It’s now the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s
The Board of Supervisors on July 16 approved a motion by Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez to rename the Bailey’s Community Center the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s.
The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services chose that name after a community engagement process. The supervisors had earlier approved a motion to rename the center for Minnie Peyton, who was known as the matriarch of the Black community of Springdale.
Related story: A local Black community honors its history
The community center, at 5920 Summers Lane in Bailey’s Crossroads, is the central gathering place in Springdale.
After Minnie Hungerford Peyton (1889-1985) and her sister Florence Green purchased five acres of land in Springdale, they donated part of that property in 1954 for the construction of a school for Black children. The Fairfax County School Board opened the Lillian Carey Elementary School on that property in 1956.
The school building was later incorporated into the Bailey’s Community Center, which opened in 1978.
An official renaming ceremony will be held this fall.
Great, you renamed it! Now what about the dangerous conditions that surround it, such that life-long residents choose not to visit?
Oh, the irony.
That is similar to the comments we heard before the center was built in 1978. The center is visited daily by life long residents, as well as new residents who come from all over the world. We don’t have security guards and policemen station there for security. The folks seem to get along fine with each other. If the community was bad, do you think we would have a day care center and an after school program there? I found that most of the complaints came from folks who didn’t go due to unfounded fear. We should be, and most are, I believe, thankful that Mrs Peyton donated and sold the land to the school by and/or county to help pave the way for a nice facility and grounds that serve as a melting pot for new and old citizens of the community.
Im proud to hear of the donation of land property for the the school at Baily’s Please share o picture if possible of Mrs Peyton an or Mrs Green. Their selfless ness shall continuously be appreciated
Congratulations Alyse! and thank you also former Us Representative Jim Moran.
Amen Mr. Bryant! I’ve been in this community for over 50 years. My husband and his family are rooted in this community! My husband graduated from high school, our sons as well and now my granddaughters will be part of that history.
Those of you who don’t know about our community, come visit and experience for yourself. If you are a senior, come join them at the community center. If you need exercise, come experience our fitness center. After school programs for our children… I could go on and on but seeing is believing!
Is there a fee for out- of-area residents to use the pool?
There is no pool.