Department of Parks and Recreation
Under Construction
Eads Park Field Improvements and Path Installation | Henry Wright Park | High View Playground Renovation | James Hunter Park | Penrose Square | Westover Park Rectangular Field - Replacement of Bermuda Sod
| Project: Long Bridge Drive Location: Long Bridge Park between 12th Street South to just south of Boundary Channel Drive Contact: Robert E. Capper, 703-228-3337 Funding: FY 2004 Park Bond Status: On December 15, 2009, the Arlington County Board approved a $23.7 million to construct a new park, called Long Bridge Park and to reconstruct Long Bridge Drive, then called Old Jefferson Davis Highway. The reconstruction of Long Bridge Drive has taken much longer than expected due to the extraordinary lengthy time it was taken to underground overhead utilities and existing underground utilities into a common duct bank. Start Date: March 2012 End Date: Winter 2012 Description: Reconstruction of a section of Long Bridge Drive will implement a transportation corridor that provides safe and efficient multimodal access to and through the Long Bridge Park recreation area. It is intended that the reconstructed roadway and intersections will complement the recreational facilities and amenities and provide gateways from the south and the north to Long Bridge Park. |
| Project: Eads Park Field Improvements and Path Installation Location: 2730 South Eads Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202 Contact: Bernadette Grullon, 703-228-3335 Funding: Pay-As-You-Go Capital Maintenance FY2011 Status: Project is completed. Field will remain closed until August/September 2012. Start Date: September 2011 End Date: December 2011 Description: The improvements at Eads Park are complete. The replacement of the turf, installation of the irrigation, retaining wall and accessible paths, bleachers and trash receptacles are done. And it looks great! However, the field will remain closed until approximately August 2012 allowing the sod to establish well. |
Project: Henry Wright Park (Formerly called Buckingham Village I Park) Location: 4350 4th Street N Contact: Diane Probus, 703-228-0787 Funding: IDA Revenue Bonds under Community Conservation Funding Status: Under Construction Start Date: October 2011 End Date: Spring 2012 Description: Construction has begun on the new public park in Buckingham Village I Development which is now called Henry Wright Park. The park was named after Henry Wright who was the Chief Architect who designed the historic Buckingham Village I garden apartments. The oval shaped park will have a fenced playground at one end of the park with play apparatus for children from 2 to 12 years old, two grassed open spaces for casual play, 4 picnic tables, 2 game tables, benches around the perimeter of the park, landscaping, lighted walkways through the park and an historic sign commemorating the history of the Buckingham Villages Garden Apartments. | |
(click images to enlarge) | Project: High View Playground Renovation Location: 1938 North Dinwiddie Street Contact: Aaron Wohler, 703-228-7928 Funding: Parks Maintenance Capitol Status: County Board Vote on January 21, 2012 Start Date: Spring 2012 End Date: Summer 2012 Description: The renovation at High View Park will focus on the playground portion of the park. New play equipment, site furnishings, picnic area(s), and enhanced plantings will be implemented according to current ADA standards. Repairs and renovations to the basketball court, court lighting system, and light poles for the athletic fields were completed this Spring. More Info: High View Park Playground Reconstruction Preliminary Plan (1.4 MB PDF) |
Final Site Plan | Project: James Hunter Park Location: 1299 N. Herndon Street Contact: Scott McPartlin, 703-228-0929 Status: Under Construction Start Date: Late June, 2012 End Date: Late February, 2013 Description: In an effort to provide long term, sustainable and 'green' solutions for County parks, many design, construction, and best management practices are being utilized and implemented in our most recent projects, including James Hunter Park. Here we are incorporating a water management system that will effectively collect and purify rainwater from the entire site and store it in a large underground cistern. From there, it can be used to maintain a constant supply of water for irrigation. Further, this passive subsurface irrigation system uses capillary physics and gravity to deliver water and nutrients to plants through a series of inter-connected chambers. To add to its efficiency, the system will be automated, using pumps and monitoring equipment to reduce unnecessary or excessive over watering and conserve water. Further, the County is taking the opportunity to increase the sustainability of its parks by using alternative energy technologies. The County has collaborated with Alfred State College (ASC) of NY, leaders in training and development in the field of alternative energy technologies, to integrate renewable energy sources (solar power)into the park. ASC is providing design guidance, training, and installation of the solar system. This system will provide power to the pumps and controllers for the subsurface irrigation and water management system, as well as the park water feature. ASC will also aid Thoughtbarn in integrating solar technologies into the park signage, for lighting and display purposes. Thoughtbarn, a multidisciplinary design firm, has been brought aboard to design, fabricate, and install the park signage, as part of a Public Art project. Utilizing a unique approach to integrating form, text, iconography, and alternative energy sources, TB has created signage that provides effective information and direction, encourages the learning experience, creates a sense of place, and enhances the over-all image of the park. This park project strives to be on the forefront of sustainability by utilizing permeable paving surfaces, alternative energy, managing and recycling stormwater for use throughout the park, and incorporating recycled materials into construction. |
Concept Plans | Project: Penrose Square - Phase I Location: 2503 Columbia Pike (In front of the new Penrose Square Development) Contacts: Diane Probus, 703-228-0787 Funding: PAY-AS-YOU-GO Capital Funds and General Obligation Bond Funds Status: Under Construction Start Date: January 2012 End Date: Fall 2012 Description: As part of the County's ongoing effort to revitalize the Columbia Pike Corridor, a County effort is underway to create a new town square. Penrose Square, the first of three squares that will eventually be located in the Columbia Pike Corridor, will be an active pedestrian center and community gathering spot within the corridor's Town Center. Public Square Design Phase I will have a tree-covered, upper terrace with movable tables and chairs; an inner plaza with a water feature; a unique two piece sculpture called "Echo"; an inscription of the historic significance of the site, and a grass mound area shaded with trees for informal seating. The square's landscape will include 20 trees (16 within the terrace area) and the other 4 trees shading the grass mound. Gardens within the square and along the edge of the property wall will have crepe myrtles, holly, decorative grasses and a variety of flowering bulbs to provide seasonal colors. A Phase II expansion of the square is planned which will increase the size of the square and the size of the features included in Phase I. Sustainable Features The tree terrace area will have Silva Cells installed beneath the surface to facilitate stormwater runoff filtration into the soil while providing maximum soil volume for root growth. The Silva Cells prevent compaction of the soil so that tree roots are protected and also help to retain water to sustain the trees during dry periods. A portion of the square will have a water feature designed to shoot thin jets of water 5 – 12 feet into the air from the pavers. The water feature will enhance the square by providing the movement and sounds of water and make an enjoyable place for people to visit. The water from the fountain will be collected, treated and then reused in the fountain again to conserve water. Super Stop Station The square will also have a new Super Stop Station located along the front sidewalk of the square which will support the current Pike Ride system as well as future generations of transit that are planned for Columbia Pike. More Info: Columbia Pike Initiative |
| Project: Westover Park Rectangular Field - Replacement of Bermuda Sod Location: 1001 N. Kennebec Street, Arlington, VA 22205 Contact: Robert E. Capper, 703-228-3337 Funding: FY2012, Parks Maintenance Capital Status: In Design Start Date: Spring 2012 End Date: Summer 2012 Description: This project will replace the Bermuda sod on the rectangular field. Benches adjacent to the field will also be replaced. Construction for this project is scheduled to begin in May 2012. Completion is scheduled for Summer of 2012. |
