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Public Spaces Master Plan Preliminary Draft

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Below is a preliminary draft of the Public Spaces Master Plan. Community input is needed to refine the draft before it can be brought to various community advisory groups and the public for final review. While viewing the document, you can select chapters and post comments.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 7:36PM on page 2

This document is incredibly long. It is also very hard to read on line and offer comments. I would be hard pressed to think of a worse way for the County to share its ideas. Indeed, one would almost think that the Department of Parks and Recreation knows where it wants to end up and really does not care what the community thinks. If the DPR really cared, they would not have produced a document so full of facts and so short on specifics. It seems the County Government is using the "Arlington Way" as a cudgel rather than a mean to engage the public in a meaningful way.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:17PM on page 89

Larger facilities in residential areas is completely inappropriate. What will the County do with the spaces that are closed? The surrounding community must have input in these decisions and their wishes should be honored by the County.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:16PM on page 87

What surplus properties does the County have? Why are these not listed somewhere for the public to see?

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:15PM on page 87

How will you address the noise and the air pollution? How will you protect trees planted on such "deck parks" from decimation from the car exhaust?

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:15PM on page 86

Preserve existing trees.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:14PM on page 86

Preserve existing trees.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:14PM on page 86

Also require a minimum number of trees be planted and cared for.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:12PM on page 84

This does not seem sufficient for a County as dense as Arlington is predicted to become.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 5:01PM on page 83

Increasing the tree canopy in Arlington should be a priority action.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:59PM on page 81

The County would have a greater positive environmental impact if it prioritized preservation of the tree canopy.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:59PM on page 80

The County needs to specify exactly which public spaces are underused and demonstrate this underuse with numbers.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:58PM on page 80

This works only if calling up the "Arlington Way" is not used as a means to silence dissent!

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:57PM on page 80

This sounds like a failure on the part of the Department of Parks and Recreation to communicate the facilities and resources available to the community. Perhaps DPR should spend less time enhancing its power and prestige and more time serving the public.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:56PM on page 79

This streamlined permitting process must not be at the expense of the environment. Getting to environmental degradation faster does not help the community.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:42PM on page 79

It will hard to have nature programs if there are no natural places. I don't think the children will find lots of wild life to examine on soccer fields and tennis courts.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:41PM on page 79

The County's top priority should be the protection of the trees that are already here. The second priority should be to plant more trees.

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Anonymized User Aug 31 2017 at 4:40PM on page 79

The County's top priority should be the protection of the trees that are already here. The second priority should be to plant more trees.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:39PM on page 78

If these trails are the most and third most desired amenity, then why are trails not a priority action for the County?

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:36PM on page 78

I'm confused here. Is the point here that there are too many people and too few recreational opportunities? Or are we going to use tax dollars to create more facilities and then use tax dollars to sell them? Are we trying to meed residents needs or are we trying to enhance the power and resources of the County Department of Parks and Recreation?

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:36PM on page 78

Natural space like Four Mile Run does not require a cohesive identity. I do not believe this statement accurately reflects what public meetings and stakeholders said. This is natural green space and should be left in its natural state.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:35PM on page 78

Growth in Arlington is not just something that happens. The County makes choices about development and those choices have consequences. County Government is portraying growth in Arlington as something beyond its control. This is disingenuous.

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Helluvagardener Aug 31 2017 at 4:31PM on page 78

First, growth in Arlington is not just something that happens. The County makes choices about development and those choices have consequences. County Government is portraying growth in Arlington as something beyond its control. This is disingenuous. Second, I'm confused about the goals of this project. Is the point here that there are too many people and too few recreational opportunities? Or are we going to use tax dollars to create more facilities and then use tax dollars to sell them? Are we trying to meed residents needs or are we trying to enhance the power and resources of the County Department of Parks and Recreation? Finally, natural space like Four Mile Run does not require a cohesive identity. I do not believe this statement accurately reflects what public meetings and stakeholders said. This is natural green space and should be left in its natural state.

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glecce Aug 29 2017 at 8:57PM on page 16

Suggestion

Preservation and expansion of tree canopy is sorely needed if Arlington is to be a desirable urban area. Trees are allowed to die and remain on main public streets, and public properties, for years. Also, the current approach to cutting the sides of trees to allow buses to pass is extraordinarily ugly. There are better approaches that could be used. Trees have an aesthetic value that should be included in the plan.

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InTheMajority Aug 29 2017 at 6:07PM on page 5

Much of South Arlington is entirely disconnected from easily accessible trails that lead to parks. Consider other green city loops and Arlington has a long way to go to achieve connectivity.

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InTheMajority Aug 29 2017 at 6:03PM on page 2

The majority want: Hiking trails Natural areas & wildlife habitats Paved multi-use Trails This must be obvious, "the need for parks and public spaces grow, especially hiking trails, natural areas & wildlife habitats and paved multi-use trails." link

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in reply to ParksSupporter's comment

Anonymous Aug 24 2017 at 5:43PM on page 1

I agree with all points, and would like to emphasize point number 3. Having just returned from a trip to Paris and Lisbon, I noticed that many public spaces had small kiosks vending alcohol, coffee, and small snacks with a few tables under umbrellas. These enticed people to do more than just walk through the parks.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 9:12PM on page 93

This comment is on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. ASA encourages the county to consider a practice of installing lighting for synthetic turf fields.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 9:09PM on page 92

This comment is on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. ASA strongly supports adding synthetic turf to maximize field use when grass fields are wet.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 9:04PM on page 92

This comment is on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. Adding lighting to synthetic fields will benefit kids and their families by reducing cross-county traffic (as currently lighted fields are clustered in South Arlington), expanding overall field capacity (allowing more playing time--between 415-600 additional hours of use per year), and reducing field crowding to improve practice session quality.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 8:52PM on page 90

This comment is on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. ASA agrees that grouping fields is the most efficient for maintenance and believe it helps create community parks.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 8:38PM on page 87

This comment is made on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. ASA strongly supports different play space types (like deck parks). We suggest piloting this idea to see how it works.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 8:36PM on page 88

This comment is on behalf of Arlington Soccer Association. ASA strongly supports facility development or renovation that encourages multi-sport access.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 8:30PM on page 79

This comment is on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. Additional amenities would encourage greater use. Long Bridge is a good example--while it is a cluster of fields, it has trails, bike paths, playgrounds, views and is used by a variety of community members from throughout the county and Crystal City.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 8:05PM on page 22

This comment is made on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association. Participation in athletics improves overall physical fitness, coordination, self-discipline, and allows children to learn the importance of teamwork.

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Arlington Soccer Association Aug 11 2017 at 7:53PM on page 1

Suggestion

This comment is made on behalf of the Arlington Soccer Association (ASA). ASA thanks Arlington County Parks and Recreation for the opportunity to comment on this plan. ASA provides quality soccer programs and experiences for people of all abilities, backgrounds and financial means to encourage personal growth, promote a love for the game, and advance soccer in Arlington and surrounding communities. ASA currently serve 5,700 soccer youth players of all ages, backgrounds and areas of Arlington County. In addition to offering recreational, developmental and travel soccer, soccer camps and clinics, ASA partners with the Real Madrid Foundation and Arlington Public Schools to deliver an after-school soccer and character-building program for at-risk children and TOP Soccer, a program that brings the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to children with mental or physical disabilities. Adding more capacity to Arlington’s recreational facilities and more public flexible spaces, ASA could expand its own capacity and programming to benefit the Arlington County Community.

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BobBoisture Aug 11 2017 at 12:55PM on page 22

It is important to also consider potential adverse health effects on users and neighbors. The proposed high intensity LED lights at the Williamsburg field illustrates this concern. The Williamsburg Field Working Group report presents compelling evidence of adverse health effects on both users and neighbors from this sort of LED lighting. The county should not approve such lighting unless and until the safety of these lights is firmly established.

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ArlingtoniansforaCleanEnvironment Aug 11 2017 at 11:56AM on page 136

As our County grows, incorporating Biophilic City concepts into development plans will allow residents to increase connections to the natural world, providing tremendous benefits to our health, especially young people. Research has shown that opportunities for youth to experience nature improves health and well-being and enhances social-emotional learning.

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ArlingtoniansforaCleanEnvironment Aug 11 2017 at 11:46AM on page 134

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) wholeheartedly supports prioritizing the Urban Forest Master Plan. Having updated tree coverage data is critical to enhancing our community's ability to manage our tree resources. This initiative will be especially useful for our management of the Tree Canopy Fund program.

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palthainon Aug 10 2017 at 9:09AM on page 127

Suggestion

Don't get too wrapped up in this. Trail edicate is a more natural phenomenon that will be heavily influenced through the design. Separating bikes and pedestrians is likely the most straightforward way to influence this. This can be done mostly by creating protected bike lanes and leaving large sidewalks/paths for pedestrians and children.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:38AM on page 240

Suggestion

These sizes are tiny and too small for almost all forms of use such as walks or play. It is unclear how useful such tiny spaces would be and if devoting scarce county resources would be a good investment.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:36AM on page 238

Suggestion

This requirement should be dropped unless it is a requirement for all other types of parks in Arlington. This restriction reflects a deep bias against dog parks as opposed to other forms of recreation and a distancing of the county from its responsibility to provide dog parks and maintain them. I strongly recommend that this provision be revised to required within 6 months of proposal for a new dog park.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:33AM on page 238

Suggestion

This restriction is unnecessarily restrictive, particularly given the concentration of county parks along streams that are RPAs. I recommend instead that the wording be changed to say that new dog parks should not be established in RPAs.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:31AM on page 238

Suggestion

This standard for concentrated pedestian use is unrealistic given the small size of dog parks and should be increased to 25 percent. Dog parks receive very heavy usage due to their scarcity and foot traffic is extensive.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:27AM on page 238

Suggestion

The standard for the surface for dog parks should be natural materials including dirt and turf, consistent with national best practices as is the preference of dog park users. Such surfaces are capable of absorbing high usage and are best for facilitating waste cleanup. Artificial surfaces should be an exception that is only allowed in exception and unique circumstances and with the concurrence of the dog park users group.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:23AM on page 238

Suggestion

Having separate areas should be a goal but for smaller dog parks further subdivision will just chop them into two parts that are way too small. I recommend that this be a requirement only for dog parks over 60,000 square feet.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:21AM on page 238

Suggestion

What is 10,000 feet based on. As a dog park user, this strikes me as a very small size insufficient for exercise or play. I strongly recommend that the size be increased to a recommended minimum of 30,000 except where there are space limitations that cannot be changed.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:19AM on page 236

Suggestion

It is entirely unclear what this level of service is based on. Several other progressive communities (e.g. Portland)have a much higher level of service and Arlington's current dog parks are among the most heavily used parks in the County. something closer to one per 15-20,000 would appear to be closer to best practices in the nation.

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PhilDolliff Aug 10 2017 at 7:16AM on page 235

Suggestion

The Parks Department needs take much more responsibility for dog parks -- routine maintenance and provision of supplies is an inherantly government function that taxpayers demand and there is no reason only dog parks receive such degraded service.

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in reply to gailharrison1@verizon.net's comment

Mark Fajfar Aug 10 2017 at 1:27AM on page 251

Agreed. This map seems to have been ignored in Arlington's decision-making about rectangular fields.

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Mark Fajfar Aug 10 2017 at 1:15AM on page 232

As commented earlier, the question of prioritization is an area where the process has failed in the past. This is a very contentious process and must be approached systematically and rigorously, without ad hoc decision making.

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