Connecting Communities and Parks (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

Connecting Communities and Parks
Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail

The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail (GCCCT) connects communities from the Potomac River in Great Falls to the Occoquan River in Lorton along its 41.5-mile route. Winding through stream valleys located in every supervisory district in Fairfax County, the GCCCT links public land owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority, National Park Service, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, City of Fairfax, and Reston. The GCCCT is named in honor of former Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly, whose steadfast leadership and support led to the completion of the trail in 2005. Chairman Connolly was instrumental in acquiring thousands of acres of former Lorton Reformatory property which included the southern terminus for the GCCCT. Thanks to the former chairman's efforts, residents now enjoy the trail's scenic beauty throughout the year.

"This project is a true example of what can happen when the local community, volunteers, and our elected officials work together. Thanks to that effort we are leaving behind a real gem for future generations to enjoy." -- Gerry Connolly - Former Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Marker Erected by Fairfax County Park Authority.


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Here is a biography of Congressman Gerald Connolly as written on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Gerald Edward Connolly (born March 30, 1950) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 11th congressional district, first elected in 2008. The district is anchored in Fairfax County, an affluent suburban county west of Washington, D.C. It includes all of Fairfax City and part of Prince William County. Connolly is a Democrat.

Early life and education:
Connolly graduated from Maryknoll College in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with a B.A. in literature in 1971, and completed a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School in 1979.

Career:
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Connolly worked from 1979 to 1989 with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where he managed committee oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control, and United Nations and Middle East policies, and published reports on U.S. policy in El Salvador, Central America, Israel, and the Persian Gulf region. From 1989 to 1997, he was Vice President of the Washington Office of SRI International. He was also Director of Community Relations for SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation).

In local politics, Connolly served on the Fairfax Government Reorganization Commission from 1992 to 1993. In 1995, he was elected Providence District Supervisor, serving for nine years.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors:
Connolly during 2015 Fairfax City Independence Day parade
Connolly's career as a public official began on March 28, 1995, when he won a special election for the Providence District seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, defeating Republican Jeannemarie A. Devolites. A rematch against Devolites in November of that same year saw Connolly reelected to a full four-year term on the board. Connolly ran unopposed for reelection in November 1999. He was elected Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2003 and reelected in 2007.

As chairman of the ten-member board, Connolly balanced a $4.5 billion budget and managed a county that would be the nation's 13th-largest city, 12th-largest school district, and sixth-largest office market. He served as chairman of the county's Legislative Committee and vice-chair of the Economic Advisory Committee. Connolly also served as chairman of the board of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), and was chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). He also chaired the region's Emergency Preparedness Taskforce and represented Fairfax County on the board of the Virginia Association of Counties (VaCo), where he also served as president.

Connolly and his wife have lived in Mantua since 1979.

Connolly is also a company member of The Providence Players of Fairfax, a community theatre in Fairfax County, having acted in several of their shows.