Yesterday a plurality of readers said the program should simply be dismantled. But that seems unlikely, given the county board’s expressed support for the program on Saturday.
Susan Kalish, spokesperson for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, says the county has gotten a “deluge” of snowblower requests this year and will likely be deciding this week whether to purchase additional machines.
Virginia Highlands Park is in line to get the county’s most elaborate sprayground park yet.
The spiral-shaped park takes elements of Arlington’s existing sprayground parks, as well as elements from other water parks around the country. It will be located in a corner of the park, near the volleyball and basketball courts.
Want to do more with your free time this winter? Tired of spending the cold weather months hibernating in your house or apartment with nothing productive to do?
Arlington’s parks and rec department has released its latest course catalog, with more than 250 options for exercising the mind and body.
Quarterdeck May Remain Open, After All — TBD is reporting that the owner of Quarterdeck has reopened lease negotiations with the property’s landlord. Last week it was revealed that owner Lou Gatti was telling Radnor / Fort Myer Heights residents that the restaurant would be closing after 31 years in business.
Plastic Bag Tax May Have to Wait — The county board’s desire to impose a 5-cent tax on plastic grocery store bags — similar to the tax currently in place in the District — may have to wait until another year. At Wednesday’s work session between the board and Arlington’s state legislative delegation, bag tax proponent Del. Adam Ebbin said getting Virginia lawmakers to grant Arlington the authority to impose such a tax would likely be “a multi-year effort.” More from the Sun Gazette.
The forum will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library’s auditorium (1015 North Quincy Street).
As we reported earlier, Donnellan has said that her recommended budget will likely not include any further cuts for county parks or libraries, but it will include sizable cuts in other areas.
The USTA Mid-Atlantic Section named Arlington County’s Parks Department its “2010 Parks and Recreation Agency of the Year.” The award is in recognition of the county’s “overall tennis programming.”
“This award demonstrates that the state of tennis in Arlington County is strong and getting even stronger,” Parks Department Sports Programmer Eric Legg said in a statement. “As the popularity of tennis in Arlington County grows, so too does the quality of tennis programming and facilities.”
Speaking to the League of Women Voters last night, county manager Barbara Donnellan said she does not expect to make any cuts to the libraries or parks in her proposed budget for financial year 2012.
At the same time, however, Donnellan cautioned that with Arlington facing a $25 million budget gap, the libraries will likely not see a restoration of hours to pre-2009 or pre-2010 levels.
Cuccinelli Celebrates GOP Victories in Arlington — Partying with Tea Party leaders at the Leadership Institute in Clarendon, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli hailed the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives. He said he hopes the new congress comes to Washington to “change it, not join it.” He also spoke about the lawsuits he’s filed to protect Virginia against “the overreach of federal power.” More from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Bayou Bakery Could Open in Two Weeks — Chef David Guas’ new Bayou Bakery will be opening in the old Camille’s space in Courthouse soon, perhaps as early as Nov. 13. First, however, the 60-seat restaurant must pass a round of county inspections. Bayou will feature a New Orleans-inspired food menu as well as pastries, beer and coffee. More from WCP’s Tim Carman.
“Bring the kids and be immersed in 19th century Virginia life,” beckons county parks spokesperson Nate Spillman. “This is a great outdoor event for the whole family!”
The fun includes watching blacksmiths in action, touring a log cabin, as well as making your own apple cider, corn husk dolls and hand-dipped candles.
Arlington County Fair Starts Today — The Arlington County Fair will get off to a soggy start today. The gates will open from 5:00 to 10:00 tonight for outdoor activities. The indoor festivities (vendors and such) will get underway tomorrow night.
Hillside Park Still A Work in Progress — TBD takes a look at Rosslyn’s Hillside Park, which is being revamped courtesy of a local developer. The work is behind schedule, but is expected to be completed in the fall.
The county parks department has posted a sign reminding dog owners that playing fetch in Ft. Myer Heights Park is strictly prohibited. Ode Street Tribune has a photo of the sign, which designates the park as a “target enforcement area.”
Owners who don’t keep their dog on a leash in the park risk being banned from all county parks.
The strange case of Haze Restaurant, Bar and Lounge is coming to a close.
Essentially an old house gussied up in goth black paint and gaudy decorations, Haze looks severely out of place between the Arlington Arts Center and a soon-to-be yoga studio (formerly Curves). It was apparently meant to be a lounge-y kind of a place, which could have brought some nightlife to the relatively dead section of Wilson Boulevard near the Virginia Square Metro, but it was brought down by some very poor planning.
