Arlington County Board Approves Park Upgrades

Published on July 16, 2016

• New restrooms, renovated field and other amenities for High View Park


• Renovated field, other improvements for Bluemont Park


• Bennett Group awarded both contracts in competitive bidding process

The Arlington County Board today approved contracts for improvements to High View and Bluemont Parks. New restrooms and other amenities will be added to High View and a diamond field will be renovated with a trail connector and other improvements at Bluemont.

"High View and Bluemont Parks are two heavily used, beautiful parks that provide open space and recreation opportunities to our entire community," Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said. "The upgrades planned for these two parks will make them even more enjoyable for everyone."

As part of its Consent Agenda, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the contract for Bluemont Park improvements and 5-0 to approve the contract for High View Park improvements.

Field replacement for Bluemont Park

The Board approved a nearly $505,000 contract to Bennett Group, Inc., winner of a competitive bidding process, to make improvements to Bluemont Park. The 70-acre park, heavily used by residents for biking, jogging, hiking, basketball, disc golf and many other sports and recreation activities, will have one of its diamond athletic fields, Field No. 3, completely replaced.

The field will get new sod, new irrigation, fencing, backstops, bleachers, site furniture, signs, landscaping and improved drainage. Arlington continues to focus on improving storm water runoff.  This project will feature a filter strip/forestation area between the new outfield fence and Four Mile Run Trail to capture and filter run-off before it is absorbed into the ground. The project will also include accessibility features to help it support the Americans with Disabilities Act and a new Safe Routes to School trail connector to link the park to Ashlawn Elementary School across North Manchester Street.

Funding for the project comes from Fiscal Year 2016 Pay-As-You-Go Parks Maintenance Capital funds and the joint County and schools capital fund.

To read the staff report for this item, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #33 on the Agenda for the Saturday, July 16 County Board Meeting.

Renovated field, new restrooms and more for High View Park

The Board also approved a nearly $1.14 million contract to Bennett Group, the lowest of three bids submitted in a competitive bidding process, to completely renovate the athletic field at High View Park.

This second phase of a two-phase park renovation includes new unisex restrooms and storage facilities; a new picnic shelter; a new entrance and plaza on North Dinwiddie Street, furniture, permeable paving, bleachers and steps to the basketball courts at the 2.75-acre park, located at 1945 N. Dinwiddie St. Dark sky lighting will be installed, directing light on the park and not the neighborhood, and more trees and shrubs will be planted. The diamond sports field will be regraded and resodded and the irrigation system will help extend the life of the field and better protect the Potomac from stormwater runoff.

The design concept for the renovations was the result of a community process that started in the summer of 2014 with the John M. Langston Citizens Association and park neighbors. Surveys were conducted to collect general information about how the neighbors use the park. Funding for the project comes from the Fiscal Year 2013 Parks Maintenance Capital program and from Parks Contingency funds.

To read the staff report for this item, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #32 on the Agenda for the Saturday, July 16 County Board Meeting.