Four Mile Run Valley: Latest News
May 18, 2019
County Board Approves Construction Contract for Town Square
The County Board approved a construction contract for the long-planned town square in the heart of the Green Valley (previously called Nauck) neighborhood. Nauck Town Square, which will be formally named in a later process, will be the anchor for the neighborhood.
The square will serve as a community gathering place for events and learning about the neighborhood’s rich cultural heritage, as expressed through design enhancements and public art by award-winning landscape architect and artist Walter Hood. The $4.85 million contract with Ardent Company, LLC includes:
- Improvements consisting of a public plaza for the community to gather, an outdoor stage, site furnishings, signage, and extensive plantings, including a vegetated swale that mimics the natural stream that used to flow through Green Valley
- Utility undergrounding, street and street lighting improvements
February 15, 2019
Interim Parking Changes for the Four Mile Run Valley Area
Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 23, new, interim parking changes in the Four Mile Run Valley Area will go into effect. All parking changes will be in place by the second week in March. These changes are being done in conjunction with recommendations from the community. Over the last few years, staff has listened to the community’s feedback about parking needs and the changes are designed to provide better access for residents, park users and businesses and maximize on-street parking in the area. Further evaluation of on-street parking and road configuration, along with outreach to the community, will be conducted by the parking team alongside the Jennie Dean Park design development and the park construction project.
Changes will be made to the following areas:
- South Four Mile Run Drive Major between Walter Reed Drive and Shirlington Road
- South Four Mile Run Drive Minor west of Shirlington Road
- South Oxford Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive
- South Oakland Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive
- South Nelson Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive
- 27th Street South between Shirlington Road to South Nelson Street
View a map of the impacted streets and parking changes.
If you have any questions, please contact our parking design engineer, Bridget Obikoya, at bobikoya@arlingtonva.us.
Nov. 17, 2018
County Board Adopts Four Mile Run Valley Area Plan
The County Board adopted the 4MRV Area Plan to guide future planning and a vision for the area on Nov. 17. View the final plan on the Documents page.
Oct. 24, 2018
Parking Changes Coming to the Four Mile Run Valley Area
New, interim parking changes are coming soon to the Four Mile Run Valley area. Over the last few years, staff has listened to the community’s feedback about parking needs and the changes are designed to provide better access for park users and businesses in the area. Changes will be made to the following areas:
- South Four Mile Run Drive Major between Walter Reed Drive and Shirlington Road
- South Four Mile Run Drive Minor west of Shirlington Road
- South Oxford Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive
- South Oakland Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive
- South Nelson Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive
- 27th Street South between Shirlington Road to South Nelson Street
View a detailed image of the affected area here.
We will be sharing the proposed parking plan with the Nauck community – on Monday, November 5 at 7:30pm at Charles Drew Community Center (3500 23rd Street South). The changes are expected to go into effect in the winter of 2018-2019.
For more information, please contact Bridget Obikoya at bobikoya@arlingtonva.us.
Oct. 24, 2018
County Board Approves Community Swimming Pool in Nauck
The County Board approved the Macedonia Baptist Church’s plans to build a new community swimming pool in the Nauck neighborhood, on its property at 3440 22nd St. S., and to share parking on its church parking lot at 3412 22nd St. S. with the pool. The Board also approved a Zoning Ordinance amendment related to community swimming pools. Read the press release here.
Oct. 15, 2018
County Board to Consider Request to Advertise For Mile Run Valley Area Plan
The County Board will consider a request to authorize advertisement of public hearings by the Planning Commission and the County Board to consider the adoption of the draft Four Mile Run Valley Area Plan at its Oct. 20 meeting (agenda item 24).
September 22, 2018
County Board Adopts Four Mile Run Valley Park Master Plan and Design Guidelines
The County Board adopted the master plan and design guidelines for Four Mile Run Valley parks on Sept. 22. Read the press release here.
May 19, 2018
County Board Adopts Four Mile Run Policy Framework
The Arlington County Board approved a Four Mile Run Valley Policy Framework that ties the area’s future to its industrial past. Strategic interventions by the County, the policy framework suggests, can contribute to a safer, more accessible area that includes revitalized public parks, enhanced access to natural areas, better connectivity and new public and private investment that could include the arts. Learn more here.
January 4, 2018
Arlington County and WETA Sign Letter of Intent Over Studio Property and Potential Studio Relocation to Shirlington
The agreement is designed to persuade WETA to remain at its home in Arlington, where it has been located since 1961, as the station considers the possibility of building a new state-of-the-art production facility. Learn more here.
October 24, 2017
County Board Authorizes Offer to Purchase Shirlington Road Properties for ART Bus Parking
The Arlington County Board authorized a bona fide offer to purchase the land and improvements at 2629 and 2633 Shirlington Road and an outlot, RPC No. 31-034-045, jointly owned by NOBE I, LLC and SHCII, LLC, for public transit facilities and related uses. Learn more here.
September 25, 2017
Arlington Celebrates Completion of Four Mile Run Restoration
Arlington County and neighbors just south are marking the completed construction of the Four Mile Run Restoration Project. Learn more here.
August 29, 2017
W&OD Trail Improvements Construction to Start Soon
Construction is expected in early September on the W&OD Trail safety improvements at three intersections: S. George Mason Drive, the Barcroft Community Center signalized entrance, and S. Oakland Street. Construction will last approximately nine months.
July 25, 2017
New 2-Hour Parking Spaces Available on South Oakland Street
The County has created seven new public parking spaces in front of the County storage facility at 2704 & 2706 S. Oakland St., north of the Shirlington Dog Park. The spaces are available for public use and are limited to 2-hour parking.
May 23, 2017
New Historical Marker at Jennie Dean Park
Learn about the May 13th dedication of a new historical marker at Jennie Dean Park with this Around Arlington episode.
March 6, 2017
Stay Up-to-Date on W&OD Trail Improvements
This project will provide safety improvements at three intersections along the W&OD Trail near South Four Mile Run Drive, including South George Mason Drive, the signalized entrance to Barcroft Sports Complex and South Oakland Street. Construction is expected to begin in spring or summer of 2017.
February 24, 2017
ART Bus Relocation This Weekend, Feb. 24-26
The installation of light poles, fixtures, wiring and security cameras have been substantially completed at the leased Shirlington property. Pavement markings were also installed this week. At the Water Pollution Control Plant, we have completed gravel lot improvements and the installation of additional lighting will be complete by the end of the week. With these improvements, both sites are now ready to house the ART bus fleet. Therefore, the relocation will occur this weekend– beginning Friday, February 24 and we expect to be completed on Sunday, February 26.
Please expect some increased traffic as we move our operation–which will be done mostly in the morning and midday.
February 9, 2017
ART Bus Relocation by March 1, Restoration Work
Our contractor has encountered some additional construction challenges in the final phases of building the ART House facility in Crystal City– the facility is now expected to open by early summer. However, this will not impact the timeline for the relocation of ART buses from the former LaPorte site. We made a commitment to move the fleet as soon as we could and we intend to fulfill that promise. The anticipated date (dependent on weather) that we’ll be moving the entire fleet is by March 1st.
Staff has looked extensively at feasible and cost-effective options to house the buses until the ART House facility is completed. The majority of buses will go on the leased 2629 Shirlington Road property while the balance of buses will be housed on the Water Pollution Control Plant. Some spares will go to our maintenance facility in Alexandria. We are currently working through operational logistics needed to dispatch from two sites. Our goal in the move is to not disrupt bus service for the entire community.
Once completed the ART House and Shirlington will accommodate all of our bus fleet. The Shirlington site is not a long-term solution as our lease expires in 2023. A long-term solution will be examined as part of the Joint Facilities Advisory Committee.
Restoration Work
The Department of Environmental Services (DES) is working with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) on the plan to restore the former LaPorte lot. The work will take place this spring. DES staff will be removing: lights and car stops, gravel and all sides of the fence except for the Four Mile Run frontage (due to safety reasons). Staff will then cover the ground with topsoil and grass seed. DPR will place some strategic boulders along the street frontage to keep cars from parking on the grass.
January 3, 2017
Arlington to Buy Final Property Needed for Nauck Town Square
The Arlington County Board today approved the purchase of the last of three properties needed to build the planned Nauck Town Square, in the heart of the Nauck neighborhood. The County had previously purchased the other two properties for the town square. The purchase paves the way for construction to begin on the town square late in 2017. Learn more here.
November 3, 2016
Visioning Workshop Scheduled for Dec. 2-6
Bring your ideas for the future of the Four Mile Run Valley to a multi-day community visioning workshop on Dec. 2-6. Through hands-on design exercises and engaging conversations, learn and share about land uses and urban design; parks, playgrounds, recreational programming and open spaces; the dog park; street design and transportation; stream restoration and environmental improvements; historic and cultural resources; and more.
Event flyer | en Español
June 18, 2016
Contracts Approved for Four Mile Run Restoration, Stormwater Improvements
The Arlington County Board has approved contracts for two projects adjacent to the 4MRV study area, one to restore the lower section of the Four Mile Run stream and another to upgrade the storm sewer and install new water mains and four facilities to filter stormwater runoff in north Arlington. Both projects will benefit our local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Learn more here.
Related: On Saturday, Sept. 17, join Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment for the 2016 Four Mile Run Cleanup at Barcroft Park.
June 6, 2016
4MRV Process Kicks Off with Community Walking Tour
More than 50 community members and working group members participated in walking tour of the Four Mile Run Valley study area on June 4, stopping and learning more about key locations including Nauck Town Square, Jennie Dean Park, the dog park, and Four Mile Run Drive and stream.
Download a copy of the walking tour map here.
May 6, 2016
County Plans to Lease Nauck Area Lot
The County plans to lease 2631 Shirlington Road in the Nauck community, next to the CubeSmart storage lot off I-395. The site will help address various facilities needs in the coming years while we explore more permanent long-term solutions. It is part of our strategy and commitment to stop using the Jennie Dean Park parking lot as soon as possible, and to find a place to house vehicles displaced by planned construction of the Trades Center Garage.
The Board will vote on the lease at its Saturday, May 14 Regular County Board Meeting. Read Board Report #19 to learn more.
April 28, 2016
Paving Work Scheduled for Parking Lot A of the Shirlington Dog Park
DES has scheduled upcoming milling and paving work on Parking Lot A of the Shirlington Dog Park (between South Nelson and South Oakland Streets). Crews will begin mobilizing on Thursday, May 5 for milling operations, then paving will follow the week of May 9. The newly surfaced lot will be able to accommodate more vehicles and configuration will be improved for park visitors, as requested by the community. The work will be performed during the day, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and is expected to last two days (one day for milling and another for paving). The lot will be closed while the work is being performed, but will be open over the weekend. Residents and visitors will see temporary “No Parking” signs, which will be posted on the street a minimum of two days before the start of work. Restriping will be scheduled with our contractor following the repaving (in May). County staff are informing the Nauck and Shirlington Civic Association, WETA, non-profits, Sports Division, and the surrounding businesses of this effort.
April 19, 2016
County Board Adopts Four Mile Run Valley Initiative Working Group Charge
April 18, 2016
Survey: Draft Designs for Nauck Town Square
Artist Walter Hood has designed two draft designs (scenarios) for Nauck Town Square, which will take up the entire block (between 24th Road South and South Shirlington Road). It will serve as a community gathering place for events and learning about the neighborhood’s rich cultural heritage as expressed through design enhancements and public art. The survey closed May 2. View more detailed images and descriptions of the scenarios here.