The development of a community-centered space near the nation’s capital
On a former industrial site overlooking the Potomac River in Arlington, Va., a 20-year dream has come to fruition. Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center is a 92,513-square-foot community facility nestled between Ronald Reagan Airport and the Pentagon, a stone’s throw from the nation’s capital. It is the centerpiece of 30-acre Long Bridge Park, which also includes sports fields, an Esplanade, rain gardens, playgrounds, and more. This project shows how closely working with the community can help a long-term project develop successfully.
They Ask, We Deliver
In 1993, Arlington County announced a vision for the North Tract properties, a former brownfield industrial site. The property posed a range of constraints, including aviation easements and FAA restrictions, environmental hot spots, historic resources, high water table, and local concerns over density and traffic. (Acquiring all the needed land took 20 years, through a combination of transfer of development rights, land exchanges, and environmental clean-up.)
It was not until 2000 that the County Board approved a phased development site plan for the area and began engaging with the community on how to use the property. In a June 2002 Resident Survey, trails and indoor swimming pools were the top two facilities of community needs. Further, 46 percent of community respondents felt it was very important to develop and maintain an indoor aquatic and recreation center that included a pool, multi-purpose courts, and fitness opportunities. The only public pools in Arlington were in the high schools, which by their nature allowed for limited general public use.
Throughout the mid- and late-2000s, public forums, surveys, and engagements helped create a comprehensive image of what Arlington was looking for. From the naming of the space to the conceptual design of the park and the facility’s amenities, public input led the project every step of the way.