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Planning commission reviews names for two South Washington Street parklets, asks for more public and board input
Summary
Staff briefed commissioners on two ARPA-funded parklets at 190 S. Washington and 430 S. Maple and presented naming criteria; commissioners suggested geographic or historic names (examples: Cato Adams Park, Duckpin Alley, Frank Brooks, John D. Reid) and agreed to defer final action until after additional input from the Historical Commission, Recreation & Parks and the public.
Falls Church City staff asked the Planning Commission Dec. 4 to review name suggestions for two new parklets and to provide additional suggestions and direction before the matter returns for final action.
The two parklets under consideration are at 190 South Washington Street (the "Triangle Parklet" at Washington and Annandale) and 430 South Maple Avenue (in front of Cavalier Trail). Staff said both parklets were funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) support and that a third planned parklet has been delayed pending nearby construction.
Staff reviewed the city code criteria for naming public facilities, which favors geographic, historical or ecological relationships but allows exceptions to commemorate individuals who made significant contributions to the city or to identify a facility by purpose. The code requires a City Council resolution to name city-owned facilities and requires a public hearing and recommendations from relevant boards and commissions before Council action.
Commissioners discussed several name suggestions already submitted by the public and stakeholders, including Cato Adams Park, Duckpin Alley or Duckpin Park (a local historical reference), Pink Granite Park, and several people-connected names such as Frank Brooks and John D. Reid. Commissioners debated the tradeoffs between geographic names (which are easily locatable) and commemorative names (which can prompt useful historical conversations but sometimes become controversial).
Several commissioners recommended tying naming choices to the Tinner Hill Historic And Cultural District given the proximity of both parklets, and encouraged staff to solicit suggestions and formal recommendations from the Historical Commission, Recreation & Parks Advisory Board, the Economic Development Authority and community organizations such as the Tender Hill Heritage Foundation. Commissioners generally favored deferring final recommendations until January to allow additional board input.
Staff said the project web page launched Nov. 15 to collect suggestions and that staff will continue outreach; tentative next steps include returning to Recreation & Parks on Dec. 11 and Historical Commission on Dec. 12, with a possible Council action in February.
The commission made no formal motion on names at the Dec. 4 work session and directed staff to collect additional suggestions and return with board recommendations.
