Arlington County approves multi-million dollar Long Bridge Park Aquatic Center

The second phase of the Long Bridge Park project is now ready to move forward with a $63 million to $67 million aquatics and fitness center planned. Washington Business Journal reported that when the project was first proposed in 2012, it cost roughly $15 million more. Due to anticipated cost overruns, there was a years-long delay on the project, according to ARLnow.

In order to keep costs down, Arlington County will use a design-build approach where the core programs will be included along with a therapy pool, 10-meter dive tower, 300 spectator seats, and 10,200 square feet of health and fitness space. The planned facility’s size has been reduced by 37 percent to roughly 73,000 square feet.

In addition to the aquatics facility, there will also be an extension of the esplanade, rain gardens, a public gathering spaces, parking, public art, and additional environmental remediation, according to a press release

By November of this year, the Arlington County Board will select the final design for the project. Construction is expected to begin in late 2018 with a delivery by 2021.

• BREAKING: County Moving Ahead With Long Bridge Park Aquatic Center [ARLnow]

• Arlington goes design-build to make $64M Long Bridge aquatic center a reality [Washington Business Journal]