The Arlington County Board recently approved the final major land-use deal needed to create the Long Bridge Park (formerly the North Tract Park). That's good news. The bad news is that Monument is getting the land for $22 million dollars less than originally planned and all of that money was to be used to build the recreation facilities. Now it appears that money will be an issue.
In 2004, the county began plans for the reclaimed industrial land, and voters approved a $50 million bond for the first phase of construction. Three ballfields and some of the trails and surface parking for visitors will cost about $33 million.
The first phases of the aquatic center could cost up to $50 million
Among the bike facilities the park will feature are a broad, half-mile long, raised walkway, known as the Esplanade along the railroad tracks, a trail along Old Jefferson Davis Highway and - eventually - a bridge over the GW Parkway connecting to the Mt. Vernon Trail (labeled as a future connection to the Potomac).
History:
Velodrome Shot Down
Connecting the 14th Street Bridge
North Tract Troubles
North Tract back on track
Just in case you were confused like me on exactly where this is, here is a google map
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=38.866678,-77.047076&spn=0.020015,0.029655&t=h&z=15
Posted by: Ian | July 17, 2008 at 12:52 PM