On paper, Reston’s lakes are open for all members of the public to visit, but in reality, usage of the lakes is uneven due to gaps in programming and amenities, a new report found.
After more than a year and a half of study, Reston Association’s Lakes Equity Working Group will present its assessment of the accessibility and inclusiveness of the four manmade lakes managed by RA at the board of directors’ meeting tonight (Thursday).
Describing the lakes as among Reston’s “most cherished community assets,” the working group identified a variety of barriers — including program costs, a lack of accommodations for people with disabilities, unclear signage and transportation challenges — that “continue to limit equitable access and enjoyment for all RA members.”
“While some members enjoy direct lake access through waterfront properties, clusters, or easements, our vision of equity ensures fairness, where all Reston residents and guests can experience the lakes regardless of demographics, physical ability, identity, economic status, or where members live in Reston,” the group said in its 65-page report. “Achieving this requires inclusive policies, better communication, and addressing potential systemic barriers.”
RA advance plans to establish a working group to review members’ usage of and access to lakes Thoreau, Anne, Audubon and Newport in December 2022.
Made up of eight volunteers, including RA Director of Covenants Administration Cam Adams, the committee began conducting field work, reviewing the homeowners’ association’s policies, and engaging with community members on how they use the lakes and any improvements they’d like to see in December 2023, according to the report.
Building on a 2023 community survey where 66% of people earning under $25,000 a year reported never using RA’s lakes, the working group found that the top barrier is a lack of awareness about events and their availability as a public amenity, with some respondents believing that access is limited to lakeside residents.
In a barrier survey that drew 367 responses, limited physical access for pedestrians, drivers and boat users, a lack of infrastructure such as kayak storage spaces and ADA-accessible docks, the cost of boat rental fees, and a perception of lakeside residents as “hostile” toward visitors also emerged as issues.
According to the report, the boat launch at Lake Anne and the Lake Thoreau swimming pool are the most accessible facilities by transit, but limited bus service and steep slopes present challenges for the Lake Audubon area and RA’s Walker Nature Center. All of the lakes, including Anne and Thoreau, have gaps in their ADA-compliant infrastructure.
“Traffic in the parking lot can be chaotic, especially during events such as the farmer’s market,” the report said of Lake Anne Plaza. “A safe, well-marked route would be appreciated not only by handicapped bus riders, but also by families with small children and strollers, and general pedestrian traffic.”
At Lake Thoreau, the boat launch lacks ADA parking, but the report noted that RA is gathering input on a proposed dock.
To improve access for people with mobility challenges, the report recommends installing ADA-compliant boat launches at Lake Thoreau and Lake Audubon pools, adding adaptive kayak storage and rental spaces, and replacing the stairs at Lake Anne Plaza with a ramp, among other changes.
The report suggests that RA broaden participation across different demographics by offering sliding scale fees and subsidizing programs “in underserved areas,” increasing rental hours for boats and other recreational amenities, testing boat-sharing or community kayak programs, and introducing a wider range of events to all lakes.
Multicultural events, for example, are mostly confined to Lake Anne right now.
Other recommendations include calls to standardize signage, clarify RA’s public access rules, more clearly mark pedestrian routes and trails, and translate communications into languages other than English.
“By investing in inclusive infrastructure, accessible programming, and culturally responsive outreach, the RA can further pursue its founding values and ensure that every resident, regardless of income, ability, language, or location, can enjoy full and fair access to Reston’s natural treasures,” the report concluded.
