitors for lane use at one time.  Visitors would also be on a time limit for use of the pool.  There are other restrictive conditions such as rescue training for the reconfiguration. 
      Therefore based on the restrictions to include CDC recommendations for public pool openings, it has been determined  by the Park Authority and supported by the New Gum Springs Civic Association that it is not safe to open the MLK Pool for the summer of 2020.​
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK - RECOGNIZING MOUNT VERNON'S FINEST!
​Citizens Watch aka Window Watchers for a Safer Community
There is an ad hoc Citizens Watch Group in Gum Springs.  The Group would like to extend their "Watch" by having residents record any suspicious activity in their area of the community. 

Extending the Watch provides a safer perimeter within the community.  It's simple, easy and you can remain anonymous.

The Group records the activity and the information is provided to the Mount Vernon Police.  Citizen involvement is welcomed by the police.  Police visibility has had an impact in the area of this particular citizens watch group.  The window watchers were so thankful they sent the police a bowl of "sweets".  The police responded with a letter of thanks.  Click on the pdf below to read the Letter of Thanks from the Mount Vernon Police.  This is truly a great relationship between community and police. 

​The President, NGSCA is the liaison between the residents and police.  Citizens may remain anonymous, which has been successful for the current citizen watch group.  
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If you would like to be a part of the "window" citizen watch group, complete the online form below or send an email to president@ngsca.org.  Your information will be considered confidential and will not be shared.
letter_of_thanks_from_police.pdf
File Size: 455 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Window Watcher Form for a Safer Community

COVID-19 Information

Information about coronavirus is constantly changing.  Click here for Fairfax County COVID-19 information.
UPDATE:  IRS postpones the due date for making Federal income tax payments from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020.  Click here to read IR-2020-58 dated March 21, 2020.  

All Site Specific Plan Amendment Task Force meetings have been cancelled through April 23rd due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  All meetings will be re-scheduled once County Buildings re-open and social distancing restrictions are lifted.  Click here to track the nomination opposed by Gum Springs - PC-19-MV-004.  Information is also posted below.

Update on Developer/Nominator of Property in Gum Springs
During the December 10, 2019 community meeting, a developer/nominator provided a presentation on property he nominated in Gum Springs under Fairfax County Site Specific Plan Amendment process that closed on December 3, 2019.  The nominations were not supported by the community. 

​On January 8, 2020, the developer/nominator revised the footprint and removed the properties objected by the homeowners but not the density and type and resubmitted his nomination.  The nomination now includes 12 parcels for 11.24 acres or 489,614 sq. ft. for 190 residential units.  The current zoning category is for no more than 3-to-4 dwelling units per acre.  The developer/nominator is proposing 30 units at 8-to-12 dwelling units per acre and 160 units at 16-to-20 dwelling units per acre.  Do the math! 

​On February 11th, the Gum Springs community opposed the proposed development nomination.
Click on the pdf file below to view the Gum Springs resolution opposing PC-19-MV-004.
resolution_on_gum_springs_property_for_pc19-mv-004.pdf
File Size: 157 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Click here to sign up for eNews to stay current about Gum Springs
Scroll to end of page for Upcoming Calendar of Events and to post YOUR event!
Support Gum Springs by donating today!  It's safe and easy via PayPal.  Click on the Donate button!
Note:  Although NGSCA is a 501(c)(4) IRS tax exempt organization, your donation is not deductible.  However, your donation will be greatly appreciated!  All funds are used for solely to support and communicate with the community led by a cadre of volunteers. So, please consider making a donation.
Be Proud You Live in Gum Springs! 
Know who speaks and represents the Gum Springs community.  It's not your Condo or HOA!!!
NOTE:  When developers and certain Fairfax County agencies/organizations/staff solicit support from HOAs in the Gum Springs community and not the official organization representing Gum Springs--The New Gum Springs Civic Association, it's an old trick to create divisiveness within the community.  HOAs should read their covenants carefully because HOAs have no authority to represent Gum Springs unless sanctioned by the Civic Association.  No HOA has been given such authority or sanctioned by the Civic Association. The Civic Association represents the HOAs in matters that affects the Gum Springs community.  For more about who represents Gum Springs, click here.
​Click here to view the draft Gum Springs Conservation Plan submitted to Fairfax County during August 2015.  As of today, Gum Springs is still waiting for a response from Fairfax County Redevelopment & Housing Authority and Fairfax County Department of Planning & Zoning.
Click here to view the Gum Springs Redevelopment Plan which is a guiding document for proposed development/redevelopment projects in Gum Springs.

​Gum Springs was not transformed from a “muddy hole” to a diverse community overnight.  The Gum Springs Conservation Plan and Neighborhood Improvement Plan were instrumental in what you see as Gum Springs today.

There are residents who are totally unaware of the history of Gum Springs.  Some may also feel they do not live in Gum Springs.  If you are “bounded” by Richmond Highway, Boswell Avenue/Schellhorn Road/Sherwood Hall Lane/Holland Road and Little Hunting Creek, then you LIVE IN GUM SPRINGS!

​As an ongoing effort to provide the history of the oldest African-American community in Fairfax County, we have put together a small series of documents and videos about the community in which you live—GUM SPRINGS—for your viewing pleasure on the community website.

Click here to view the video "A Certain Pride" and Click here to view the video "A Slave's Legacy."  There are four parts to A Slave's Legacy (Part II, Part III and Part IV).
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Click here to view a short video by Fairfax County Celebrating its 275th spotlighting Gum Springs​
​To read articles about Gum Springs, click on the document name:
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The UCM connection to Gum Springs

​A Place in Virginia Called Gum Springs printed in the New York Times on November 8, 1985

Gum Springs Working to Balance Past, Future printed in the Washington Post on September 10, 1988

The Price of Progress in Gum Springs printed in the Washington Post on December 19, 1994

Founded with Links to the Founding Fathers On Land Bought by a Washington Slave, the Roots Run Deep printed in the Washington Post on October 27, 2007

​​Faces of Gum Springs published in the Connection Newspapers (Mount Vernon Gazette) on February 19, 2015 

​Click here to view the video "A Certain Pride" and Click here to view the video "A Slave's Legacy."  There are four parts to A Slave's Legacy.
​
Click here to view a short video by Fairfax County Celebrating its 275th spotlighting Gum Springs.​​
To list your community event on the community calendar, click on Suggest an Event link below.