The new Dean Park is well on its way to completion, with the fields and courts on track to open in March 2025 following a years-long planning and renovation process.
The new park is part of the new Jennie Dean Elementary School, which will be replacing the existing Jennie Dean building on the same lot in Manassas. Designs for the new building were approved in February, and there were disagreements between City Council and the Manassas City Public School Board about the future of the existing building in the spring.
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If you don't plan on voting early, make sure to double-check your current polling place on the Virginia Department of Elections website. On Election Day, polling places will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Here's a comprehensive list of early voting locations along with ways to access sample ballots.
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The City of Manassas has several boards and commissions that work to inform City Council's decisions by studying issues, plans and policies.
There are several vacancies in Manassas, and here's a comprehensive list of the immediate openings with the roles and responsibilities. If any of these positions are of interest, there's an application and interview process for each.
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From Lynn Forkell Greene, Manassas City Council candidate:
Three years ago, I joined a grassroots movement to save the Greater Manassas Baseball League (GMBL), an organization that serves as the heart and soul of our local sports community. Today, GMBL stands on the precipice of an uncertain future. The crucial question now is: Will Micron move forward with its option to purchase the E.G. Smith Baseball Complex, or will they stand down? Why have the current Council and Interim City Manager been so silent toward the GMBL Board?
For me, preserving GMBL isn’t just about baseball—it’s about standing up for transparency, integrity, and authentic representation in Manassas.
When GMBL was threatened by a public sale, I mobilized parents, players, and local supporters, making it clear that youth sports are integral to our community’s identity and the development of our children. Thanks to these efforts, GMBL’s advocates managed to secure renewed Council commitment to preserving our fields and youth sports. But now, more than ever, we must continue the fight.
This moment represents more than the future of GMBL; it’s a choice for Manassas residents. Will we elect leaders who genuinely reflect our values, or allow those in power to prioritize hidden agendas? The Micron deal with the city expires this week, and yet City Hall has maintained years of silence despite public assurances of a new home for GMBL. Micron now waits on a city response, and the stakes have never been higher.
Micron’s decision looms: will they prioritize corporate interests over their promises, or honor their commitments until we have leaders who represent us effectively? GMBL’s fate—and by extension, our community’s future—rests on who we elect in this coming election. If Micron proceeds with the purchase, GMBL will need a new home, and current city leaders will have failed to keep their word.
The ongoing issues surrounding GMBL and Micron’s role highlight the power of democracy rooted in accountability. My advocacy has shown that as constituents, we must demand transparency and genuine representation. Election day is our opportunity to ensure our voices are heard.
This movement is bigger than one baseball league; it’s about preserving democracy and reinforcing community values. By casting your vote, you uphold these principles and demand leadership that works for all of us.
Manassas City voters can cast their ballots early through Saturday at the Registrar’s office at 9025 Center Street or at their regular polling places on election day, Tuesday, November 5.
Let’s make the right choice for our city’s future.
Forkell Greene, a Republican, is seeking her first full term on the council after she won a special election in November 2021 to complete the term of then-council member Michelle Davis Younger, who was elected city mayor in 2020. Forkell Greene’s term expired in December 2022.
As early voting continues across the area, the voter turnout for 2024 reflects shifts in participation compared to previous election cycles, with mixed trends between mail-in and in-person ballots.
Manassas Park Overview
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Prince William County Parks and Recreation partnered with Amazon Web Services InCommunites, a sector of the cloud-based service that helps local communities, and KABOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending playspace inequity, to make the new Fairmont Park playground possible.
The playground was designed by 30 children from Prince William County who shared drawings of their dream space. Demolition on the existing playground started in early October, and the playground was just recently completed following a week-long effort by volunteers to construct the new space.
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Keen said city staff has been discussing the strain hosting several events has on the city's infrastructure and their workload.
"We have been a victim of our own successes," Keen said. "All of our events, when we first started [First Friday], we were just hopeful to get a few people to come to Old Town. ... We're so crowded. But what that has caused ... is the strain on our infrastructure for some of the locations, the strain on our staff and the strain on our community as a whole."
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Jennifer Chapman, Ed.D., the new Osbourn High School principal, gave a lengthy presentation to the School Board on Oct. 22 about the school's accreditation, new policies and student performance.
Chapman, who started at Osbourn this summer, was before the Board for nearly 1.5 hours during the three-hour meeting. She acknowledged that OHS wasn't in the best position.
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The Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Osbourn High School is a shining example of how Manassas City Public Schools are preparing students for both college and careers by offering practical, hands-on learning experiences. The program covers a variety of fields, including health sciences, information technology, automotive technology, welding, and cosmetology, helping students gain the technical skills they need to thrive in today’s job market.
During a Potomac Local News forum held on October 17, 2024, Maidy Whitesell, a school board candidate and longtime community volunteer, highlighted the need for expanding the program to meet student demand. "There’s a lot of interest in fields like plumbing and electrical work. These are valuable skills, not just for immediate employment but for life in general. We should continue to expand the program to give our students more opportunities to succeed," Whitesell said during a recent town hall forum on Manassas City schools.
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