By David Newman

The Lyon Park Citizens Association (LPCA), Lyon Park Woman’s Club (LPWC), and the Board of Governors of the Lyon Park Community Center, on behalf of the Lyon Park Community Center (LPCC), are jointly announcing a series of community meetings relating to the proposed playground renovation. The goal of this effort is to take the pulse of the community on whether to proceed with the plan proposed by the Playground Committee, established under the auspices of the Lyon Park Community Center’s Board of Governors.

As detailed below, three public meetings will be held in September to discuss the proposed renovation plan. Voting on the proposed plan will take place at three meetings in October.

The specific language to be voted on follows:

Should the Lyon Park Community Center, which is comprised of the membership of the Lyon Park Citizens Association (LPCA) and the Lyon Park Woman’s Club, approve the Playground Committee’s proposed playground redesign, to be funded by the community through donations by residents and community businesses, at an estimated cost of $1.352 million? The design includes replacing the existing ages 2-5 play equipment, adding ages 5-12 equipment, removing the tire swing, adding accessible pathways and child-safe play surfaces, upgrading the picnic tables and trash cans, and fulfilling the corresponding rainwater mitigation requirements of Arlington County. As proposed, the estimated area around the equipment for ages 2-5 and 5-12 would be roughly 4,500 sq. ft., as compared to the approximately 1,200 sq. ft. sandbox around the current equipment for ages 2-5. The total net change in play area, taking into account all proposed changes, is estimated to add roughly 2,200 sq. ft. of play area, after removing the tire swing, but including the rain garden.

All residents of Lyon Park are invited to participate in any of the informational meetings taking place on the September dates listed below, at the Lyon Park Community Center. At these meetings, updated information will be shared followed by interactive Q & A sessions.

Schedule of informational meetings (all meetings are at the Lyon Park Community Center):

– Evening LPCA Meeting, Wednesday September 9th, 7:00–9:00 p.m. The information session will follow the regular monthly business meeting.
– Daytime Woman’s Club luncheon meeting, Thursday, September 17th, 12:00–2:00 p.m. Note: This is the regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
– Weekend LPCC meeting, Sunday September 13th, 4:00–6:00 p.m. This session will be held both in person and remotely.
Join this meeting on your phone or computer via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/jzm-repm-saj. The link also can be found on the archived version of this newsletter and on upcoming events on the LPCA website, LyonPark.org. To dial in on your phone, call 337-435-0236, and use PIN: 756 684 255#. If this phone number does not work for you, more phone numbers can be found at https://tel.meet/jzm-repm-saj?pin=1113240743113.

Schedule of voting times:

Members of the LPCA and the Woman’s Club who pay their dues are invited to come to the Community Center at any of the times below to vote on whether to move forward with the current playground proposal. Members are entitled to one ballot only per person, either as a member of the LPCA or the LPWC, and a master list will be provided for cross-checking names. These meeting dates are intended to accommodate a variety of availability and scheduling needs:

– Weekend LPCC meeting, Sunday October 4, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
– Evening LPCA Meeting, Wednesday October 14, 6:00–9:00 p.m.(This is the date for the regular monthly LPCA meeting with expanded hours).
– Daytime Woman’s Club meeting, Thursday October 15, 12:00–2:00 p.m. (This is the date and time of the regular LPWC monthly meeting).

We owe thanks to the Lyon Park Playground Committee members for their many hours of hard work and contributions volunteering on behalf of the community. We hope many of you will attend one or more of the information sessions and participate in voting. It takes a village and we have a great one!

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are we doing this project?
A: The Lyon Park playground has served our community for more than two decades and is approaching the end of its useful life. This project is an opportunity not only to replace aging equipment, but also to create a safer, more accessible, and more welcoming space for families. Based on extensive community input, the proposal adds play opportunities for older children, improves accessibility, addresses long-standing stormwater drainage issues, and enhances gathering spaces while striving to preserve the park’s natural character.

Q: How does the size and location of the new playground compare to the existing?
A: The most significant change to the playground equipment is the addition of equipment for ages 5-12, in response to community requests. This equipment will be placed a safe distance from the equipment for ages 2-5. The exact space required depends on the equipment that will be chosen, with community input, if the proposed design is approved. The sandbox area around the current equipment for ages 2-5 is approximately 1,200 sq.ft. The area required for replacement equipment for ages 2-5 and equipment for ages 5-12, plus appropriate space in between for the safety of the young users, is estimated at roughly 4,500 sq.ft. Taking into consideration all of the proposed changes, the proposed design is estimated to expand the activity areas by roughly 2,000 sq. ft, or 20-25% to include: (a) the new area for age 5-12 play equipment, (b) replacing the ages 2-5 play equipment and changing its configuration (both areas to include child-safe play surfaces), (c) adding accessible pathways, (d) upgrading and rearranging the picnic tables and trash cans area, and (e) fulfilling the corresponding rainwater mitigation requirements of Arlington County. Under the proposal, the tire swing would be removed, but all other swing sets would be preserved, until replaced by new swings.

Q: How has the community been involved in developing this proposal?
A: Over the past year, Playground Committee members have met with neighbors through surveys, community meetings, neighborhood events, and informal conversations at the park to listen to ideas and answer questions. Community feedback has directly influenced the proposed layout and design, and if the project is approved, residents will continue to have opportunities to help shape final decisions on color scheme in general, the color of the safety surfaces, signage, plants and trees to be added, and the details of benches and picnic tables.

Q: How will the project be funded?
A: A generous private donation has funded all of the design and community engagement work completed to date and will continue to fund preparation of the documents needed for permits and construction administration, if the design is approved. Construction will be funded entirely from donations solicited from the community and local businesses. No loans will be taken. Construction may be broken into three phases, Phases 1, 2A and 2B, phased to accommodate the fundraising pace. No construction will begin until enough money has been raised to fully fund that particular phase of construction. At that time, the funded phase can begin.

Q: How will the vote be conducted?
A: Only LPCA or Woman’s Club members, who have paid their associated dues, will be eligible to vote. Each eligible person gets one vote, even if they belong to both organizations. LPCA family memberships allow for each person in the family, 18 years old or older and residing with the registered member, to vote. Under the current plan, voting will take place at three designated times, spaced to maximize the opportunity for every eligible voter to have an opportunity to vote. Voters will place marked ballots in a sealed envelope and hand it to one of two designated volunteers at a voting table. Those volunteers will have current lists of eligible voters of the LPCA and the Woman’s Club and will put a check mark by the voter’s name on the list, once their vote is received. Sealed envelopes will not be opened until after the end of the final voting session. Votes are anonymous – your name is not recorded on your ballot.

Q: Can people join the LPCA or Woman’s Club and pay their dues when they come to vote? Will there be remote voting?
A: Yes, people can join when they come to vote in person. And no, there is no plan for remote voting at this time. Under the current plan, voters may come to the Community Center to vote at any point during one of the three voting blocks in October.

Q: How will our trees be protected?
A: Preserving the park’s mature trees has been a priority throughout the planning process. The plan preserves all of the existing trees with the sole exception of the small leaning cherry tree, which will be removed. A licensed arborist will advise us on how best to protect all of the existing trees in the vicinity of the playground during and after the construction phase. The current playground plan also includes the addition of six new trees.

Q: How was this design selected and is it finalized?
A: The Playground Committee, working with professional landscape architects, developed initial concept designs based on the results of the community survey they distributed in 2025. The Committee presented those to the Board of Governors, which also provided input into the proposed design. Further changes were made as a result of community feedback at the May 2026 LPCA and Women’s Club meetings. The design work was done by LandDesign Inc, a local, multidisciplinary planning, engineering, and design firm with an extensive portfolio of DMV-area parks, playgrounds, and community projects, offering wide-ranging expertise in sustainability and environmental stewardship. Details, including the color scheme in general, the color of the safety surfaces, signage, plants and trees to be added, and the details of benches and picnic tables, will be selected with further community input, if the proposed design is approved.

Q: Why is the construction broken into phases and what is included in each?
A: The construction does not have to be completed in phases, but can be broken into phases if we have not yet raised the funds for the entire project and want to get started. Each phase is a self-contained construction project, independent of each other. For instance, while Phase 1 is taking place, one half of the playground could remain open; while Phases 2A and 2B are taking place, the other half of the playground could remain open. Below are short descriptions of what each phase includes:

Phase I – Two new play structures and their safety surfaces are installed, one for ages 2-5 and one for ages 5-12. – All stormwater management work is completed. – Swings and their areas are left intact, except that the tire swing is removed. – 10 benches and 2 trash receptacles are installed.

Phase II – New ADA access is installed from 4th Street and Garfield Street and through the playground. – Loose parts and playhouse areas are created. – Edging is adjusted and mulch is added to a safe depth in the existing swing areas. – 4 picnic tables, 2 benches and 6 trash receptacles are installed.

Phase III – Old swing sets are replaced with similar ones. – Rubberized surfacing is installed under the swings. – 4 benches are installed.

Q: What is the fundraising strategy?
A: Fundraising, coordinated by the Fundraising Subcommittee of the Playground Committee, will begin with soliciting commitments from local businesses and other potential large donors, and subsequently from community members. Commitments or pledges will be sought, rather than dollars, until we have sufficient commitments to cover the cost of Phase 1. At that time, we will secure the money and move forward with Phase 1. Fundraising for Phases 2A and 2B will be based on a strategy informed by the outcome of Phase 1 fundraising.

Q: What happens to donations collected if the threshold to start construction of Phase 1 is not met?
A: Only commitments (pledges) will be taken until we reach the total needed to complete the first phase of construction. Only then will the donations be collected. This way, if the construction of Phase 1 does not go forward, no return of funds will be required.

Q: What happens if this vote does not result in approval of the proposed design?
A: If a majority of voters do not approve the proposed design, there will be no plan in place to replace the aging playground equipment, which is now approximately 24 years old. The Board of Governors will solicit volunteers from those who engaged during this design cycle to reconstitute the playground committee and develop a new plan. Note that the private donation that has funded the design and community engagement work to date will not be available if a new design is needed.

Q: Can we avoid having to pay for land disturbance/water mitigation improvements?
A: No. A Land Disturbing Activity/Stormwater permit is required by Arlington County for any activities that disturb equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet of land, according to the Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance, Chapter 60, and the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program. To obtain this permit, you must submit civil engineering plans showing infrastructure installation to reduce the pollution from sediment runoff and manage stormwater runoff.

“Disturbed land” includes not only the location where the playground will be installed, but also locations where new play equipment and supplies are stored, pathways for machinery access and foot traffic, area for a construction dumpster, etc. Given that the sandbox area around the current play structure for ages 2-5 is approximately 1,172 sq. ft., it is unrealistic to think we could do anything other than remove that structure without disturbing more than 2500 sq. ft. of land.

In addition, many residents are aware of the hazard created by the lack of rainwater management measures and the associated flooding for days after a downpour in the existing playground.

Q: Who developed this proposal and who is on the Playground Committee?
A: After soliciting and analyzing community input, the Playground Committee provided that information to LandDesign Inc., a professional landscape architect and engineering firm, that developed the proposal. The Playground Committee consists of volunteer Lyon Park residents, including principally those listed below.

– Michael Kunkler – Former LPCA ExCom President, LPCC BoG Treasurer, 10 year resident, two children who are frequent users of Lyon Park playground
– Mark Ilich – Founder and co-owner of Procon Consulting, who advise facility owners on design & construction projects such as GSA and NASA, implement modern technologies for project management (like LiDAR and digital twin modeling), and father of 3 children/playground users.
– Paul Showalter – Longtime member of LPCA and Women’s Club ExCom and the LPCC BoG, primary organizer for all children’s events at the LPCC.
– Steve Geiger – Member of the LPCC BoG Ground Committee and tree advocate.
– Sean Kennealy – Retired Superintendent for National Park Service and playground volunteer to lead construction, Logistics, and Operations & Maintenance.
– Niels Poulsen – Committee Co-Chair and active Lyon Park parent of two.
– Tola Atewologun – Committee Safely Officer and active Lyon Park parent of two.
– Ari Portland – Committee Fundraising & Sponsorship Lead and active Lyon Park parent of two.

Q: Will Playground Committee members be able to bid on the project?
A: No. All paid work from the project will be competitively bid out to private general contractors, which will not include any company represented on the Playground Committee. No one from the Playground Committee will be eligible to perform any paid work on the project.

Q: Where can I find the latest updates relating to the playground?
A: There’s a page on the playground renovation on the LPCA website. You can find that at https://lyonpark.org/explore/parks-green-spaces/lyon-park-playground-renovation/