Current Happenings at Long Bridge Park

Park is Now Open
Long Bridge Park opened on Saturday, November 5, 2011. 

New Name for Old Jefferson Davis Highway
At the June 21, 2011 Long Bridge Park Design Advisory Committee meeting, committee members heard a presentation from County staff on the possibilities of renaming Old Jefferson Davis Highway. A presentation was given that included two potential options, South Clark Street or Fort Runyon Drive.

Design Work Starting
Based on the guidance received by the County Board at the December 7, 2010 Work Session, design work on the Aquatics, Health & Fitness Facility and site began in February 2011. It is expected to take between 16 and 19 months to complete the design work which will result in construction documents, which would then be bid out for construction services. It is anticipated that construction on the facility will begin in 2013 depending on available funding. During the design of the Facility and Site the Long Bridge Park Design Advisory Committee will hold periodic meetings to advise staff and the County's consultants on the direction and details of the design work. Schedule of upcoming meetings.

Staff and the Long Bridge Park Design Advisory Committee working with the County's consultant team have begun to explore the evolution of the site and Aquatics, Health & Fitness Facility based on the guidance received by the County Board in late 2010. Modifications to the buildings architecture and floor plans are being refined.

Renderings (click to enlarge)

Long Bridge Park Design Advisory Committee Confirms Key Elements of Program and Design
On December 7, 2010 the County Board and the Long Bridge Park Design Advisory committee held a Work Session to discuss multiple issues associated with the direction of the County's and Commitee's upcoming design initiative for the Long Bridge Park Aquatics, Health & Fitness Facility and site. At the Work Session the Committee: received confirmation on the key elements of the program and design of Phase I of the Long Bridge Park Aquatics, Health and Fitness Facility and site; provided an interim report on energy efficiency initiatives, and; obtained the County Board guidance needed to proceed expeditiously with an updated design.

• Read the Committee's Recommendations to the County Board (29 KB PDF)
• See the Committee's PowerPoint presentation to the County Board (2.14 MB PDF)

Construction Started on Long Bridge Park
On March 15, 2010, construction started at Long Bridge Park. For more information on current construction activities please see Projects Under Construction.

A part of the construction will be focused on environmental clean-up of the former industrial site on which the future park will be located. Please see the March 2010 Environmental Remediation Update for more information.

On December 15, 2009, the Arlington County Board approved a $23.7 million contract to build three lighted synthetic grass athletic fields, an esplanade and other amenities at Long Bridge Park. The contract went to the Donohoe Companies Inc. Construction is expected to begin early in 2010 and finish in Summer 2011.

Long Bridge Park Views
Click on the red icons to see the view from ground level. Views will open in a new window.

Long Bridge Park In The News

• Washington Post Article - June 25, 2008
• Washington Post Article - June 26, 2008

Long Bridge Park Overview
Long Bridge Park, formerly known as the North Tract Project will be a new state of the art aquatics, health and fitness facility and park on the north end of Crystal City in Arlington. Its concept was approved in February 2004 by the Arlington County Board. Currently, plans and work are underway for a swimming and exercise venue set within a dynamic recreational complex that will feature four full-size athletic fields overlooking premier views of Washington D.C.
Read more about Concepts and Plan

Long Bridge Park is being built in response to Arlington residents’ desire for more opportunities to recreate. In a June 2002 Parks and Recreation Resident Survey, trails and indoor swimming pools were the number 1 and 2 items respectively out of 54 possible choices that Arlingtonians felt were needed most in the County. In fact, 46 percent of the respondents felt it was very important to develop and maintain a new indoor fitness/aquatic center. And the demand continues.
Read more about the Long Bridge Park Background

Make a Splash!
The centerpiece of the park is a state-of-the-art community aquatics center serving a broad spectrum of abilities and interests, a comprehensive family destination where everyone can participate!

• Fifty meter pool for lap swimming, classes, and competitions to keep Arlingtonians fit and to bring top swimmers to the area.
• Ten meter diving platform will really make a splash!
• Leisure and therapy pool for fun, play, teaching, therapy and exercise.
• Exercise rooms with free weights, cardiovascular equipment and classes.
• Short-term child care drop off area so parents can work out while their children are activity engaged.

Green Fields for Play
The community’s diverse interests and commitment to sports and well-being will be extended with fabulous new athletic fields. Four rectangular, lighted, multiuse fields with synthetic turf will allow for intensive organized sports in all seasons, in all weather and throughout the day. Spaced along the edge of the fields will be a series of small buildings to provide park concessions, restrooms, and storage.
Read more about the Features of Long Bridge Park

Art in the Parks
In conjunction with the project, artist Doug Hollis will be developing a public art project especially designed to enhance the vision of the park. The piece will be a unique, continuous site identifier and continue Arlington’s tradition of art in public spaces.

Respect the Environment
All facilities on the site will be designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program Silver rating. Outdoor facilities such as parking areas, picnic areas, plazas and roads will be designed to make this park a model of environmentally responsible design.
Read more about Visions & Goals for Long Bridge Park

Reclamation of the Land
Trees and plantings will utilize native species and interpretive displays will explain the park’s transformation from an industrial brownfield to a premier urban park. Visitors will find a number of significant plant communities that were recently discovered in the County.
Read more about the Long Bridge Park site history

Serve All Abilities and Incomes
Maximum consideration will be given to ensure that the recreational facilities meet, and where possible, exceed current standards for handicapped accessibility. Moreover, outside facilities and walkways will be built to ensure maximum accessibility. Likewise, the park’s fee and usage structure will make certain the park is accessible to all Arlington residents, regardless of income.
Read more about Community Involvement

Paying Homage to our Heritage
The park’s location is rich with history, including early Native Americans who settled the land, the Long Bridge (known today as the 14th Street Bridge), which British troops used to cross during the War of 1812, and the settlement of Federal troops during the Civil War in 1861. The area also housed a brickyard in the 1830s that helped rebuild many of the historic homes and buildings in Alexandria after the war. By the 1900s the land was used as a major staging area, mainly because of the brick factory and the Washington Southern Railroad. Construction of the Pentagon began in 1939 just down the road. Soon after, the Twin Bridges Marriott was built, along with a Hot Shoppes restaurant. Yet by the 1980’s, the area was mainly industrial and in 1993, as part of an environmental clean-up plan, Arlington County acquired the land for recreational and open space use.
Read more about the Heritage behind Long Bridge Park