Arlington — The Arlington County Board approved funds on Jan. 26 to reconstruct Tuckahoe Park playground. In a separate action, the board approved funding for eight resident-driven park improvement projects across the county.
The board voted unanimously to approve a $733,315 contract (including contingency) with Jeffrey Stack, Inc., to reconstruct the playground for school-age children in Tuckahoe Park External link, located at 2400 N. Sycamore St., and to make the park more accessible to persons with disabilities. The playground was last renovated in 1994.
Improvements will include:
- Accessible entrance for people with disabilities,
- New play equipment,
- Pervious accessible paths to enhance storm water run off,
- Synthetic turf safety surfacing,
- Bio-retention gardens.
The board also approved, unanimously, $83,377 for eight Park Enhancement Grant External link projects that were submitted by residents to the Parks and Recreation Commission External link. PEG grants, funded through Pay-As-You-Go Capital Improvement Program funds, offer up to $15,000 for approved park projects. The approved projects for 2013 include:
- Hillside Park — Remove invasive plants and restoring the forest with native plants and trees: $11,354.
- Lubber Run Park — Build a garden and provide the necessary tools and amenities for participants in the Lubber Run Teen Program for a hands-on gardening experience as well as educational programming from the Virginia Cooperative Extension: $5,500.
- Fort Barnard Community Canine Area — Give a facelift, with the construction of a small deck to protect the root system of a mature Pin Oak as well as spading, soil improvements and pruning to enhance the growth of the tree. Funding also will support the purchase and planting of three shade trees, extension of the fence height and construction of a berm: $15,000.
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School — Add four new benches and a wood chip path to enhance their existing garden. The grant also will cover the cost of a garden design plan that will be developed by EarlySpace LLC: $13,718.
- Fraser Park — Install five new benches, an ADA picnic table and an ADA grill: $10,400.
- Alcove Heights Park — Improve the existing volleyball court, with the purchase of new poles and a net, turf improvements, updated landscaping and a 20-foot split rail fence: $5,523.
- John Marshall Drive — Add four benches to a large traffic island, enjoyed by the neighborhood as open space. The space will also receive invasive plant control treatments and turf improvement. This project will be coordinated with a stormwater improvement project at this site currently planned by the Department of Environmental Services: $9,290.
- Woodlawn Park — Build a new concrete path to facilitate pedestrian and bicyclist access through the park between 15th Street, which dead ends on each side of the park: $12,592.