Case Study
🏞️ Lake Accotink Preservation Study, Fairfax County, Virginia
Client Profile
Fairfax County is one of Virginia’s largest and most diverse jurisdictions, known for its commitment to sustainable planning and community engagement. In 2024, the County launched the Lake Accotink Preservation Study to explore long-term strategies for maintaining and enhancing this vital natural asset.
To support this effort, Fairfax County partnered with PRR, Inc. to lead public outreach and communications. Under the direction of Marshall Bell, the campaign prioritized inclusive engagement, transparent messaging, and data-driven feedback collection.
The project reflects Fairfax County’s dedication to environmental resilience and collaborative governance.
https://publicinput.com/lake-accotink-preservation
The Challenge
Lake Accotink is a beloved natural and recreational resource in Fairfax County, facing long-term environmental and infrastructure challenges. As the County explored preservation strategies, it needed a comprehensive public engagement campaign to inform residents, gather meaningful input, and build consensus around future opportunities.
The challenge was to reach a diverse population with clear, accessible information and create space for community voices in a process that would shape the lake’s future.
The Solution
As Project Manager, Marshall Bell led a multidisciplinary team across four PRR practice areas: community engagement, research, language services, and creative studio. The team developed a robust public outreach plan that included:
-
A custom-built project website to centralize updates and resources
-
An online survey to collect public feedback on preservation options
-
A suite of communications materials including flyers, posters, FAQs, and social media content
-
Multilingual messaging and translation services to ensure inclusive participation
The campaign emphasized transparency, accessibility, and responsiveness, aligning with Fairfax County’s commitment to community-driven planning.
The Results
The Lake Accotink Preservation Study campaign successfully engaged residents across Fairfax County and created meaningful opportunities for public input on the future of one of the region’s most valued natural assets.
-
Through a combination of in-person outreach and digital engagement, the campaign invited community members to share their views on environmental preservation, recreational access, and long-term sustainability.
-
The online survey, hosted on a dedicated project website, allowed residents to participate at their convenience and helped remove barriers often associated with traditional public meetings.
-
Multilingual materials, including translated flyers, FAQs, and social media posts, ensured that non-English-speaking communities were informed and empowered to contribute.
This inclusive approach generated valuable insights for county planners and strengthened public trust in the decision-making process.
By prioritizing transparency, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness, the campaign laid a strong foundation for future planning efforts and demonstrated Fairfax County’s commitment to collaborative environmental stewardship.
