News

A 28-year-old reportedly trying to pass classified documents to a foreign government last week is the latest episode in a long history of espionage-related cases in Arlington.

Nathan Vilas Laatsch, an IT specialist for the Defense Intelligence Agency, was arrested on Thursday after allegedly arranging to hand sensitive records to an undercover FBI agent in an Arlington park.


Around Town

With summer on the horizon, “spraygrounds” across Arlington are set to reopen tomorrow (Saturday).

Arlington is home to seven parks with splashing and water features. These will reopen from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. this Memorial Day weekend, with the exception of Penrose Square, which is closed for repairs.


News

Arlington officials are considering whether it would be worth establishing a community foundation to supplement funding for local park facilities and programming.

So far, however, there’s no firm consensus on the Park and Recreation Commission on whether this would be a good step to take.


News

Arlington’s parks are still among the best in the country — but they don’t rank quite as high as they used to.

For the first time since 2017, Arlington County’s parks failed to rank among the top five in the nationwide “ParkScore” rankings. They fell from No. 5 last year to No. 7, in between San Francisco and Seattle.


News

Arlington County’s heavily subsidized 55+ programming may get more pricey for participants in coming years.

County Board members have unofficially tasked the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to examine the fee scale for the approximately 7,000 people — most county residents — participating in these programs.


News

Arlington summer camp programs are offering more flexible cancelation and payment options this year to help families dealing with job losses.

The Department of Parks and Recreation is offering more generous refund options and cancelation fees and has pushed back the date for final payment deductions from May 1 to June 2.


News

Three days after the last snowflakes fell on Arlington, significant stretches of walkways around the county remain encased in ice.

Along sidewalks and crosswalks in front of businesses, single-family homes, townhouse developments and at least one county park, ARLnow braved the ice and snow yesterday and today (Thursday) to document numerous failures to comply with the county’s snow removal ordinance.


News

A second tennis court, a new lawn and additional greenery are all included in Arlington’s latest plans for improvements to Jennie Dean Park.

Respondents have until Thursday, Oct. 31 to submit feedback on the expansion proposal, which follows a $15.5 million renovation of the 80-year-old Green Valley park in 2022.


News

Arlington has released the final design for a proposed overhaul of Gateway Park, featuring expanded dog parks, more tree cover and a new bridge.

Other elements include two play areas, “social groves” surrounded by natural landscaping and a large lawn with an event pavilion.


Around Town

The Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation is accepting requests for up to 500 young native trees that will be provided free, one per household, next month.

“The trees you plant are part of our mission to expand and enhance Arlington’s urban-tree canopy,” county officials said. “This annual program is very popular and has yielded many beautiful trees and benefited our community.”


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