Board Members

Jeffrey C. Fracher, Ph.D., a retired Clinical Psychologist, was in practice as a clinical and forensic psychologist for 44 years in New Jersey and Virginia. He is a native Virginian, having grown up in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He has lived in Charlottesville for almost 40 years where he has been active in the community and a beneficiary of its beautiful parks system. He lives with his wife of 52 years, Kay, and his two beloved rescued Golden Retrievers. He has two adult sons. In addition to leading the Parks Foundation, he is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at the University of Virginia. He is a volunteer bereavement group facilitator at Hospice of the Piedmont. He also serves on the City of Charlottesville Police Civilian Oversight Board as vice-chair.

Heather has been actively involved in numerous community organizations and served on the Charlottesville City Council from 2018-2021. She is an alumnus of Virginia Tech, where she majored in Industrial and Systems Engineering, as well as UVA’s Darden School of Business. Her work experience in operations, process development, and brand management spans large corporations, small businesses, and start ups. Heather also loves (literally!) being active, including training for and completing multiple half Ironman triathalons. She highly values the role recreation and trail connectivity can play in a healthy, vibrant community for all generations. Along with her husband and three children, she enjoys embracing the outdoor ammenities Charlottesville has to offer and is eager to work towards strengthening and expaning to City's recreational assets.

Peggy has spent most of her career devoted to improving children’s’ education and the environment. As a landscape architect, for 40 years she and her husband had their own company, Van Yahres Associates, designing college campuses. She has served on many educational and environmental boards including, the City’s School Board, Parks and Rec Advisory Board, Board of Architectural Review, Ready Kids, the City’s Tree Commission and Trades and Tech Education Foundation. She now serves as chair of ReLeaf Cville, which works to increase the tree canopy in Charlottesville by planting and preserving trees and educating young people about the value of trees and nature in the City. Thus, serving on the Charlottesville Parks Foundation is a continuation of her love of the environment and young children.

Adam enjoys spending time in Charlottesville’s many parks, where nature, history, and community intersect. This appreciation for shared spaces and their role in connecting people and stories also informs his work as Director of Grants and Fellowships at Virginia Humanities. In this position, he leads the strategy, administration, and oversight of the organization’s grants and fellowships, supporting public humanities work across the Commonwealth. His passion for ensuring access to cultural and community spaces naturally extends to his interest in supporting the Charlottesville Parks Foundation and its mission.

Tina has been Executive Director of Camp Holiday Trails for 21 years and counting. Her professional work of providing outdoor access to kids and teens with medical challenges combines with her personal commitment to equitable and open access to high quality and well cared for natural spaces in the Cville community. She and her family live across from one of Cville's beautiful public parks and are frequent participants in Parks & Rec programs. In addition to a background in fundraising and facilities manangement, she is highly interested in ensuring our Parks & Rec staff can successfully bring to fruition key projects from the Master Plan.

Bellamy Brown is a Charlottesville native and has contributed to our community in many positive ways; having served on various boards and in leadership roles. A graduate of James Madison University, with professional studies coursework via the University of Virginia, he seeks to contribute once again through the Charlottesville Parks Foundation

Born and raised in Charlottesville, Ned has always enjoyed the outdoors, including spending time in our City Parks and greenspaces. He has served more than a decade on the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board including as Chairperson for 4 years. He has also served on the Rivanna Trails Foundation (RTF) Board since 2004. Over the years, he has served on other Community Boards as well, including the School Board for 14 years. His day job is as a solo practitioner lawyer.

Katie Lockhart serves as the staff liaison from the Charlottesville Parks & Recreation Department. In her role as Deputy Director of Parks, she oversees the hardworking staff responsible for landscaping, maintenance, custodial, the Downtown Mall, planning and projects. A native North Carolinian, Katie is a recent transplant to Charlottesville. While she’s lived in Raleigh the past 12 years, she grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is grateful to be able to see mountains again. She loves to be outside – particularly hiking and paddling – and has thoroughly enjoyed exploring all the outdoor recreation opportunities Charlottesville and the surrounding area have to offer.