Reston Association has settled on designs for two long-awaited capital projects, unveiling final concepts for a new dock at Lake Thoreau and updated tennis courts at Lake Newport last week.
A community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday) to discuss the proposed Lake Thoreau observation dock design. Attendees can meet RA staff at the dock, which is located near the swimming pool at 2040 Upper Lakes Drive.
Based on input gathered at a public meeting held last summer and through an online survey, renderings of the new design show a more elevated platform with benches and a metal railing around its perimeter.
“The proposed improvements will replace the existing observation dock and enhance the lakeside experience for residents and visitors,” RA said on its project page.
RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk, now the organization’s CEO, told FFXnow last year that the Lake Thoreau dock has been slated for replacement for years, but work was delayed by some staffing changes.
In addition to attending tonight’s community meeting, residents can share feedback on the dock’s new look through an online comment form that will likely remain open through the end of this week, according to RA communications director Cara O’Donnell.
The final design still needs to be approved by RA’s Design Review Board.
RA has also released plans from Rinker Design Associates for a renovation of its Lake Newport tennis courts at 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue.
After collecting community input in spring 2025, the homeowners’ association is proposing to convert the six lighted courts back into a tennis-only facility, removing lines that were added for pickleball.
RA is already accepting feedback online, but attendees will have a chance to look at renderings and comment in person on Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. at the courts.
With pickleball being dropped from Lake Newport, RA staff are considering replacing the tennis courts at Autumnwood with eight dedicated pickleball courts. The facility at 11950 Walnut Branch Road currently has four lighted pickleball courts and two tennis courts.
“While funding isn’t needed to remove the tennis programming at Autumnwood, in order to make a permanent change, staff estimate approximately $75,000 is required to permanently convert the Autumnwood courts from tennis to pickleball use,” RA staff said in a memo to the board of directors for its July 23 meeting.
In addition to converting the courts, the Autumnwood project would include court fencing improvements, shade enhancements and the installation of a water bottle filling station.
The RA board is expected to vote on the proposed Autumnwood conversion, along with more general criteria for identifying potential pickleball sites, at its September meeting, Patch reported.
