Dark Star Park

About this Park

Dark Star Park is Arlington’s first County-commissioned public artwork. It was designed by artist Nancy Holt and installed in 1984. Holt is known for her large-scale artworks where the landscape is inseparable from the art. In this case, the entire park is the artwork and it consists of five spheres, two pools, four steel poles, a stairway, a large tunnel for passage and a small tunnel for viewing as well as trees, sodded berms and other plantings. The park’s large spheres are likened to fallen, extinguished stars.

Every year on August 1 at approximately 9:32 a.m., visitors arrive at the 0.4 acre park to witness a shadow alignment. This occurs on the traffic island section of the park where actual shadows cast by the spheres and poles align with permanent shadow-images inset in the ground. There is also a water feature for your seasonal enjoyment.

Directions Transit Parking

Parking: Limited.

Park Maintenance: 703-228-6525
TTY: 711
Inclement Weather Line: 703-228-4715

Learn Park Rules and Regulations. And remember, please don't smoke in our parks.