Review Process Delays Dogwood Pool Renovation

Dogwood Pool, closed by Reston Association for the 2011 season so renovations could begin, may not re-open until midway through summer 2012.

had hoped that renovations, which had been slated to start in December 201, would be completed in time to open with the rest of the pools by Memorial Day weekend 2012. But it is now March, and the renovations have not yet started.

"Much of the latest delay is with Fairfax County's review process," said RA Parks and Recreation Director Larry Butler.  "We have had some back and forth with the County Attorney's office on some easement language, which is one of the last items we need to get final sign-off on the site plan.  After the site plan is signed-off, we can then submit for our entrance permit from VDOT to start the work.

"The pool will not open Memorial Day and we are hoping for a mid-summer opening at this point," he said. 

The RA Board authorized the renovations, expected to cost $1.4 million spread out over three years. The renovations were approved by the Design Review Board and the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee in 2010.

Dogwood Pool is located at 2460 Green Range Dr., near the intersection of Glade Drive. The current facility went into service in 1979. It is a small, shallow pool with no modern features and the bath house is not ADA compliant. It is the only pool in short walking distance of a high-density neighborhood.

Planned renovations include an improved pathway for pedestrian circulation;  a picnic pavilion with grills and an arbor with bench seating and a grass picnic area.

The pool will feature an accessible spray-and-play water area that will be open April to October outside the pool fence, and RA is considering adding a commissioned art-piece fountain through the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) process.

The new ADA-accessible bath house will have solar collectors and an underground cistern to collect water for irrigation. A tot lot is also planned for a future addition.

The pool will have zero depth entry with spray features and small fountain and will be a 25-meter lap pool with diving well and board, as well as a kiddie pool with  bench seating.