
Bird houses are set to breathe more life into Lake Thoreau pool as the aging facility undergoes major renovations.
Reston Association and Public Art Reston are asking Restonians to submit proposals for bird houses through a grassroots beautification project.
Plans call for five birdhouses to remain as part of a permanent public art installation that RA says will “add visual distinction to the site and attract our feathered friends to nest above an L-shaped pollinator garden adjacent to the pool parking lot.”
Reston has no other birdhouse public art installation, according to Larry Butler, RA’s acting CEO.
“As lakes and lakeside environments are teeming with insects, it is a good location for birds to raise a family. The pathway and pool users alike will be able to enjoy the installation year-round,” Butler wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
The call for proposals is open to Reston residents only. Group submissions will be accepted and up to $250 for each house will be covered by the organizations.
Public Art Reston, which is facilitating the project, will help RA select the five artisan-designed birdhouses for the project.
“We’re looking forward to partnering with RA on this project and particularly the opportunity to elevate Reston creatives by soliciting homegrown public art to enhance and add visual distinction to a local amenity that is also bird-friendly,” said Phoebe Avery, Public Art Reston’s public art manager.
Design proposals are due by May 26, with installation expected by March 2o23. The pool is expected to open that summer. Application requirements and procedures are available online.
The renovated pool — a roughly $3.5 million undertaking — is slated to open for the 2023 pool season.
Recent Stories

WOW 1 DAY PAINTING brings people a fast, affordable, and high-quality solution for all of their interior or exterior residential and commercial painting projects. We respect your time as much as you do and provide the quality paint job you expect, in a timeline that is unexpected.
Schedule a consult today:
E. customerservice@wow1day.com

Are you interested in improving your running or race time?
Are you looking to build a social circle with healthy activities like running.
If this is you check out our new running club in West Springfield. At our running club our goal is to improve fitness and have fun.
FREE Paper Shredding & Food Pantry Collection
Dispose of Documents Securely in an Environmentally Responsible Way!
Gather your paperwork in boxes or bags (no plastics please). Limit your papers to what can fit in one passenger vehicle. Documents go straight from you into the secure mobile shredding
Northern Virginia EV Showcase – Electrify Your Ride
The event will be located at the main campus of George Mason University with ample parking. George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus is accessible via Metro Bus and Cue Bus (Fairfax City bus) and is also located near the Vienna/Fairfax/GMU Metro