It’s dinnertime, the kids are bored and everyone is getting hungry? Why not get a DIY Pizza from Troy’s Italian Kitchen? Located just around the corner at 2710 Washington Blvd in Lyon Park, Troy’s is known for its ready-to-eat pies, but the DIY Pizza Kit lets you create the perfect pizza at home, adding an element of fun to your dinner preparation.
The DIY Pizza Kit can be found at the bottom of the pizza options on the website menu. For $16.99, the kit contains:
– pizza dough for two pizzas (size depends on how thin you prefer your crust) – flour for rolling out the dough – Troy’s fabulous pizza sauce – 2 bags of pizza cheese – Your choice of two toppings – Easy-to-follow instructions – An official pizza box in which to serve your creation
Troy’s owner, Neel Vaidya, encourages patrons to post photos of their creations on his Instagram – what a fun opportunity to showcase your creativity! And then you get to enjoy delicious pizza, too!
For the truly adventurous pizza chefs out there, you can also buy pizza items a la carte, such as dough balls for $1.99 (calzones, anyone?) and a variety of sauces. Be bold and have fun.
And thank you, troysitaliankitchen.com, for your support of our community through the years!
Tiger Dumplings in Clarendon is a great option when you are craving something delicious and quick. The restaurant has a casual, relaxed atmosphere that makes it an easy choice for either lunch or dinner, especially if you do not want a long, drawn-out meal. Service was quick, the food came out fast, and the overall experience felt efficient without sacrificing quality.
My wife and I started with the Sassy Beef Shank Salad, which was one of the more interesting dishes of the meal. The beef shank is marinated with a blend of five spices and served cold. The meat was tender and packed with flavor, with the spice blend giving it a fragrant, savory quality that made it stand out. Serving it chilled also made the dish feel lighter and more refreshing than you might expect from beef shank. It was a strong start and a nice contrast to the dumplings that followed.
Next were the Chicken Shiitake Dumplings, one of the chef’s recommended options. These were soft, tender, and full of flavor. The seasoned chicken paired nicely with the earthy shiitake mushrooms, creating a filling that was savory without being too heavy. The overall dish had a comforting quality that made it easy to keep reaching for another one.
We also tried the Pork Chive Dumplings. These leaned a little more classic, with juicy seasoned pork and fresh chives inside a soft steamed wrapper. The chives added just enough freshness to balance the richness of the pork. They were simple, flavorful, and satisfying.
The standout, in terms of appearance and flavor, was the Tiger Signature Pot Stickers. These come in an order of 10 and are filled with pork, shrimp, and chives. Unlike the steamed dumplings, the pot stickers are pan-seared and presented as a single sheet where you can easily separate each individual dumpling. They have a crisp, golden exterior that adds a great contrast to the juicy filling inside. The pork and shrimp worked well together, while the chives added some freshness. They were easily the highlight of the meal and definitely worth ordering, especially if you are sharing.
Overall, Tiger Dumplings delivered exactly what we hoped for. The food was flavorful, the portions were perfect, and everything came out at a steady pace. The casual setting makes it especially well-suited for a quick lunch, an easy weeknight dinner, or a low-key meal when you want something good without a lot of fuss.
Tiger Dumplings is an easy recommendation for the whole family and a place my wife and I have visited a half-dozen times in the past year. Trust us, once you go, you will be going back over and over again!
Tiger Dumplings (3225 Washington Blvd): Hours of operation are Sundays from 10:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Friday from 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 10:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Phone number is 571-970-4512. Visit the website: https://tiger-dumplings.com/ for more information.
By The Lyon Park Community Center Board of Governors
Activism was alive and well in Lyon Park last month, as our community came out to vote on the Playground Committee’s proposed design for playground renovation. Thanks are due the Playground Committee, the many community members who have engaged in this effort to date on both sides of the question, the many community members who came out to vote, and four vote counters representing the LPCA and the Woman’s Club equally. Here’s the final tally of the three days of playground voting:
“Yes” votes: 230 “No” votes: 187 Total votes: 417
While the vote was an important step in moving the playground renovation process forward, interested community members and the Board of Governors of the Lyon Park Community Center, working hand-in-hand with the Lyon Park Citizens Association, the Lyon Park Woman’s Club, and the Playground Committee, have much more to do. Your chance to get involved is coming soon!
Our highest priorities for next steps include: contracting with an independent qualified arborist to advise on the long-term management and health of our trees and how best to protect our trees in connection with work on the playground, working with the county on requirements and procedures for storm water mitigation, and community engagement to guide further development of the playground renovation design.
The Fundraising Subcommittee of the Playground Committee also will be moving forward on its mission, with guidance from, and reporting to, the LPCC Board of Governors. We look forward to being in touch with you again soon! We’ll aim to keep the LyonPark.org website updated with the latest news.
If you’re interested in getting involved in any capacity, please email us at LPCCGovernors@gmail.com.
Every decade or so, an issue pops up in Lyon Park that captures the emotion of the community. In the 1990s it was the fight against Big Box redevelopment of the Sears Roebuck site in Clarendon. After a messy county-wide battle, the result was the smaller scale shops at Clarendon Crossing. Starting in 2009, there was a disagreement about how best to renovate the 1925 Lyon Park Community House. Scores of Lyon Park residents got involved in various ways, serving on design committees, offering feedback on the revised plans, raising $500,000 over six years, and communicating the progress to the neighborhood.
In 2026, the hot-button issue in Lyon Park (and beyond) is the renovation of the park’s playground. There has been interest in updating the play equipment for several years, and in December of 2024, the Board of Governors (BOG) of the Lyon Park Community Center (LPCC) established the Playground Renovation Committee (PRC) “to develop detailed recommendations for BOG consideration.” The PRC conducted a survey in April/May of 2025 to better understand the priorities of the community, with 88% of the 147 responses coming from parents of children under age 18. Based on the survey results, plans were developed (paid for by a Lyon Park resident on the committee) and presented to the BOG in March 2026. At that point, though the plan itself was not formally approved, the BOG authorized the playground committee to move forward with fundraising, with the understanding that no work would begin without more community input—and likely a community wide-vote. The BOG also confirmed that no loans would be taken to cover the renovation costs, nor would any work commence before funds were raised to cover completion of the first phase of the project.
The design was unveiled in the May 2026 Lyon Park Citizen newsletter, followed by a series of community meetings at the Lyon Park Citizens Association (LPCA) meeting and Lyon Park Woman’s Club (LPWC) luncheon. These presentations revealed concerns by some about the expanded play space, the conversion of open areas to synthetic surfaces, and the $1.352 million price tag. In accordance with the LPCC by-laws, the LPCA and LPWC leadership called for a community-wide vote on the plan, which was held Oct 4 (weekend), Oct 14 (evening) and Oct 15 (midday) to provide maximum voting opportunities. The vote was preceded by three information sessions held at the Community House in September.
The question of moving forward with the proposed plan passed 55% to 45% (see the BOG’s recap article on page 9), suggesting enthusiasm for a refreshed playground, tempered with concern surrounding certain elements. The BOG plans to research the issues of protecting the tree canopy and land disturbance concerns, building on the work of the PRC. With 417 votes cast, Lyon Park has set a new record for engagement which will be critical to maintain as the process continues. Raising nearly $1.4 million is no small feat, but one hopes the large voting turnout will translate to greater involvement, both in donations and volunteerism, from Lyon Park residents.
Immediately following the renovation vote in 2009 that created a bitter split within the Lyon Park community, the opposing sides came together to seek common ground and learn the art of listening and compromise. As a result, strong friendships were formed across the divide, smart decisions were made, the community successfully completed an incredible renovation, and all enjoy the results today. That is the Lyon Park legacy we should strive for: listening, learning, and seeking consensus. We’ve done it before and we will do it again.
The Lyon Park Woman’s Club spearheaded another wonderful event on September 27. Under the enthusiastic leadership of Lindy Love, 19 volunteers from the LPWC and the LPCA set up the tables, boiled pots of water, prepared salads and served up spaghetti, meatballs, and delicious garlic bread for 119 paying customers. This annual event is just one of the many “signature” events that make Lyon Park a very special place to live. Despite the wet weather, neighbors came together to enjoy each other’s company, catch up on the latest news, and eat!
Food is a central theme behind the LPWC (cupcakes, spaghetti, chili, luncheons) and we like to say that we raise money one calorie at a time. First and foremost, the Woman’s Club is a service organization, as demonstrated by the large number of volunteers in the kitchen. The next meeting is November 19 for potluck lunch at Noon. Please join us!.
Lyon Park recently was gifted a stunning red & white striped tent that has been a central player at many Lyon Park events. Longtime neighbor Shelya White and her family donated the tent to honor her late husband, Robert White. Shelya and Robert and their 4-year-old son Steven moved to Lyon Park into their original house across from the park in 1973. Theirs is a lovely Lyon Park story:
Our two boys (now 56 and 43—yep 13 years apart, I was career-focused and suddenly realized I was 33 years old so…), and our five grandchildren (now 21, 17, 14, 9, and 7) all have played in Lyon Park. Several years after moving into our early 1900’s house, we did a major renovation and removed a clawfoot tub that was beyond refurbishing. We put it in the backyard as a lark and put goldfish in it, won from the Lyon Park Spring Fair; they survived the winter. So we dug a hole, put the tub in it and the fish lived many happy years in that environment. We later dug up the tub and made a medium-sized pond lined with polyethylene for them; they survived for many more years. When our current house was built in 2008 we had a proper pond built as a permanent home for the beloved fish. Throughout the years, the original Lyon Park goldfish were paramount, supplemented with a few fantails and a few other varieties. One year we actually saw some of the goldfish trying to swim up the waterfall as though they were salmon—it was awesome! One morning our three beautiful 7-inch fantails were laid out side by side, dead. Robert was upset…saying he wouldn’t be so angry if the racoon had eaten the entire fish because it was starving, but he was mad because it had only eaten the brains!
Such a small thing…a neighborhood fair, a kid throwing rings around rubber duckies and winning a few fish, resulting in close to 40 years of happiness from those fish for our family. Robbie, my youngest son, won the fish that started us on our pond journey, and says he vividly remembers the day he won the fish at the Fair. Lyon Park and all the events we sponsor there are so very important. We may never know what memory-makers we have sparked, but I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you all that what we do has impacted little lives into adulthood (and families).
When Paul announced at a LPWC meeting that he was looking into the cost of tents to buy for the Fair, I knew buying a tent in Robert’s honor would be a perfect tribute to him. Sadly, just a few weeks after he passed away in March 2025, all the fish died, I hadn’t been paying attention to them the past couple of months and string algae had invaded. I started over with a new batch of fish this Spring and they’re already producing babies!
English ivy is a tough, drought-tolerant ground cover found all over our East Coast and Europe. But make no mistake: it is the arch enemy of trees and native plants everywhere. This plant initially spreads on the ground, smothering wildflowers and tree seedlings, but it can climb up to 90 feet on trees, which puts each tree in grave danger. English ivy adds weight and volume to trees, which makes them susceptible to blowing over; it blocks trees’ foliage from sunlight; it steals moisture and nutrients from tree roots; and it encourages trunk rot. Some poor trees look literally strangled by this invasive.
Unfortunately, Virginia has not banned the sale of this harmful plant, though starting in January, retailers must post official warning signs identifying English ivy as an invasive and encouraging alternatives. OK, that helps, but a huge problem is with existing plants that residents have allowed to get out of control. English ivy in yards has spread to forests and roadside trees and once you notice this ugly infestation it is hard to “unsee” it. My husband and I were recently in Ireland, which has quite low forest cover (11% vs 36% in the US). We loved the gorgeous countryside but were heartbroken to see so many of the few trees they have engulfed in English ivy.
What can you do to help? Start by eliminating it from your own yard. Pull out all vines running along the ground and cut the vines running up trees at the base of the tree—without cutting the tree bark! If you google “How to safely cut English ivy off trees” there is plenty of information. The ivy will keep coming back but if you keep fighting it, it will eventually die—and you will feel triumphant!
I am one of several volunteers who have saved trees from this scourge on private, county and federal property so you can also reach out to me on email at elainersimmons@earthlink.net. I am happy to come over and discuss and implement a “war plan.” I also plan to start dropping notes off at homes with nice trees endangered by ivy and offer to get rid of it. As we lose canopy to development, drought, and disease, we desperately need more healthy trees, so please contribute to a better future for Arlington.
The Angie, a new French-inspired restaurant in Ballston, offers a polished take on the neighborhood bistro experience, with an attractive dining room, classic dishes, and attentive service. My wife and I recently stopped in for dinner and left with a positive overall impression, though the high prices are worth keeping in mind.
The restaurant itself makes a strong first impression as you walk in. The space has a modern French bistro feel without leaning too heavily into traditional décor. It is bright, stylish, and very clean, with enough personality to make dinner feel like an occasion while still being comfortable for a casual night out. The atmosphere struck a nice balance between upscale and approachable.
We started with the tuna carpaccio, which ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. The thinly sliced tuna was fresh and tender, and the dish packed plenty of flavor. It was a light way to begin dinner but still felt satisfying.
For our entrées, my wife ordered the Duck au Poivre. The duck was cooked very well, with a nicely prepared exterior while remaining tender inside. She thoroughly enjoyed it, and the fries that came alongside it were a nice touch. I went with the Dover sole, another one of the more classic French offerings on the menu. The fish was delicate and flaky, with a rich, buttery sauce that complemented it nicely. Dover sole can be a relatively simple dish, so execution matters, and The Angie did a very good job.
We added the mashed potatoes and green beans to share. Unfortunately, these were probably the weakest part of dinner. Both were perfectly fine from a preparation standpoint, but we found them surprisingly bland compared with the rest of the meal. Given the quality and flavor of the main dishes, we were hoping for sides with a little more seasoning and personality, but were underwhelmed.
Dessert helped finish things on a stronger note. We ordered the crème brûlée, which had the classic combination you want: a crisp caramelized top over a smooth, creamy custard. It was simple but well executed.
Service throughout the evening was also very good. Everything moved at an appropriate pace, and the staff was attentive. The timing between the appetizers, entrées, and dessert was spaced appropriately. We had no complaints.
Overall, The Angie delivered a good dining experience, particularly with the tuna carpaccio, duck, and Dover sole. The atmosphere and service make it an appealing addition to Ballston’s restaurant scene. The biggest caveat is price: dinner here can become expensive fairly quickly, especially once sides and drinks are added. Still, if you’re looking for a polished French-inspired dinner in Arlington and don’t mind spending a little more, The Angie is worth considering.).
The Angie (3901 Fairfax Dr.): Hours of operation: Sun-Thur 7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; Fri-Sat 7:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Phone number: 703-263-8501. Visit https://www.theangieva.com/ for additional information.
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.
The Lyon Park Community Center hosted the third in its budding music series—and it did not disappoint! The musicians were part of the elite program of Senior Chamber Ensembles of American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, directed by Tsuna Sakamoto, violist of the National Symphony Orchestra. Their chamber music enchanted a full house, performing pieces including Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 6, Prokofiev String Quartet No.1, Gershwin Lullaby, Florence Price String Quartet, and a Mendelssohn String Octet. Learn more about this program on the Senior Chamber Ensemble Program — American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras website. Here’s a piece they performed for us: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo-ZJmUk3l0&feature=youtu.be.
July 23: Open Mic Night
Music at the Lyon Park Community Center continued in July with our first open mic night. The invitation brought 13 different talented performers to the stage singing and playing a variety of instruments such as keyboard, guitar, mandolin and sax. There was even a lap steel player! Genres included folk, jazz, blues, classical, old time rag, blue grass, and more! The evening capped off with the performers and audience joining together for a grand finale sing and play-a-long version of “This Land is Your Land” that would have made its composer—the great American folk singer Woodie Guthrie—proud. It was hard to say whether the performers or the audience had more fun, but everyone seemed to agree we should do it again! If you might be interested in performing at a future Open Mic Night, please send an email to LPCCGovernors@gmail.com.
August 9: Celebrating American Musical Diversity
The rhythms and sounds of America at 250 rang out from the Lyon Park Community Center on August 9, the latest in the Center’s series of free concerts. The Mandoleers, an Arlington-based mandolin and guitar orchestra, packed the house with a booming celebration of America’s diverse musical heritage. The concert followed the group’s annual weekend workshop, an opportunity for new players to join the orchestra.
The evening began with small ensembles representing numerous heritages and genres in our nation— then the full 30-member orchestra came together, opening with two Native American pieces that captured the room. From there, the group moved into unique and beautiful renditions of familiar favorites such Dvorak’s Goin’ Home, Leonard Bernstein’s America, Lift Every Voice and Sing, closing with voices and instrument United in This Land Is Your Land. It was a sight to be heard! For more information about the Mandoleers and their performance schedule go to Mandoleers.org
The LPCC has big plans for more free music in the coming months. On October 25, the Virginian Quartet will entrance us with the music of Beethoven and Schubert. Thanksgiving Eve, November 25, will be another Open Mic night, building on our first open mic success in July. In December we’ll have an evening of folk music, with two different local duos playing original and known works. Finally, to start the new year, on January 24, we will host The Big Howdy, a favorite local Bluegrass band that has played a number of local venues. For updates on LPCC concerts, see “Upcoming Events” at LyonPark.org and watch the sign board at the corner of N. Fillmore and Pershing Streets. If you have any comments or suggestions or want to perform, email LPCCGovernors@gmail.com. Hope to see you at a concert soon!
