PUBLIC SPACES MASTER PLAN Arlington’s Public Spaces... Where the Community Comes Together! ADOPTED DECEMBER 10, 2005 COPIES OF THE PUBLIC SPACES MASTER PLAN ARE AVAILABLE: b On line at www.arlingtonva.us b At Arlington's Central Library b Upon request by calling (703) 228-3322 b Emailing [email protected] Gunston Park The Public Spaces Master Plan was adopted by the Arlington County Board on December 10th, 2005. This plan has replaced the 1994 Open Space Master Plan, which no longer has any force or effect. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements . 5 Executive Summary . 6 Chapter 1. Past and Present – The Planning Context . 12 A. Vision . 12 B. Purpose of this Plan . 13 C. Progress over the Last 10 Years . 14 D. History of Public Spaces . 16 E. Related Planning Efforts and Integration . 17 Chapter 2. Community Profile and Trends . 19 A. Demographics . 19 B. Community and Stakeholder Input . 20 C. Current Trends. 21 Chapter 3. Overview of Existing and Planned Public Spaces . 23 A. Existing Indoor Recreation Facilities . 24 B. Outdoor Active Facilities and Sports . 26 C. Parks and Natural Resources Facilities . 26 D. Arts, Cultural and Historic Resources . 27 E. Urban Public Spaces and Streetscaping . 29 F. Major Focus Areas . 31 Chapter 4. Administration and Planning . 34 A. Overview of Public Spaces Management and Services . 34 B. Traditional Funding Mechanisms . 34 C. Alternative Funding Mechanisms. 35 D. Open Space Acquisition . 35 E. Planning Considerations . 37 F. Benchmarking . 38 Chapter 5. Recommendations. 40 A. Objectives and Priority Recommendations . 40 B. Next Steps . 53 Appendices. 54 Arlington, Virginia 3 APPENDICES A. List of Parcels Acquired Since 1994 . 54 B. Adopted Park Master Plans . 55 C. 20 Year History of Bond Referenda. 57 D. Historic Districts. 58 E. Demographics. 60 F. Synthetic Turf Field Program . 64 G. Community Canine Area Guidelines . 65 H. Art and Cultural Facilities . 67 I. Sector Plan Summaries . 70 J. Inventory of Parks . 73 K. List of Potential Acquisition Parcels . 80 L. Arlington, Virginia Public Spaces Map . 81 M. Art and Cultural/Facilities Map. 82 N. Athletic Fields and Courts Map . 83 O. Community and Sports and Fitness Centers. 84 Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center 4 Public Spaces Master Plan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD PUBLIC SPACES MASTER PLAN STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Jay Fisette, Chair TASK FORCE PRCR Staff: Jeffrey Marin, Chris Zimmerman, Vice Chair Park and Recreation Commission: Laura Lazour, Norma Kaplan, Steve Barbara Favola Eric Sildon, Task Force Chair, Temmermand, Janis Wood, Angela Paul Ferguson Neal Sigmon, Task Force Vice Chair, Adams, Steve Artley, Kurt Louis, Walter Tejada Tobin Smith, Elinor Schwartz Randolph Randall, Howard Hudgins, Environment and Energy Conservation Wilfredo Calderon, Ward Foley, Kathryn COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE Commission: Dean Amel Holmes Johnson, Elizabeth Lee, John Ron Carlee, County Manager Friends of Arlington Parks: Blevins, Robin Leonard, Pete Feheley Ken Chandler, Deputy County Manager Susan Beaulieu Other County Staff: Jennifer Smith, Gabriela Acurio, Assistant County Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Charlie Denney, Michael Levanthal Manager Committee: Greg Bramham Bill Grether, Derrick Dubard and Chamber of Commerce: David DeCamp Linda DePersis REPARED Y P B Multicultural Advisory Commission: Dinesh Tiwari, Director, Department Bruce Engelbert CONSULTANT TEAM of Parks, Recreation and Cultural National Park Service: Debbie Feldman GreenPlay, LLC – Teresa Penbrooke, Resources League of Women Voters: Karon Badalamenti, John Barnholt, Yelena Onnen Lisa Grandle, Park Development Marcia Finnerty Division Chief, Parks, Recreation and Arlington County Schools: Leisure Vision/ETC Institute – Ron Vine Frank Haltiwanger and Sue Robinson Cultural Resources DesignPowers, Inc. – Evelyn H. Powers Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission: Carlton Hart, Project Manager, Parks, Juliet Hiznay Design Concepts – Robby Layton Recreation and Cultural Resources Planning Commission: Carrie Johnson Geowest, Inc. – Jeff Smith and Special acknowledgement to Toni Historic Affairs and Landmark Jeff Walters Hubbard, former Director, Parks, Review Board: Lose and Associates – Chris Camp Recreation and Cultural Resources Isabel Kaldenbach-Montemayor Sports Commission: Brailsford & Dunleavy – Tim Miller Lynn McCloud-Dorfman Urban Forestry Commission: Marianne Mooney and Alisa Cowen Arts Commission: Susan Nichols Disability Advisory Commission: Bonnie Ryan Arlington County Civic Federation: Jay Wind In addition, Arlington County would like to acknowledge and thank the hun- dreds of citizens who contributed their time and thoughts through involvement with the working groups, public forums and draft plan. Arlington, Virginia 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable rlington, Virginia is a world- class residential, business neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land Aand tourist location that was use policies, and received the Environmental Protection originally part of the 10 miles square Agency’s highest award for “Smart Growth” in 2002. parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the nation’s Capital. It is the geo- graphically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupy- ing slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use policies, and received the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest award for “Smart Growth” in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world – including the Pentagon – Arlington stands out as one of America’s preeminent places to live, visit and do business. The community is committed to smart growth, sustain- ability and inclusion. Plans for com- munity growth involve not only mixed use transit-oriented development, but also neighborhood conservation and one of the country’s premier programs in affordable housing. Arlington is nationally recognized for the quality and diversity of its park and recreation and arts offerings. Bluemont Junction Park Arlington was recently selected by Sports Illustrated and the National Recreation and Park Association as the Sportstown for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The County was selected as one of four communities (the oth- ers being Houston, Minneapolis and San Diego) to participate in a grant study awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to investigate the 6 Executive Summary / Public Spaces Master Plan relationship between health and local public spaces for future generations to supports a rich diversity of plants and park and recreation uses in adults age enjoy. This master plan makes recom- animals, and protect and restore water- 50 and older. In the past, Arlington mendations echoing the values and ways essential to the environmental was selected by the National Institutes priorities that the community places health of the community and region. of Health (through the National Heart, on diverse leisure opportunities, while Connecting Community: Arlington’s Lung and Blood Institute) and NRPA recognizing economic and resource public spaces connect people to people to be one of two pilot programs for the constraints. Implementation of the and provide a “common ground” where Hearts in Parks initiative. The County recommendations is subject to the people of diverse backgrounds and also received Innovations Awards for its County’s future funding and resource interests can reinforce a shared identity Arts Incubator and Bilingual Outreach allocations and priorities. as Arlingtonians. Public spaces also programs. VISION connect residents and visitors with nat- The quantity of public spaces is Arlington’s vision for public spaces ural resources and link habitats through a perennial issue in a community builds upon the central concepts of the wildlife corridors. Trails and stream val- as small and densely developed as County’s vision statement that is high- leys have the added benefits of linking Arlington. However, the primary chal- lighted below. Public spaces sustain a Arlington with nearby jurisdictions. lenge in the coming decades will be community and strengthen its identity Accessibility and Inclusion for to address the qualitative issues of our by providing the common ground where Everyone: Physical access to public public space system, such as strength- diverse people can interact and come spaces is, of course, basic. The ability ening the connection between people together to build the meaningful con- of all persons to enjoy public spaces and parks, optimizing the sustainable nections that are important to healthy should be a focal point of design, going use of resources in the county, ensuring community and civic life. Attractive, well beyond the standards of the Americans the involvement of all residents, and conceived public spaces and the pro- with Disabilities Act. No less important supporting a healthy natural and cultur- grams and activities that they support is access for low income Arlingtonians al environment. This focus will be nec- are key catalysts for community educa- and for those living in high density essary in order to sustain the County’s tion, energy and growth. In a densely areas. These elements of the population traditional high level of service while urban community, public spaces also use public spaces as a necessary exten- adjusting to changing socioeconomic protect natural areas and provide the sion of their living space. The County’s factors and an increased demand for environmental balance and relief so vital assurance