By popular demand, county leaders are seeking a new title for a rather unimaginatively named park in Aurora Highlands.
An effort to improve amenities and visibility at the 900-square-foot park, currently known as “23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street Park,” is coming up. But before construction starts, county leaders need to settle on a name.
A final decision by the County Board is expected by the end of the year.
A resident survey found that 73% of respondents wanted a new name, with the remainder happy with the status quo. As a result, four alternatives are working their way through the county’s review process:
- “23rd Street Plaza,” which received a positive review from 74% of the respondents in a government outreach effort
- “Restaurant Row Plaza,” which had support from 55% of respondents
- “Pride Plaza,” which earned the support of 47%
- “Firehouse Plaza,” referencing a fire station that once stood in the area, received 44%
The Aurora Highlands Civic Association and Arlington Neighborhoods Advisory Commission have recommended that the County Board rename the park 23rd Street Plaza.
At their Sept. 17 meeting, members of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) supported two options: 23rd Street S. Plaza (asking that the “South” designation be added) and Restaurant Row Plaza.
While neither selection was touted as the group’s first preference, several members said that if they had a choice, they would go with Restaurant Row Plaza, saluting the eateries along 23rd Street nearby.
It would be a “missed opportunity” not to salute the restaurant industry in the corridor, said one HALRB member, although he said county leaders should defer to the wishes of those living and working nearby.
“It’s the neighborhood’s call,” the HALRB member said.
In coming weeks, the Park and Recreation Commission will vote on its recommendation for a proposed name, and then the measure goes to Board members.
Work on the $475,000 project is slated to take place next spring and summer, with the anticipated opening in the winter of 2026-27.
New round of engagement planned for Comprehensive Plan introduction: Arlington officials in October will begin a second round of community-engagement efforts as staff prepares a new introduction to the county’s Comprehensive Plan.
The plan and its 12 “elements” — ranging from stormwater and energy to transportation and housing — are the core documents that guide development across the community. While the plan’s elements are updated with some regularity, its goals and objectives have not been changed since 1960, county officials said.
Board members Maureen Coffey and Susan Cunningham have served as the elected body’s liaisons to the process. At the Sept. 16 County Board meeting, Coffey said she is pleased with progress.
“As feedback gets incorporated, we are moving along,” she said. “There are a lot of moving parts here, but they are well-handled and well-coordinated.”
A number of in-person and online community forums are planned for October and November. County Board action on the proposed introductory language should take place over the winter.
Development of the introductory language will not directly affect any of the 12 elements of the plan, or existing zoning and land-use regulations.
County officials in 2026 may consider beginning a process to update the General Land Use Plan, one of the 12 elements of the Comprehensive Plan. At the Sept. 16 meeting, Cunningham was quick to note that was simply an idea that had not been formally approved by Board members.
Board votes to accept bankruptcy plan of opioid manufacturer: County Board members on Sept. 16 agreed to continue the county’s participation in a settlement agreement that will bring additional, though still unspecified, opioid-settlement dollars to the county.
As the very last action on its September agenda, Board members voted unanimously to direct the acting county attorney to accept the proposed bankruptcy plan filed by Purdue Pharma and its affiliates.
Purdue filed for federal bankruptcy protection in 2019 to “address its debt and settle lawsuits related to Purdue’s role in the opioid epidemic,” a county official told ARLnow.
“The County Board filed a proof of claim in the bankruptcy and is thus entitled to vote on whether the bankruptcy court should accept or reject the new plan that has been put forward,” the official said.
Under an agreement between the U.S. government and Purdue Pharma, $6.5 billion in funding will be paid to government bodies over 15 years, with the first payment expected in 2026. How much Arlington or any other jurisdiction will receive is not yet determined.
Recently, the Falls Church City Council also voted to accept the plan. Localities across the commonwealth are facing a Sept. 30 deadline to decide whether to become part of the settlement group or attempt to recover money on their own.
