Three Urban Parks Project

Location

3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA View Map

Status

Planning

The County is currently in the planning phase of the master planning process. The project team will launch the first community engagement opportunity in Fall 2025.

About the Project

This project is to develop one park master plan for Maury Park, Herselle Milliken Park, and Gum Ball Park. The purpose of the master plan is to identify community needs and priorities, taking into consideration that these three small parks are located in close proximity and should have complementary, rather than duplicative, features. The development of the master plan for Maury Park and Herselle Milliken Park will need to address the previously acquired parcels that now link the two parks together. The Public Spaces Master Plan's (PSMP) Priority Action #7 calls for the development of park master plans for all new parks or when the renovation of an existing park requires a major rearrangement of park amenities; in this case, the PSMP lists these three parks as priorities for master planning. The Virginia Square Sector Plan also recommends that these parks be master planned together as described in Recommendation #71 of the plan.

Project Goals:

Develop one park master plan for Maury Park, Herselle Milliken Park, and Gum Ball Park.
Connect the three distinct parks to make them feel like one cohesive park.
Identify amenities informed by the community's vision for the parks.
Provide spaces for recreation, casual use, and/or biophilic elements across the sites.

Project Background

This project has been referenced throughout the years in the County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as Three Urban Parks – Maury, Herselle Milliken, and Gum Ball – as well as in the Public Spaces Master Plan (PSMP). Given the parks' close proximity to one another, it is envisioned to master plan all three parks simultaneously in order to provide a cohesive vision with an array of uses and experiences for the community. The PSMP, as well as the 2000 Ashton Heights Neighborhood Conservation and the 2002 Virginia Square Sector Plan, call for future expansion of Maury Park.

About the Process

Click the drop downs below to explore the details and resources throughout the project process.

Fall 2025 - Feedback on Existing Conditions and Uses

Level of Engagement: Involve

From November 18 - December 21, the project team solicited feedback on the conditions at each of the three parks as well as the community's vision for the park sites in the future. The input heard during this engagement will help inform the development of draft concept designs.

Staff will share the comments and themes heard during this first engagement as they prepare for the second community engagement, which is anticipated in Spring 2026.

Spring 2026 - Feedback on Draft Concepts

Level of Engagement: Involve

The project team will provide draft concept designs based off of feedback from the first engagement. Community members will be encouraged to share their feedback.

Fall 2026 - Final Draft Design Feedback

Level of Engagement: Consult

The project team will share the final draft design for final comments from the community.

Winter 2026/2027 (Estimated) - County Board Action

Level of Engagement - Communicate

The County Board will consider the Park Master Plan for approval.

2027 (Estimated) Design and Permitting

Level of Engagement - Communicate

2027/2028 (Estimated) - Construction Begins

Level of Engagement- Communicate

Construction on the Three Urban Parks project is expected to begin in 2027. This timeline is a projection and is subject to change based on the project's progress.

Funding

Capital Improvement Plan

Contact details

Walter Gonzalez

703-228-1843

wgonzalez@arlingtonva.us