parks department

Parks Closed Due to Light Pole Concerns

By ARLnow.com

Utah Park, in Fairlington, and the upper fields at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, in Arlington Heights, will be closed for at least a three weeks due to problems found with the light poles at each.

“During a regular inspection, it was found that the light poles… need to be replaced to maintain a safe environment for our community,” said Arlington County Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Susan Kalish. “Our goal is to start as soon as weather provides a couple weeks of no rain and 50-degree weather.”

The work will take two to four weeks depending on the weather, Kalish said.

“The goal is to have the fields available in time for the sports season beginning April 15,” she said.

Community Garden Plots: A Tragedy of the Commons?

By ARLnow.com

There are eight community gardens around Arlington, and each has a wait list. At the South Four Mile Run garden, however, one gardener is wondering why the county is allowing the high-demand plots to fall into a state of disrepair.

“I am a co-gardener of a garden plot in the Fort Barnard Community Gardens, [and] if my garden plot looked the way that many of the plots on South Four Mile Run do, my plot would be considered abandoned and the privileges to the plot would be revoked,” the man wrote in an email to a county official. He asked that his name not be used in this article.

“Nearly all of the plots are in violation of one or more of the County Community Garden Rules,” the gardener wrote. “I waited for 2 years to get a garden plot. To see residents [who] have garden plots neglect them and not use them to their full potential is frustrating.”

The man called the Four Mile Run garden an “eyesore” and said sent photos along to prove it. He said the photos show:

  • “Many of the plots were never cut back and cleared for the winter. Vines and weeds have overtaken many of the plots and fences. In some cases the vines have grown beyond the boundaries of garden plots.”
  • “Many of the gardeners have erected 6-8 ft wooden structures that are crudely constructed to grow vines on. Many of the structures have collapsed, are broken, or leaning.”
  • “Trash such as empty buckets, jugs, milk crates, tarps, propped up carpets that are used for weed barriers, wheelbarrows, shoes, lumbar, broken chairs, bed frames, and PVC pipes are some of the items that litter the garden plots.”
  • “The fences that create the boundaries for the community garden are in disrepair. Many of the rails are broken and laying on the ground. In one garden plot the fence has been pulled down because of the weight of the weedy vines growing on it.”

The county’s 200+ community garden plots are in high demand among apartment and condo dwellers who have a green thumb but no land to call their own. But Jamie Bartalon, the landscape and forestry supervisor for the county’s parks department, says that regulations only require the gardens to be cleaned up in time for the summer growing season.

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Snowblower Decision Could Be Reached This Week

By ARLnow.com

The county’s snowblower loan program is at a crossroads. Should it expand to meet greatly increased demand, or simply stick with its existing fleet of ten snowblowers?

Yesterday a plurality of readers said the program should simply be dismantled. But that seems unlikely, given the county board’s expressed support for the program on Saturday.

Susan Kalish, spokesperson for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, says the county has gotten a “deluge” of snowblower requests this year and will likely be deciding this week whether to purchase additional machines.

With more requests than snowblowers, Kalish explained how the county decides whose requests will be granted.

“Priority for the snow blowers is based on area to be blown (big area, high-traffic area, or both) and the group (got enough volunteers to make sure it’s done, have a track record of getting the job done),” she said.

For more information about the snowblower program, residents can contact Tom Mitchler at tmitchler[at]arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-6522.

Sprayground Planned for Virginia Highlands Park

By ARLnow.com

Update on 3/23/12 — This project has been delayed, according to Arlington County.

Virginia Highlands Park is in line to get the county’s most elaborate sprayground park yet.

The spiral-shaped park takes elements of Arlington’s existing sprayground parks, as well as elements from other water parks around the country. It will be located in a corner of the park, near the volleyball and basketball courts.

As planned right now, the park will feature water cannons, buckets that fill and dump water on anyone below them, mini waterfalls, small pools of water for play, bubblers, interactive locks and dams, jumping water jets and a boulder wall dividing the active and passive play areas in the park. The boulder wall will also provide a place to sit during the off-season.

The sprayground will be partially bordered by a rain garden, which will benefit from the park’s runoff. Other excess water would be directed to a large underground tank, which could then be used for irrigation or for the park’s toilets.

Funding for the park is still in question. An official who gave a presentation to the Aurora Highlands Civic Association last night suggested that the construction could be paid for with Neighborhood Conservation funds while the county tries to secure other funding.

If all goes according to plan, the park will be open in time for Memorial Day 2012. (Sprayground parks are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Recently park hours were reduced, but it sounds like the county is confident that normal hours will be restored by 2012.)

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Winter Parks and Rec Course Catalog Released

By ARLnow.com

Want to do more with your free time this winter? Tired of spending the cold weather months hibernating in your house or apartment with nothing productive to do?

Arlington’s parks and rec department has released its latest course catalog, with more than 250 options for exercising the mind and body.

New classes this term include:

  • A Broadway Fitness class at the Madison Community Center
  • Boxing 101 at the Barcroft Sports Center
  • A “Flirty Girl Fitness” class, utilizing “the hottest dance moves, from the club scene to exotic dancing,” at the Barcroft Sports Center
  • An advanced robotics course for ages 7-15 at the Madison Community Center
  • A birdhouse building class at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center
  • A voice training class at the Walter Reed Community Center

Online registration begins on Dec. 14. Find more information on the classes and the registration process here.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Quarterdeck May Remain Open, After All — TBD is reporting that the owner of Quarterdeck has reopened lease negotiations with the property’s landlord. Last week it was revealed that owner Lou Gatti was telling Radnor / Fort Myer Heights residents that the restaurant would be closing after 31 years in business.

Plastic Bag Tax May Have to Wait — The county board’s desire to impose a 5-cent tax on plastic grocery store bags — similar to the tax currently in place in the District — may have to wait until another year. At Wednesday’s work session between the board and Arlington’s state legislative delegation, bag tax proponent Del. Adam Ebbin said getting Virginia lawmakers to grant Arlington the authority to impose such a tax would likely be “a multi-year effort.” More from the Sun Gazette.

Long-Time Parks Employee Dies — Long-time Parks and Recreation Department supervisor Alan W. Brady has died. Brady, who ran a landscaping business in Arlington after retiring from the department, will be remembered at a memorial service in Ranson, W.V. on Monday. He was 58. More from the Martinsburg Journal.

Flickr pool photo by Patryce

Reminder: Donnellan to Hold Budget Forum Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss the county’s upcoming financial year 2012 budget.

The forum will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library’s auditorium (1015 North Quincy Street).

As we reported earlier, Donnellan has said that her recommended budget will likely not include any further cuts for county parks or libraries, but it will include sizable cuts in other areas.

Arlington Parks Department Claims Tennis Award

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County’s tennis program has been recognized for excellence by the United States Tennis Association.

The USTA Mid-Atlantic Section named Arlington County’s Parks Department its “2010 Parks and Recreation Agency of the Year.” The award is in recognition of the county’s “overall tennis programming.”

“This award demonstrates that the state of tennis in Arlington County is strong and getting even stronger,” Parks Department Sports Programmer Eric Legg said in a statement. “As the popularity of tennis in Arlington County grows, so too does the quality of tennis programming and facilities.”

There are nearly 90 tennis courts in Arlington County, including those currently under construction. This year the county renovated 14 tennis courts (see photo).

Parks spokesperson Nathan Spillman says there’s “no doubt that it’s been a good year for tennis in Arlington County.”

Spillman said that there were 1,135 youth and adult registrations for county-run tennis classes this year — a 144 percent increase since 2007.

Other factors contributing to Arlington’s recognition, Spillman said, were the 10,700 hours of tennis playing time reserved so far this year, along with the two USTA-sanctioned tournaments held in the county and the two charity tournaments hosted in partnership with the Arlington County Tennis Association.

Libraries, Parks May Avoid Cuts in Next Budget

By ARLnow.com

After two years of deep cuts, county libraries and parks may be spared in the upcoming budget process.

Speaking to the League of Women Voters last night, county manager Barbara Donnellan said she does not expect to make any cuts to the libraries or parks in her proposed budget for financial year 2012.

At the same time, however, Donnellan cautioned that with Arlington facing a $25 million budget gap, the libraries will likely not see a restoration of hours to pre-2009 or pre-2010 levels.

At one point, Donnellan reflected on her failed effort to close the Cherrydale library, which was met with considerable public outcry. She says that she learned her lesson about community attachment to libraries.

“I’m not doing it any more, I’m done,” she said. “It’s apparent to me that every library is going to stay open.”

In a question and answer session, one attendee said she was concerned that the county seems willing to allow a deterioration in the quality of services system-wide, instead of summoning the political will to close facilities when it makes practical and financial sense. Donnellan said that while the county must carefully weigh its budget priorities, current facilities must be adequately funded.

“As long as we’re going to keep them, we have to maintain them, and that takes money,” she said.

Donnellan pledged to close the current budget gap with a balance of spending cuts and revenue increases. She will host a public budget forum for residents from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Arlington Central Library auditorium.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Cuccinelli Celebrates GOP Victories in Arlington — Partying with Tea Party leaders at the Leadership Institute in Clarendon, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli hailed the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives. He said he hopes the new congress comes to Washington to “change it, not join it.” He also spoke about the lawsuits he’s filed to protect Virginia against “the overreach of federal power.” More from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Bayou Bakery Could Open in Two Weeks — Chef David Guas’ new Bayou Bakery will be opening in the old Camille’s space in Courthouse soon, perhaps as early as Nov. 13. First, however, the 60-seat restaurant must pass a round of county inspections. Bayou will feature a New Orleans-inspired food menu as well as pastries, beer and coffee. More from WCP’s Tim Carman.

Parks and Rec Award Needs Nominees — Arlington County is still looking for nominees for its 2011 Bill Thomas Park Service Award, which honors individuals for their passionate support of the county’s parks. More from Arlington County.

Flickr pool photo by philliefan99

Fall Heritage Festival Comes to Gulf Branch on Saturday

By ARLnow.com

They’re going to be partying like it’s 1859 at the Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 N. Military Road) this weekend.

“Bring the kids and be immersed in 19th century Virginia life,” beckons county parks spokesperson Nate Spillman. “This is a great outdoor event for the whole family!”

The fun includes watching blacksmiths in action, touring a log cabin, as well as making your own apple cider, corn husk dolls and hand-dipped candles.

There will also be old-timey music, historical interpretation, folks dressed up in traditional 19th garb and more. Tickets are $5 per perform, with a maximum of $20 per family. Kids 3 and under are free.

The event it being held on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The parking lot will be closed, but street parking will be available nearby. For more info call 703-228-3403.

See other weekend events around Arlington here.

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