It’s no secret that the renovations of Lake Thoreau and Shadowood swimming pools were delayed by several months.
Now, with both facilities set to open this pool season, Reston Association says it could have done a better job with communication and investigating existing conditions before commencing with the projects.
RA Capital Projects Director Chris Schumaker dove into several lessons learned from both projects at a Board of Directors meeting on March 26 — a practice that is routinely conducted at project closeout.
He said RA could have done a better job communicating information about project delays to the public.
First approved by the board in 2018, the Lake Thoreau pool renovation was once expected to begin in 2020, prompting the facility to close that year. However, rising material costs and limited contractor availability created delays that continued into 2022. Construction finally began that August and ended in December 2023.
Construction on the Shadowood pool renovation was expected to begin in early 2023 and take four months. Instead, construction began in May 2023 and ended in November 2023.
“The capital department and communications department now hold regular meetings to discuss project progress and communications with the membership,” Schumaker said.
RA hopes to step away from project phasing and build time for permitting and site issues into existing project schedules, staff said.
Lake Thoreau’s delays were attributed partly to permitting starting five months later than anticipated. For Shadowood, RA discovered several pool beam damage, delaying the project schedule. The project was also planned in phases, which extended the life of the project, Schumaker said.
RA also plans to complete tasks like advanced site evaluation and destructive testing before creating a project schedule. Severe rot found inside Lake Thoreau pool’s bathhouse resulted in unanticipated work, and inadequate soil — an issue that didn’t surface in a geotechnical study — ultimately delayed the construction of a retaining wall.
At Shadowood, more than 80% of the pool beam and shell was damaged, requiring extensive and unplanned repairs.
Both facilities are expected to open up for the 2024 pool season, which is set to begin in mid-May.
Vida Fitness is expected to open its flagship facility in Reston in early May, a company spokesperson tells FFXnow.
The facility is slated to open at Reston Row, the newest district that is part of Comstock’s Reston Station development at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
The 50,000-square-foot Reston facility spans three levels of an office tower at 1845 Reston Row Plaza.
Vida’s gym will include a day spa, a rooftop swimming pool and lounge, a full lobby bar and cafe, hair salon, sauna rooms, locker rooms, facilties for oxygen treatment and recovery strength, and more.
Membership deals for residents within a 10-mile radius are currently being offered through the studio’s website.
The company has six other locations in the D.C. area, though the only other one in Virginia is in Ballston.
Currently under construction, Reston Row will also include a JW Marriott hotel that’s projected to open late this year.
The renovation of Reston’s Lake Thoreau pool has officially been completed in time for the 2024 pool season.
Construction on the project at 2040 Upper Lake Drive began in the summer of 2022 after a nearly seven-month-long permit approval process.
“The renovations at Lake Thoreau pool provided some much needed improvements and expansions to make the site fully ADA compatible, ensuring it is accessible for all Restonians,” Reston Association said in a statement. “In addition, the community will find new improvements to the spa as well as a new elevated deck, which will offer additional opportunities for relaxation.”
The new, roughly $3.5 million facility includes a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.
The bathhouse has also been fully gutted and replaced with a 400-square-foot addition that includes a family bathroom.
Lake Thoreau pool has been closed since 2020 in anticipation of the renovation.
An initial groundbreaking in the winter of 2021 was delayed due to extended contract negotiations, according to RA. Unforeseen sight repairs and site conditions pushed the opening out of this year’s pool season into next year, RA announced in July.
A new Shadowood pool is currently under construction and expected to open in time for next year’s pool season, which typically begins in May.
Photo courtesy RA/YouTube
A survey of Reston Association members found high levels of interest in maintaining and expanding current parks and recreation facilities instead of investing in new facilities.
The survey results — which included over 1,700 responses and is among the largest RA survey to date — will inform RA’s future decisions about parks and recreation, particularly a long-range plan for facility maintenance and upgrades.
“This successful survey response was achieved because of a carefully designed survey, education, community and outreach campaign,” RA staff said in a presentation for the board of directors.
The board was slated to discuss an initial overview of the survey results at its meeting last Thursday (Sept. 28), but it voted unanimously to instead discuss it at a later date.
The survey found that members who use RA facilities are most satisfied with them. Additionally, Reston’s paved paths are used by almost all RA members and are its most widely valued resource.
However, members said they were dissatisfied with its swimming pool facilities, flagging pools as the most pressing area for improvement.
RA’s leadership is expected to release the full survey data to members this month. The results will inform a work plan developed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee in the fourth quarter of the year. RA’s Board of Directors will consider the work plan in December.
In recent years, RA conducted surveys in 2005 and 2015. This year’s survey was conducted with the assistance of the consultant Noise Doctors.
The survey is intended to inform future parks and recreation planning, along with resource management. Survey results were collected over an eight-week period.
Photo via RA/YouTube
The Lake Thoreau and Shadowood pool renovations in Reston should both be finished in time for the facilities to open for next year’s swim season, Reston Association staff say.
After running into delays this summer, construction on Lake Thoreau pool at 2040 Upper Lake Drive is about 90% complete, RA Director of Capital Projects Chris Schumaker reported in an update on Friday (Sept. 22). That puts the project on track be done by Thanksgiving, he said.
The roughly $3.5 million renovation includes a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp and “zero-depth” feature to provide ADA access, a redesigned and elevated deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.
“We’ve now moved [the spa] over to the other side of the facility to provide ADA accessibility,” Schumaker said. “It’s been kept the same size but has improved jets and heating that we didn’t have before.”
This is the first major overhaul of the pool since it was originally built in the 1980s. The facility has been closed for the project since 2020, but work didn’t begin until last fall after encountering delays related to permitting and the availability of contractors and construction supplies.
Schumaker also reported that the first phase of RA’s Shadowood pool renovation at 2201 Springwood Drive has been completed, a process that included squaring the main pool and replacing the bathhouse roof.
Design engineering on phase two is now underway, and RA is preparing to submit plans for the Design Review Board‘s approval and Fairfax County permits, according to Schumaker.
“Some of the features proposed in phase two at Shadowood include the conversion of the wading pool into a splash pad, installation of gas heating for the main pool for users’ enjoyment, and ADA enhancements to the bath house and entrance,” Schumaker said.
The Shadowood pool has been closed for four consecutive swim seasons after RA determined that significant improvements were needed to address sewage and other issues at the aging facility, which was built in 1976.
“We anticipate this work being underway here in the fall and winter and be completed before reopening in 2024,” Schumaker said of the project’s second phase.
As summer winds down, the Fairfax County Park Authority is gearing up to give some of its swimming pools thorough cleanings.
The pools and spas at the Cub Run, Providence and Franconia recreation centers will all be closed starting Monday (Aug. 21) for “deep system cleaning and necessary maintenance,” the park authority recently announced.
The closures will coincide with the first week of classes for Fairfax County Public Schools and continue through Labor Day. This period from late August to early September tends to see less pool usage “than at any other point throughout the year,” FCPA Regional Operations Branch Manager Kimeshia Junkins said in a press release.
“The Park Authority appreciates the patience and understanding of pool patrons as we conduct this work as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Junkins said.
The closure schedule is below:
Cub Run Rec Center (4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly)
- Leisure and Competition Pools and Spa Closed: Aug. 21
- Competition Pool Reopens: Sept. 5
- Leisure Pool and Spa Reopen: Sept. 16
Providence Rec Center (7525 Marc Drive, Falls Church)
- Pool and Spa Closed: Aug. 21
- Pool and Spa Reopen: Sept. 6
Franconia Rec Center (6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria)
- Pool and Spa Closed: Aug. 21
- Pool and Spa Reopen: Sept. 9
The park authority typically follows a two-year cycle to deep clean the pools at each of its nine rec centers. The George Washington Rec Center pool in Mount Vernon has been closed for maintenance since July 24 but is scheduled to reopen this Sunday (Aug. 20).
“The Park Authority is coordinating this needed work to minimize any inconvenience and deliver an improved experience for Rec Center members,” the FCPA said. “Projects include deep cleaning of the pools and pool decks, retiling in showers and addressing other improvements throughout each center.”
Photo via Google Maps
Big Blue Swim School is ready to make another splash in Fairfax County.
The school is slated to open at Springfield Plaza this Saturday (Aug. 5). A grand opening ceremony is slated for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 7202 Old Keene Mill Road.
A barbecue food truck will be on-site, and arts and crafts are planned inside the school. Registration is open online.
Tom Dolan, a franchise partner of the school, told FFXnow that the company chose the location because of the market demand in the area.
“The shopping center has fantastic retailers and with three grocery stores, it is a highly sought after destination for Springfield and the greater Fairfax County families,” Dolan said.
The school offers lessons for children ages 3 months and up. Currently, the school will be open on Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. On the weekend, the school is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Customers can schedule multiple kids of different levels and ages during the same 30-45-minute timeframe.
Competitive swimmer Chris DeJong founded the business in 2009 in Wilmette Illinois. The Springfield location is the 29th in the country and the fifth in Northern Virginia, joining sites in Fairfax, the Fair Oaks area, Falls Church, and Dulles.
(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) Autumnwood pool in Reston is temporarily offline due to electrical issues.
According to Reston Association, the pool’s electrical system failed again despite repairs to the electrical system that powers the filter pump earlier this month.
“Last week, the system failed again, and is unable to be repaired by RA staff, or a contracted vendor. Staff are working to find replacement parts as soon as possible,” RA wrote in a statement.
Because of the issue, RA has extended the hours of operation at North Hills (1325 N Village Road) through Aug. 6.
The pool will be open on weekdays and weekends from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with lap and swim fitness on Tuesday between noon and 9 p.m. The pool will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursday.
This week brought other pool service interruptions that have since been resolved.
The Lake Audubon bath house resumed regular hours this week after a “plumbing emergency” at the facility’s bath house.
“We understand that pool service interruption is frustrating, and we are working diligently to return each pool to operating status,” RA wrote in a statement.
The exact timeline for repairs is unclear, but RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk told FFXnow that a contractor visited the site this afternoon (Friday).
“Once the contractor has completed their assessment, we will act as soon as possible to repair the electrical failures at the pool,” Lusk said.
The Autumnwood pool is located at 11950 N Walnut Branch Road. It’s typically open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Photo via Google Maps
Pool-goers will have to wait another pool season to enjoy Reston Association’s renovated Lake Thoreau and Shadowood pools.
In an announcement on Monday (July 3), RA said the Lake Thoreau pool (2040 Upper Lake Drive) will not reopen this season due to “unforeseen” repairs, site conditions, and delays associated with permitting and weather. The pool is expected to open next year, with anticipated grand reopening in the start of the new year.
The new, roughly $3.5 million facility will include a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.
“We regret this announcement as much work has been done and we were excited to share it with the membership,” RA wrote in a statement.
Work on Shadowood pool (2201 Springwood Drive) is expected to continue through the fall and winter. The project was delayed because of “unanticipated repairs” after the main pool was demolished, along with weather-related delays, according to RA.
The pool, first built in 1976, has been re-plastered several times. Major changes planned with the renovation include refurbishment of the pool, squaring, repairs to the bathhouse roof, flooring and exterior lighting, and the conversion of a wading pool into an interactive splash pad.
Construction costs hover around $1.1 million.
A spokesperson for RA did not immediately return a request for comment from FFXnow.
Local residents are asking Reston Association to change the name of Shadowood pool once again.
The effort — which previously came up over a decade ago — is primarily underway in order to tackle the assumption that the pool is only for the use of the Shadowood Condominium Association instead of for all RA members.
Residents want to rename the area to Shadowood Recreation Area, which includes the pool and tennis courts at 2201 Springwood Drive, according to materials for the RA Board of Directors meeting on Thursday (June 22).
They argue the name change would improve usability and encourage access for all paying members.
“The Shadowood Pool name change issue has been dragged ad nauseam, but is not going away and it will not go away,” Connie Fiorito, secretary of the Colonial Greene Cluster, wrote in a 2011 memo. “Why? Because even if some may think that it is a mundane issue, it is a real issue for the members whose use Shadowood pool, as shown by the signatures of support.”
The issue first arose in 2009 and 2010 when some residents approached RA for a name change. The board ultimately voted against a change in 2011, citing a lack of the required number of signatories for a petition.
A new official name change request was submitted by Alan Nathanson in December. Staff recommended reviewing the issue soon — but not on an expedited timeline.
“As staff does not believe this item is a high priority in the midst of the park and recreation staff’s busy season, staff recommends the Board take this issue up in the fall and winter in advance of next year’s aquatics season,” staff said in the meeting materials.
Several RA members petitioned the board to approve the name change at a May 25 meeting.
The request comes as Shadowood pool undergoes major renovations. In the first phase of the project, refurbishment and squaring is planned before the facility reopens in the middle of the summer.
The remainder of the work — including a wading pool conversion — will happen in the off season. The pool is expected to then reopen before the 2024 swim season. First built in 1976, the pool has been replastered several times because surrounding trees drop debris that stain the white plaster surface.
Since then, RA’s board approved $1.1 million for construction-related costs. Renovations include chipping out the tile and coping. A gas line will also run from South Lakes Drive to allow the installation of heaters to heat the main pools.
Repairs to the bathhouse roof, flooring and exterior lighting are also planned, and the wading pool will be converted into an interactive splash pad with a recirculating filtration system to save water.
