The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is contemplating some significant upgrades to South Lakes Drive Park in Reston.
The proposed renovation is among the projects that could be funded by the 2026 Park Bond if voters approve a referendum on the ballot in today’s general election. The measure would provide a total of $180 million for FCPA facility renovations, maintenance, construction and land acquisition.
As authorized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 27, the park authority has also applied for federal funding from the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grants Program to support the project.
“Along with county funding, this federal grant, if approved, would provide the resources needed to improve the park’s layout and facilities and create new outdoor recreational opportunities for all residents,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who represents Reston, said in a statement.
Developed in the 1980s as a central green space for nearby residential neighborhoods, South Lakes Drive Park is now plagued by aging equipment and a lack of features compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), making it a top priority for accessibility improvements, county staff said in a memo for the Board of Supervisors.
The layout of the approximately 13.9-acre park also limits its visibility from the road.
“While tall, mature trees within the park offer plentiful shade, the original decentralized sports court and playground are each surrounded by trees, reducing visibility and are the furthest distance from the primary designated parking area,” staff wrote.
In addition to adding more modern furnishings, signage, drainage and stormwater systems, the FCPA is proposing to:
- Upgrade the existing 195-foot by 360-foot rectangular athletic field with a turf refresh and a new irrigation system
- Replace the playground and basketball court, while relocating them to a more central area closer to the main parking lot
- Introduce a 28,200-square-foot multipurpose community lawn with a pavilion for gatherings and informal play
- Build a paved, ADA-accessible loop trail linking all amenities in the park to existing neighborhood footpaths
To accommodate the layout changes, the park authority plans to remove the existing baseball diamond and instead make “substantial upgrades” to another diamond field located within 4 miles of South Lakes Drive Park, according to its application for the NPS grant program.
In addition, the approximately 12,748-square-foot area where the playground and basketball court are currently located will be restored with “native mixed hardwood forest.”
“The project will deliver a visible, centrally organized recreation core with accessible routes throughout the park and more reliable field use for both community play and permitted sports,” the application summary says.
The FCPA is seeking more than $1.9 million from the National Park Service grant program, which is intended to help local communities enhance playgrounds, sports fields, trails and other outdoor recreational spaces.
The program requires recipients to provide matching funds. According to county staff, that would come from the 2026 bond proceeds, if those are approved. If the FCPA doesn’t win a grant from the NPS, the project’s estimated $3.9 million cost would come entirely from the park bond.
The park service has $120 million available for the program’s current cycle and is expected to announce its awards in May.
If the park authority does win a federal grant, it would need to undergo an environmental compliance review that could take six to 12 months, according to Alcorn’s office. As a result, the funds might not be awarded until May 2028, but the county would then have a five-year deadline to complete the project.
“The Park Authority is in the early stages of planning for this project and they will announce a process for community engagement at a later date,” Alcorn’s office said.
