By ANDREA PERRIN
Journal staff writer
Arlington County is seeking an ambitious $75 million in park bonds for a new aquatic and fitness center, artificial turf fields and recreation facility renovations – something for everyone, a parks proponent said.
The $75.4 parks bond is one of four the county is asking voters to approve Nov. 2, in addition to Metro funding, transportation and schools.
Two-thirds of the park money is slated for a 28.5-acre site along Old Jefferson Davis Highway called North Tract. It will replace weedy lots and industrial buildings with a deep water swimming pool, a 50- meter swimming pool, two artificial grass fields and other improvements.
"That alone doesn’t compare to anything Arlington has got," said Doug Ross, a member of the Arlington Sports Commission’s swimming board and a booster of the bond package.
A second North Tract phase would usher in more athletic fields and courts, an indoor track and other fitness space.
"Roaches Run is on the other side of the railroad tracks from there and an idea is to build a pedestrian overpass and to have some train spotting," he said.
The synthetic turf conversion also is a significant component, commanding more than $1 million on its own as well as money from the North Tract and the $8.6 million Greenbrier Park renovation.
A similar field was funded in a previous bond as part of the first half of Barcroft Park’s renovations, as was Wakefield High School’s faux grass gridiron, scheduled to host its first game Monday night.
"For a jurisdiction like Arlington County where we have a limited amount of land ... the only way we can meet the increase in demand is by a conversion to artificial turf," said Brian Hannigan, chairman of the Arlington Sports Commission. "This technology fortunately is a terrific advance from the previous synthetic grass, which was hard as a rock and caused a lot of injuries."
The fields may cost a lot to install – three to four times more than building a real grass site – but they cost less to maintain, said Jeff Marin, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.
Annually, a grass field would cost $10,000 to $12,000 while artificial turf costs only $1,000 to $1,200, he said. But at the end of the field’s 10-year life cycle, costs for both fields are about the same.
Arlington lays out funding plans
Arlington wants to spend more than $75 million improving current recreation facilities and building more. Here's what this bond package will fund:
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Modernize the Fairlington Community Center and preserve the historic structure – $7 million--
Build a new Arlington Mill Community Center with gymnasium – $2 million--
Renovate Greenbrier Park, including an artificial turf field – $8.6 million--
Continue renovations at Barcroft Park with a new pedestrian bridge over Four Mile Run – $2.1 million--
Begin North Tract construction including swimming facilities and an artificial turf field – $50 million--
Public art based on a master plan still under development – $500,000--
Synthetic fields to replace grass fields in the county and low-impact lighting – $1.05 fmillion--
Land and facility acquisition based on available funds – $4 million