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Vienna council designates 700 block of 30 First Street as a play street
Summary
The Vienna City Council unanimously approved a resolution designating the 700 block of 30 First Street as a play street, allowing children to use the roadway for recreation with city signage and limits on through traffic.
The Vienna City Council voted unanimously to designate the 700 block of 30 First Street as a play street, removing the citywide prohibition on street play for that short block and allowing signage to limit through-traffic.
The designation, authorized under Vienna Municipal Code 311.05, will let residents use the stretch of roadway for child play while the city posts signs at both ends to notify drivers and restrict through traffic. City officials said the move is intended to preserve a small neighborhood practice where children gather to play basketball and other games.
Sarah McBride, a resident of the 700 block of 30 First Street, told the council the change would benefit multiple families on the block. “When you have children the days are long, but the years are short,” McBride said, adding the designation would let kids “continue to play basketball and just enjoy being a kid.” Alan Schultz, another resident who delivered pizzas in the area and said he often stopped to play with neighborhood children, said, “I’m in favor of this.”
Council members discussed safety and enforcement. Some members asked whether the city would add physical traffic calming or barricades; staff and council members said the ordinance requires signage and that the police department’s traffic counts classify the block as low-traffic. Council members noted speed bumps were not part of the play-street ordinance and would require a separate review because of impacts on city vehicles and utilities.
Mayor Mary Emerick and other council members said the city will install signs marking the play-street limits and monitor the block; they said the designation can be revisited if problems arise. The resolution passed on a unanimous vote.
The action applies only to the defined 700 block section; city staff said it does not change traffic rules on nearby through streets or remove other safety responsibilities from residents.
Council members said they expect the signs to be posted soon and that they will consider follow-up if residents or staff identify issues after implementation.
