North Tract
A Unique Opportunity for New Aquatics Facility in Arlington
What
is North Tract?
North Tract is a parcel of land located at the north end of Crystal City, extending from 10th St. to the 14th St. Bridge. The parcel contains about 28 acres.
Why is North Tract of Interest?
In November 2002, Arlington County acquired most of North Tract under a land swap arrangement with the previous owner. The County Board has designated the land for recreational use, allowing some long planned, major additions to Arlington’s complex of recreation and sports facilities, as envisioned in the Open Space Master Plan and “Vision 2020.” Two of the top candidates for North Tract are a soccer complex and a multi-use aquatics facility.
Current Aquatic Facilities
Arlington has three public swimming pools, located at the high schools. These facilities are small, severely limiting their usefulness for recreation and sports. The pools are old and have neither adequate access nor features for people with disabilities. And they are dedicated to school use during much of the day, rendering them unavailable for recreational activities such as water exercise classes. For these reasons, the aquatics community has long advocated a state-of-the art facility that meets the full range of needs. North Tract offers a unique opportunity to realize this dream.
County Planning Process
A citizen task force has begun developing a master plan for North Tract, including the general location and approximate size of the components of the new park. The task force is holding a series of public meetings that are announced on its web site (www.co.arlington.va.us/forums/northtract/tforce). On completion of the master plan, a detailed design phase will begin. Money to start the design was approved in the 2002 bond referendum. Additional funding for construction will be requested, probably in the 2004 and 2006 bonds.
What you can do
1. For more information or to get involved please contact, Tony Taylor (anthtaylor@aol.com) or Doug Ross (swim_48@yahoo.com)
2. Register your support for a comprehensive, state-of-the-art aquatics facility that meets the needs of all Arlington residents. E-mail the task force (northtract@co.arlington.va.us).
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