City officials and community members in Falls Church are gearing up to celebrate the recent renovation of one park and the start of work on another one this Saturday (Dec. 7).
The events kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. at the new Broad Street entrance (601 W. Broad Street) for the Howard E. Herman Stream Valley Park, according to a press release from the city.
The park recently underwent renovation and restoration efforts, which included adding a new arched park sign, benches, pathway, pedestrian bridge and stream daylighting.
After the ribbon cutting, a groundbreaking ceremony will take place at around noon for the improvement project at Big Chimneys Park (210 Gibson Street).
The work is set to start this month and will include installing new play equipment, improving the drainage at the south end of the park and adding an accessible trail from the Winter Hill neighborhood, according to the press release.
Mayor David Tarter is expected to speak at both events, along with Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Chair Charley O’Hara and other community leaders.
Attendees who would like to get a ride between the parks can use the bus that will be available after the ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies, according to the press release.
Image and map via Google MapsÂ
A few months after Open Art Studio moved across town and rebranded as New York School of Arts, the school is holding a ribbon-cutting celebration.
The school programs range from art programs for children to portfolio reviews for students applying to arts programs. Founded 10 years ago, the studio was previously located at 225 Mill Street NE.
The event is scheduled for tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. at 320 E. Maple Avenue.
Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco is set to attend, and the event will be followed by the program’s first “artist talk” event with Katherine Mann, a professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Hors d’oeuvres and wine are on tonight’s menu.
Photo via OpenArt Studio/Facebook
Belong! — a new nonprofit dedicated to helping Vienna’s underserved populations — officially launched yesterday (Wednesday).
The ribbon-cutting for the group was held in the Vienna Presbyterian Church (124 Park Street NE), which was part of the founding of the organization but a press release noted that Belong! will operate as a separate entity.
The organization is dedicated to promoting “spiritual, physical, and economic well-being, efforts will initially be focused on the Vienna Park/Cunningham Park neighborhoods,” according to the press release for the opening.
The group was founded out of discussions among Vienna residents in late 2017. The press release noted that one of the first aims of the project will be securing new partnerships with Cunningham Park Elementary School and other local churches and nonprofits.
“We are excited to welcome Belong! to Vienna and applaud its vision of empowering our residents” Mayor Laurie DiRocco said in the press release. “Their plans for local outreach mirror our town’s core values, and we’re grateful for their partnership.”
Photo courtesy Jeff Cruz/Belong!
NBC 4 Reports on Jones Branch Connector — “A brand new bridge is about to open above the Beltway in Tysons. But, it symbolizes more than just a bridge — it’s part of a larger plan to ‘knit’ Tysons together. [Twitter]
Final Week for Claude Moore Farm — “Absent a last-minute reprieve — a short extension of the management agreement to permit re-introduction of bills in the new Congress — The Farm will be closed and NPS will allow a reasonable period for the nonprofit to remove all structures and other property from the premises. ” [Connection Newspapers]
Burglary in McLean — “Officers responded for the report of an open door. They found someone broke into the home and ransacked the residence.” [FCPD]
Ribbon Cutting for new Capital One HQ — “Dignitaries, including Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Fairfax County Board Supervisor Sharon Bulova attended a Thursday afternoon ribbon-cutting and ceremony to mark the official grand opening of Capital One Headquarters II, the Washington area’s tallest occupied office building.” [WTOP]
Flickr pool photo by Bigbirdz
