A much-needed makeover is in the works for the playground behind Reston’s Home Depot.
Construction is scheduled to start in October on a renovation of the Reston North Park playground, requiring a temporary closure of the site at 11760 Stevenage Road, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced last Thursday (Sept. 25).
Expected to take about eight weeks to complete, the overhaul will replace aging equipment and bring the site into compliance with modern accessibility and safety standards, according to a press release.
“The upcoming renovation will create a safer, more modern and inclusive play space designed for children, families and caregivers of all abilities,” the park authority said.
According to the FCPA, the existing equipment, retaining walls and steps at the playground were installed throughout the 1980s and 1990s, so they’re now at the end of their life cycle.
The park’s sloped terrain also presents challenges for families who want to use different amenities. In addition to having equipment on two separate levels, the playground is uphill from one of the baseball diamonds.
One mother who recently contacted FFXnow described a visit where she had to juggle her son’s double-header baseball game with playtime for her physically disabled daughter as “the longest 6 hours of my life.”
“This park is not ADA Compliant at all,” the mother said by email. “My son was playing at the ball field down the hill from the playground. I had to carry my daughter up and down the hill because she could not navigate the steps or steep inclines in her wheelchair or with her walker. The steps consist of rotten wood that does not seem safe or stable.”
The upcoming renovation is intended to resolve the accessibility issues at Reston North Park, while also updating the play equipment, per the news release:
- A single-level design that eliminates steps between play areas.
- Poured-in-place surfacing for improved safety and accessibility.
- Fully accessible routes from the parking lot to both the playground and the lower diamond field.
- Modern, universal play equipment with sensory-rich experiences and activities for multiple age groups.
- Updated site features, including stormwater management and new steps to the lower diamond field.
“These improvements will bring long-term benefits to the community by providing a safe, inclusive and engaging playground for families to enjoy for years to come,” the FCPA said.
The mother who reached out to FFXnow says the renovation sounds like it will be “a much needed improvement,” but it won’t address all her concerns, which also include a limited number of ADA parking spots and a lack of curb cuts.
In addition, the only available porta-potty is also not accessible, and having stairs to the lower baseball diamond won’t be helpful for people using strollers, wheelchairs and other wheeled devices, she says.
“The improvements aren’t not appreciated,” she told FFXnow. “However, the lack of full accessibility is quite often missed in this area & based off what I experienced here & the proposed plans it’s going to be a miss with some high risk areas still.”
The construction project is estimated to cost approximately $1.4 million, a sum covered by 2016 park bond funds and contributions obtained from developers as part of the county’s proffer system.
When the playground is closed for construction, the park authority suggests using its park amenity locator to find alternative playgrounds to visit. The closest parks to Reston North are Baron Cameron and Stuart Road, both of which have school-age play equipment and swing sets.
Stuart Road Park (12001 Lake Newport Road) also has play features for preschool-aged children.
Screenshot via Google Maps
