The Fairfax County Park Authority’s overhaul of the Reston North playground — designed to replace aging equipment and make the park more accessible — is nearly complete.
The Park Authority announced today (Thursday) that it will celebrate the playground’s official reopening with a ribbon-cutting on June 3 at 5 p.m.
Located at 11760 Stevenage Road, the park’s prior equipment was installed in the 1980s and ‘90s, and “had reached the end of their lifecycle and no longer met current accessibility and safety standards,” according to a press release.
The park authority said that the playground’s new key features include:
- 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.
Local families had expressed concerns before the renovation about the challenges the site presented for people with disabilities, FFXnow reported in September. Aging wooden steps to the adjacent baseball field, coupled with a steep incline from the playground, made it challenging to use multiple amenities.
Construction started in October and appears to have been completed on the playground’s new equipment, which includes a bright red and neon green fort-style playspace, climbing nets, accessible swings, and shaded seating areas for adults.
“The renovation has transformed the site into a safer, more modern and inclusive play space designed for children, families and caregivers,” the park authority said in its press release.
Much of the landscaping still remains blocked off with orange netting, and the playground is technically considered closed until opening day.
The project was expected to cost $1.4 million, paid for by 2016 park bond funds and the county’s proffer system, which developers often pay into as part of the rezoning process.
