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Residents urge fixes at Dogwood splash pad as board outlines design and enforcement steps
Summary
Neighbors and board members described repeated fires, broken glass, human sanitation concerns and large gatherings at the Dogwood pavilion and splash pad; staff said it has increased maintenance, will pursue bilingual outreach, explore fencing or redesign and replace the grill while coordinating with Fairfax County police.
Residents and board members at the Reston Association’s March 26 board meeting pressed the board to take concrete steps to stop recurring vandalism, large unauthorized fires and repeated unsanitary incidents at the Dogwood splash pad and adjacent picnic pavilion.
"The Dogwood Splash Pad was meant to be a nice open access aquatic recreational opportunity for everyone in our community to enjoy. In reality now, it is an unsafe and unsanitary and unmaintainable environment that we are all exposed to or avoid entirely," said Robin Shell, a Pinecrest neighbor, urging the board to consider design changes and firmer rule enforcement.
Neighbor David Barker said he has kept a log of numerous incidents over several years and asked the association to form a task force with nearby residents, county officials and RA staff to address root causes rather than rely solely on cleanup. "I really would like to see the focus on how to stop this area from being destroyed," Barker said.
Acting CEO/staff presented steps the association has taken and proposed next moves. Staff said they have increased maintenance visits and begun photo and video logs, held an October community meeting with the police and supervisor’s office, and started bilingual engagement aimed at people who frequent the pavilion. "We have gone down the road... of putting a fence around the splash pad. We are looking to perhaps redesign the splash pad to add to the CIP for 2027," staff said, describing options that include attaching the splash pad to the pool complex or creating an enclosed pad similar to other Reston facilities.
On operational fixes, staff said they would explore smaller grills with lids or locking mechanisms to discourage large charcoal fires, improve disposal options for burned materials and cigarette waste, add fire extinguishers at pavilions, and adjust automated path lighting so the pavilion appears closed later in the evening. Staff also stressed continuing coordination with Fairfax County police; while officers often disperse gatherings, police officers must see problematic activity to act.
Directors discussed enforcement tools, including trespass protocols and member-suspension procedures for repeat violators, and urged staff to pursue a combination of design, engagement and enforcement rather than a single fix. Several directors said they did not want to rely solely on police for disputes among members.
Next steps staff outlined to the board included exploring design options for the splash pad in the 2027 capital-improvement program, continuing bilingual community outreach and maintenance logs, pursuing a training session with the fire department, and evaluating a smaller, lockable grill and cigarette receptacle options. The board agreed staff should return with further designs and recommendations.
The Dogwood pavilion and splash pad discussion followed multiple public comments from Pinecrest neighbors and drew sustained attention from several board members and staff; no immediate closure of the facility was ordered, and staff said they will continue both engagement and capital-design work toward a solution.
