About Reston
Many factors have contributed to the success of Reston as one of the most desirable communities in the Washington area.
Reston Association
The Reston Association (RA), located in Reston, Virginia, is one of the largest community associations in the United States. The community, the dream of Mr. Robert E. Simon, got its start in the early 1960’s and today is home to 60,000 + residents who enjoy a very high quality of life in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. RA is a community service organization, with primary responsibility for the design, use and maintenance of covenants for properties in Reston, but also maintenance of open spaces that encompass 1,350 acres, and other programs that benefit residents. Details of the many programs can be found on the RA website.
Reston news and events from RestonNow
RestonNow publishes information about news and current events in Reston. This is a link to their site.
Planned community
Reston is planned community in Fairfax County, VA. It is not incorporated, and thus it falls under the laws and services of Fairfax County, rather than having its own laws and municipal services. It's master plan details zones for single family, multi-family, and commercial structures, common lands to be held by the Reston Association for the benefit of all members of RA, recreational facilities, and an extensive network of walking paths. Developers are required to adhere to the plan, and to obtain covenants from purchasers of any property or buildings that bind the buyer to the rules of the Association. Over the years, the Reston Association has stayed very close to the original plan, and the result has been a community which has high aesthetic appeal and maintains high property values.
Information based on ZIP code
Here is a link to a fun site with information on the 20194 ZIP code (and other ZIP codes) based on 2005 census data. The link opens in a new browser page.
Fairfax County
Fairfax County enjoys one of the highest average household incomes in the country and offers outstanding educational and recreational facilities. It is home to a number of universities, including George Mason University and Marymount University.
Public transportation
Reston is served by the Silver Line of the Washington Metro system, and buses to other surrounding communities and Pentagon City (during commuter hours). These routes are designated as "North County" routes of the Fairfax Connector and are detailed here (opens in a new browser window). Note that these schedules and routes are all in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format and require Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free here.
This link also provides general information about fares, transfers, SmarTrip fare cards and other information of interest to the traveler. Citizens 65 years of age and older can obtain an ID card that entitles them to discounted fares and the ability to purchase special senior SmarTrip cards that automatically register discounted fares on buses and the Washington Metro system.
Depending on the time of day, Silver Line trains depart every 24 minutes or less from the Reston East/Wiehle Avenue station. The first stops are at Tysons Corner, and it takes only about 40 minutes to get from the Reston East station to Metro Center in downtown Washington.
Schools
Students who live in Heather Knoll are assigned to the following schools:
| School Level | School Name | School Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELEMENTARY | Buzz Aldrin Elementary School profile | homepage | map |
11375 Center Harbor Road Reston, VA 20194 |
703-904-3800 |
| MIDDLE | Herndon Middle School profile | homepage | map |
901 Locust Street Herndon, VA 20170 |
703-904-4800 |
| HIGH | Herndon High School profile | homepage | map |
700 Bennett Street Herndon, VA 20170 |
703-810-2200 |
These schools are all part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system, which is the 12th largest school system in the country. Fairfax County maintains an excellent school system, and its Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (magnet school) is rated as the best in the country. Entrance to Thomas Jefferson High School is on a highly competitive basis.
Representatives
Residents of Heather Knoll are represented in the US Senate by Sen. Tim Kaine (D) and Sen. Mark Warner (D), US House of Representatives by Rep. Gerry Connolly, Virginia Senate by Sen. Janet Howell (D), Virginia House of Delegates by Delegate Ken Plum (D), and Fairfax Board of Supervisors by Supervisor Kathy Hudgins. Sen. Janet Howell and Delegate Ken Plum both live in Reston.
Click here for
contact information for all
of these representatives.
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