Plaque Honors Late Vienna Leaders After Trust Helps Build Sidewalks

VIENNA, VA — The late Mayor Charles Robinson and his wife, the late Town Councilmember Maud Robinson are being honored with a new plaque in Vienna.

The plaque is in front of the 124 Courthouse Road SW property, which had been home to Charles and Maud Robinson, Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert said in a video update. Charles Robinson served as mayor from 1976 to his death in 2000, and Maud Robinson joined Town Council after his death from 2000 to 2009. She died in 2019. The Town of Vienna bought the property in 2019 to consider it for park land and other uses.

The plaque honors a contribution from Maud Robinson in the form of a trust. The majority of Maud Robinson's trust — about $7 million — was left to fund sidewalks where they weren't planned or funded in the Town of Vienna.

"What we did is we have a plaque in front of their property thanking them for the generous gift and for all the wonderful sidewalks we have for people of all ages and all abilities to walk on," said Colbert.

In January, the town reported that sidewalk projects funded by the trust have been completed. The trust helped the town provide more than six miles of new sidewalk segments, according to the town. Some of the major roadways receiving new segments of sidewalk were Courthouse Road, Lawyers Road, Beulah Road and Follin Lane.

The town is pursuing additional sidewalk projects in 2025, with 1.4 miles of sidewalks funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds and 1.3 miles from the capital budget. The town's comprehensive plan has a long-term goal of providing sidewalks on both sides of all streets.