Author Archives: mrskerin

Playground Quest: A Game Everyone Can Play!

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By David Newman

Lyon Park is our shared backyard—a place where children play, neighbors gather, and community happens. Maintaining the park is the responsibility of the Lyon Park Community Center’s Board of Governors (the “BOG”), so when the BOG saw aging playground equipment and picnic tables needing replacement and on-going water drainage issues, the BOG authorized creation of a Playground Committee to gather community input, identify neighborhood priorities, and develop recommendations.

Over the past year, an all-volunteer Committee, led by Mark Illich, has widely distributed a survey, held conversations at community events and meetings, provided updates in this newsletter, delivered flyers throughout the neighborhood, and worked to keep you informed on https://lyonpark.org/explore/parks-green-spaces/lyon-park-playground-renovation/.

Your collective input guided a playground design expert, whose work was funded by a generous donation. The expert sketches here and on the website reflect the general design plan. Finalizing the plan requires selection of the playground equipment, which happens at a later stage with further opportunity for community input.

What We Heard. Across multiple channels, community members expressed strong support for improving park drainage, replacing aging equipment, upgrading play surfaces, and adding play equipment for children 5–12. At the same time, neighbors emphasized the importance of protecting Lyon Park’s tree canopy, preserving the natural character of the park, and maintaining open play space and picnic areas. The proposed design strives to optimize the playground, while preserving the nature and spirit of Lyon Park. 

Design Elements:
-A rain garden to help capture and treat stormwater runoff
-Replacement of the equipment for children ages 2–5
-Addition of equipment for children ages 5–12
-Upgraded play surfaces to improve accessibility and the health and safety of our children and our trees
-Shifting the ages 2–5 play area away from the existing tree cluster and picnic tables to better protect critical root zones, expand picnic space, and make better use of the northwest portion of the park
-A second accessible entry path from 4th Street to improve access for strollers, wheelchairs, and others who need accommodation
-Preservation of the tree canopy. Only a small leaning cherry tree needs removal; while additional trees and native plantings will be in the project budget.
-If fundraising permits, free-standing play areas, such as a small playhouse village, balance play, or loose-parts play, may be added under existing shade trees.

As the project moves forward, the Committee will keep working with community members and organizations to ensure your priorities remain their priorities.

What Comes Next. The Committee will continue sharing information, answering questions, and gathering feedback at community meetings and events. Updates will be published in this newsletter, on the Lyon Park listserv, and at https://lyonpark.org/explore/parks-green-spaces/lyon-park-playground-renovation.

Eligible community members will have an opportunity to vote on the plan. The results of that vote, and other inputs from engaged community organizations and members, will determine the future of this initiative. Even after this decision point, if the project moves forward, further community input will be welcomed on finer details.

The next step will be fundraising, likely beginning with local businesses and potential institutional or corporate supporters, followed by outreach to neighbors seeking participation at a meaningful level.

Selection of playground equipment and plantings, with further community input, occurs after funding is in place.
Comments, questions, and concerns about the overall plan can be sent to Playground Committee Chair Mark Illich at milich@mkdevelopmentllc.com and to David Newman and Ann Pitts at LPCCGovernors@gmail.com.

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Please, Please Water Your Trees!

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By Elaine Simmons

As of mid-May, Arlington was officially classified as being in “severe drought,” so our trees are hurting. Without regular downpours, our trees have not gotten the deep watering they need. A root ball can die from the bottom up, so shallow watering is not enough. This means that we must water deeply. There is no “one size fits all” for watering and I have seen a range of instructions. But all agree that young trees need more regular watering than older trees because they lack an established root system. We want their roots to reach down for water, not just spread out. That said, ALL trees need deep watering in times of drought.

Young trees: A good rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water per week for every inch of trunk diameter. That means, for example, that 1-, 1.5-, or 2-inch-thick trees need 10 / 15 / 20 gallons per week, respectively. Some estimates say 25 gallons a week. A 20-gallon water bag lets the water seep out slowly, as does running a soaker hose for hours. But if you only have a regular hose, you can place it a few inches from the trunk and let the water run on low flow. What do we mean by “low flow”? The photo shows a low flow of water that filled up a 2-gallon container in 4 minutes. So, for trees 1-to-2-inch in diameter, you would let the hose run 20 to 40 minutes at a time once a week–easy! Increase the time to 50 minutes in hotter, drier conditions or for larger young trees.

Mature trees: Older trees should be watered weekly in times of drought. A regular hose should be placed further from the trunk than for young trees—at least a foot, extending out to or even slightly beyond the drip line (the outer edge of the canopy). Let the hose run on low flow for at least 30 minutes. I spoil my trees and run it longer.

Other tips: water earlier or later in the day to reduce evaporation and apply mulch 3 inches deep and at least 3 inches from the trunk to help retain moisture and keep the soil cooler.

Trees beautify and cool our neighborhood, so we owe them good care. In addition to your own trees, please consider watering those on county property. And remember that water is much cheaper than removing a neglected, dead tree! 

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2026 Lyon Park Spring Fair was Stupendous!

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By Paul Showalter

The 100th Spring Fair was a beautiful day filled with fun, sugar, and ponies.

Paul and Darcy

Setup for the Fair began on Friday with several people (David Grahn was a workhorse on both days) bringing all the tables and supplies out of the basement. Darcy Rosenbaum (our Spring Fair chair) (and son Benton) prepped the center for a day’s worth of fun.

Saturday morning started early for a bunch of us, to make sure the day went off without a hitch. And it was a spectacular day. The sun was shining; the park was full of kids playing games and bouncing in the bounce house; cookies and other baked goods were sold at the Woman’s Club bake sale; Troy’s pizza slices were flying out of the oven and into hungry mouths; Llama’s and chickens were painted on faces; popcorn, water and cotton candy were sold; and prizes were exchanged for prize tickets. We played numerous games of “Cake-A-Bout” in the sun (John Rosenbaum handled the MC duty like a pro). Our very own Layla Moustafa painted all the kids faces this year. She did another excellent job.

There were 10 different games for kids to play this year. This year, we were able to secure a petting zoo and pony rides for the children. There was always a line for the ponies, and the petting zoo animals fascinated the kids. This was sponsored by Bicycling Realty Group (Natalie Roy).

This event, like every event at Lyon Park, could not happen without a large group of volunteers. Many neighbors stepped in to help, and it was appreciated. We had several high school and college volunteers with us on Saturday. Leo Pegoraro was incredible all day on Friday and Saturday. We even had a crew of Middle and Elementary school students (Alex and Helen Peters (with their mother Claire), Benton Rosenbaum, and Dhilan and Ankush Bahl) running games. All volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day to make sure everyone had fun—and we appreciate their efforts.

Special thanks to Theo Roiniotis and Billy Hans for sticking around and helping with the cleanup. They helped to pack away games, tents, and tables. They even carried everything into the basement. An extra special thanks goes to my wife Sharon, for not only helping with setup on Friday night, but working all day all over the park, and cleaning until the last box was packed away in the “little blue pickup truck.”

Darcy Rosenbaum works tirelessly to produce an outstanding event for the community. We are lucky to have someone so committed to our neighborhood and willing to get involved.

If you like the Lyon Park t-shirts you see in the picture and want to purchase one, reach out to me at LyonParkEvents@gmail.com.

If you have a rising Freshman, sophomore, junior or senior who wants to volunteer in our community, have them reach out to LyonParkEvents@gmail.com. We have many volunteer opportunities during the Summer and Fall. 

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A Bee-utiful Outcome for the Bees in Our Tree

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By Anne Bodine

On May 23, a huge branch fell from our large Ash tree during a storm in Lyon Park. We discovered the branch housed a large nest of honeybees (Apis Mellifera or European honeybees). As Virginia has recently experienced major colony collapses—and the European honeybee is our official “state pollinator”—we decided to try save the bees. We called in NoVa Beekeepers. Beekeeper Brad Gamon assessed we would need a chainsaw and put the word out to beekeeper Scott Reid, who turned out the next day with saw and a trailer. Reid impressed us by sawing out the log containing the nest and bees, sawing it into quarters, reassembling it, and loading it for transport, while preserving the honeycombs and the all-important queen bee!! Reid assessed the nest contained 10,000–30,000 bees; he will relocate them into hives and help them recover.

I learned a lot about bees from Operation Save the Bees:
– Almost 90% of plant species require pollination by animals; bees are among the most important pollinators;
– Arlington Del. Patrick Hope is the one who got the bees designated as “state pollinator;”
– Bees need two things: a place to nest (like our huge Ash tree!) and flowers for food;
– 70% of species nest underground, the rest in hollow centers of shrubs/trees;
– Female bees spend their whole lives foraging on flowers, making them more fertile;
– Bees sleep several hours a night, and older bees need more sleep than young ones. They often pair off head-to-foot, both to say warm and to keep from falling from honeycombs or flowers while they are sleeping;
– Bees navigate back home initially using the sun and Earth’s magnetic field. As they near the nest, they use memorized landmarks, and finally use scent to zoom in on pheromone markers;
– Bees do not like wild temperature swings;
If threatened or harmed, the colony may “abscond” and abandon the nest;
– When any British monarch dies, royal bees are notified. Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, head beekeeper John Chapple said: “You knock on each hive and say, ‘The mistress is dead, but don’t you go. Your master will be a good master to you.”

Lyon Park residents no longer get to host this large bee colony, but in our own way, we respected the bees in similar fashion, finding them a new home so they can continue their mission to sustain Virginia crops and plants. And we learned to appreciate our own trees even more, discovering how they shelter the literal worker bees of our planet. 

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Restaurant Vibes: Bonchon Arlington

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By Sophie Oberstein

The mission of chain restaurant, Bonchon, is “to share the joy of Korean comfort food around the world.” The Bonchon located on the far Eastern edge of Lyon Park has been sharing that joy for 13 years. Says the manager, who’s been there for ten of those years, “We’ve been here since the building we’re in opened and we stay here because everyone loves us—and we love everyone.” The owner of Bonchon Arlington (which translates to ‘my hometown; my roots”) also owns a location in Navy Yard, the only two
DC area locations. On a beautiful Spring Tuesday evening, the manager’s words were apt, as we witnessed a brisk takeout business and plenty of diners both inside the spacious dining and bar areas, as well as in the outdoor patio area in front.

They’re especially busy on Mondays and Tuesdays at the moment because of their new dine-in only special, $1 Korean fried chicken wings all day. They also have $2 beer and $3 wine Happy Hour specials, and kids eat free with a paying adult on Sundays.

The menu has three designations: Spicy, Fiery Spicy, and Must Try! My “Must Try” item was the Japchae, stir-fried glass noodles, with carrots, spinach, mushrooms, scallions and Bulgogi. The Soy Garlic sauce gave it excellent flavor and texture. Portions were generous and I took half of it home. When you place an order—by scanning a bar code on the table—you can add or subtract whichever ingredients you wish (for instance, I opted for no red pepper and extra scallion).

The star of the show at Bonchon is the Korean Fried Chicken, served with a complimentary side of pickled radish or coleslaw and one of five signature flavors (including the traditional Korean favorite, Yangnyeom, Korean BBQ, and Classic Crunch). The menu and website proclaim, “The Secret Behind Our Korean Fried Chicken? Hand battered, Double fried, and Hand brushed for the perfect crunch and flavor” (Not so secret, I guess). But the recipe must be worth it, as we overheard rave reviews from tables all around us.

There were few options for my vegetarian husband (Several sides, including a new Korean cucumber salad, Korean Street Corn, Edamame and Pickled Radish, Kimchi were available). He went with the Bibimbap with Tofu, expecting it to come in the sizzling hot stone bowl. It instead it came a room temperature bowl and was less flavorful than he hoped, but there was plenty of tasty hot sauce available which really enhanced the dish. The only dessert on the menu is the Korean donuts coated in sugar-cinnamon and served with sweet cream dipping sauce. One donut is 190 calories, which I know because calorie counts are included on the menu, for those who wish.

If you’re looking for some good casual dining with reasonable prices, fresh fare, and friendly service, try Bonchon Arlington in person or to go. They also make party bundles and “K-Meals” for sharing at gatherings.

Bonchon Arlington (2201 N. Pershing Drive, Suite E): Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Phone number: 703-528-1011. Visit https://restaurants.bonchon.com/locations/va/arlington/2201-n-pershing-dr-suite-e.com for additional information. 

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Volunteer Drivers Needed

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By Mark Trachtman

Looking for a local volunteer opportunity? Want complete flexibility? Like to give a lift to a neighbor?

I’ve lived in Arlington for over 40 years and once I retired, I started looking for a way to give back to the community. Last fall I discovered The Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church (SCMAFC). It’s an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that provides free transportation to seniors for medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies. I volunteer my time and my car and get direct satisfaction by helping neighbors get to their doctor’s appointments, or therapy, or Harris Teeter. The organization covers (as the name implies) McLean, Falls Church, and Arlington but I’ve chosen to provide rides mostly in Arlington (North Arlington, South Arlington, Culpepper Gardens), although you can choose rides from clients in any location. I’ve met some very charming folks who truly appreciate the service and I can fit rides into my often very unpredictable schedule (being retired is surprisingly full of things to do).

The Shepherd’s Center is currently looking to recruit volunteer drivers in Arlington and I wanted to pass on their information. There’s no minimum commitment. You’re free to choose when and how often you drive. You can choose rides that are one-way or round trip. By volunteering your time and vehicle, you can have a direct impact on the health and well-being of older adults who may face challenges in accessing essential medical care. Volunteering with the Shepherd’s Center: Strengthens our community by supporting our neighbors in need; Fits your availability with its flexible scheduling; Provides an opportunity for you to make meaningful connections with older adults. You get to meet wonderful folks, often with very interesting backgrounds and stories to tell. And you brighten their day with your companionship; and Gives you a sense of fulfillment knowing you’ve made a tangible difference in someone’s life.

For detailed information or to apply, you can check out the https://scmafc.org/volunteer or call (703) 506-2199. 

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An Egg-citing Egg Hunt!

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By Paul Showalter

The 2026 Spring Egg Hunt was an incredible success thanks in part to all of our attendees as well as our amazing volunteers.

We had lots of candy…and more than 3,500 plastic eggs. What does that mean? Another fabulous Spring egg hunt in Lyon Park. Numerous volunteers spent hours stuffing candy into those little plastic eggs the weekend before the event. 

The weather on Saturday was better than we could have planned. Lyon Park was full of kids (and parents) having fun (and collecting thousands of eggs in a hurry). We hope you were able to join us. If you watch the videos of the event posted online, you will laugh. The kids are excited and hilarious. We had a large number of kids find Lucky Eggs. They turned them in for special Peeps® prizes and lots of smiles.

When our Giant Bunny made his appearance, everyone went wild. It was a great addition to our event, and a fabulous photo op. Thanks to Neel Vaidya from Troy’s for being such a trooper.

Thank you to my amazing team of volunteers (young and “slightly” older)…without you, the event would not have been possible. Your hard work made it a successful event.

These types of events make Lyon Park special and a true asset for our community. Please step up and get involved in our next big event, the 100th Lyon Park Spring Fair. 

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Arlington Development Update

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By Anne Bodine

Governor Spanberger on April 13 submitted amendments to the Virginia Houe and Senate for a controversial “Faith in Housing bill” that would allow faith based and 501(c)3-based tax-exempt organizations who own property to gain significant new value from properties if they choose to develop them for new mixed use housing projects.  

Many of the properties are in low-residential areas of commercial zones that do not allow much beyond low residential or low-commercial density, which often tops out at 3 stores and about 10 units of housing per acre.  Arlington nonetheless has done approximately 6 church/non-profit conversions in the past 15 years, providing additional density for affordable housing.  These were not done “by-right”; they involved extensive community and County Board inputs.  The new bills if passed, will allow the mixed-use projects in residential and low-density commercial areas by-right, as was done for “expanded housing options” or EHO in 2023, removing the community/county board reviews of new permits.

There are preconditions:

  • The property must have been owned by the non-profit for at least 5 years,
  • 60% of the rental units must be available to household making 80% of AMI ($123,750 for a family of four);
  • 60% of the ownership units must be available to households making 120% of AMI ($196,680 for a family of four);
  • The affordable units must remain affordable at those levels for 30 years.

While there are additional conditions for properties in a revitalization zone or historic district, the basic allowance for these “mixed-use” projects (also allowing for day cares/cafes/ancillary uses) is for up to 20 units of housing per acre (u/a) at heights of 45’.  (The current height limits in low density residential zones such as much of Lyon Park is 35’.)   Richmond legislators are jockeying over amendments, including one that would limit the House/Senate versions of the bill that propose allowing any building within 500’ of such a proposed development to “confer” its height or density upon that new project, also “by-right.”  We probably won’t know outcomes until late April.  LPCA will briefly touch on this topic at its May meeting, but in-depth discussion will occur at the June LPCA meeting, so please join us.  We will also discuss in June other new zoning laws that will affect requirements for onsite parking for singe family and multifamily home development. 

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Lyon Park Playground Renovation

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By David Newman

Have you been to the playground at Lyon Park after a good rain?  The high tide stems from a stream running under the park.  Years ago there was a pond in the park!  Recognizing that our playground is well-loved and well-used, but aging, a Playground Committee, under the auspices of the Lyon Park Community Center’s Board of Governors and the Lyon Park Citizens Association, is working on a plan to address the water issues, add child-and environment-friendly play surfaces, and upgrade the aging playground equipment and picnic areas.

The Committee’s work is led by our neighbor Mark Ilich.  New committee members are still welcome, as the Committee continues to seek community input and begin fundraising.  Fundamental principles of this project include: (1) we want to protect our tree canopy, (2) any new gardens must be low maintenance, focusing on resilient native plants, (3) we want to protect open areas of the park, as much as possible, (4) we want community input, but there will be a cutoff, allowing plans to move forward; (5) funding will come from donations or perhaps some small grants; and (6) no phase of work will begin until we have funds to cover the cost.  For more information about the project, check out our website at https://lyonpark.org/explore/parks-green-spaces/lyon-park-playground-renovation/.  You also can look for information tables at some Lyon Park community events, watch for future articles in the Lyon Park and Ashton Heights newsletters, and keep an eye on the LP and AH community list servs.  To get involved, send an email to Mark Illich at milich@mkdevelopmentllc.com.  You also can contact the Lyon Park Board of Governors at LPCCGovernors@gmail.com, if you have questions.

If you were not able to visit the playground renovation informational tent at the egg hunt, you will have at least two more opportunities to learn about the plans.

Representatives of the Playground Committee will present at the LPCA meeting on Wednesday 5/13 at 7:00 pm.

An informational tent and people who can answer your questions will also be in Lyon Park during the Spring Fair on Saturday, May 16th. 

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Musical Extravaganza at the LPCC

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By David Newman

It was Tuesday, March 24, 2026, exactly 68 years after Elvis Presley was inducted into the US Army, that five women, including four principal players from the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and a guest artist, performed at the Lyon Park Community Center in the “Music by Women in honor of Women’s History Month” concert.  For 90 minutes, a full-house audience was transported, by flute, harp, violin, and cello, to a world where everything was beautiful.  The LPCC Board of Governors worked with long-time neighbor, friend, and LPCC supporter, Susan Robinson, the harpist, to bring the performance to the community, but it was the Musical Performance Trust Fund and the American Federation of Musicians Local 161-710, which made it possible for the concert to be offered free of charge.  The concert was a reminder of how important it is to support the musicians who perform at the Kennedy Center, including the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra. 

The LPCC Board of Governors is committed to bringing more music to the LPCC and welcomes your suggestions, which may be submitted to LPCCGovernors@gmail.com and David.S.Newman@hotmail.com.   

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