Bluemont ParkField #3 Renovations & Trail Connections

Community MeetingAshlawn Elementary School

October 5, 2016

Capital Maintenance

• Maintenance Capital is a broad County program that seeks to achieve the goal of “maintaining what we have.” Parks portion averages approximately $9.3 million per year over the next 10 years.

• Funds replacement or major renovation of outdoor facility assets including athletic fields and courts, lighting, playgrounds, picnic shelters, restrooms, site amenities, parking and specialty facilities such as the skate park.

• Projects update the assets to bring them to County and industry standards and address accessibility, safety and stormwaterrequirements.

Field #3 Renovation & Trail Connections

Project Goals

• Bring Field Up To Current Design Standards

• Safe Routes to School Connection

• Regulatory Requirements

Bluemont Park – Field #3 Context

Aux. Field

Drop-In Area

Existing Conditions

Looking from Tennis Courts

Field #1 and 2Rectangle Sports / Youth Diamond Sports

Field #3Youth Diamond Sports

Auxiliary FieldYouth Rectangular Sports

Drop-in AreaUnscheduled Play

*All Fields except Drop-in Area are “Permit Takes Priority”

Field Use

Project Elements

• ADA Accessibility Improvements

• Backstops• Bleachers• Drainage• Fencing• New Irrigation

• New sod• Signage• Site Circulation• Site Furnishings• Safe Routes to School Trail

Connection (separate funding)

7

Project Scope

Bluemont Park – Field #3 Context

Project Scope

Bluemont Park – Field #3 Context

Stormwater Requirements

Regulatory Overview

• Stormwater management required by County code (Ch. 60) and State code.

• State sets the performance standards, computational methods, menu of stormwater management facility options and specifications.

• Both impervious and turf surfaces must be managed.

Stormwater Requirements

Stormwater requirements and Bluemont Field

• Stormwater pollution reduction (Ch. 60).

• Portion of field located within a Resource Protection Area (RPA), regulated under County code (Ch. 61) and State code.

• Chapter 61 limits land uses and stormwatermanagement facilities that can be located in RPAs.

• Ordinance also emphasizes improving vegetation condition within RPA, with goal of establishing forested condition and reducing runoff volume.

Stormwater Requirements

Why the vegetated filter strip/reforestation area?

• Other stormwater management facility options cannot be located within RPAs.

• Other options would have required soil excavation and extensive drainage piping.

• Other options also have required land area on each side of field.

• High-water table also a key constraint.

Stormwater Requirements

Why the vegetated filter strip? (continued)

• Vegetated filter strip slows down and absorbs runoff from natural grade of field towards Four Mile Run.

• A cost-effective way to manage runoff from turfareas as well as meet RPA management objectives.

• Physical barrier required to prevent foot traffic from the active field use from damaging vegetation and soil – the outfield fence is an acceptable barrier.

Community Discussion

Next Steps

1. DPR provides recommendations to the County Manager.

2. County Manager updates the Board at the November 10, 2016 County Board recessed meeting.

3. DPR will continue to explore ways to improve community engagement.

Q&A Comments & Meeting Close

• Go to parks.arlingtonva.us and search Bluemont Park Project for updates and to get on listserv for updates.

• A comment box is open on the Bluemont Project Page until October 14.

• Minutes of this meeting will be posted on the project page and sent to subscribers on October 12.