County's First Urban Park Exemplifies a Shift

Merrifield a Model for Fairfax's Redevelopment

When you think of a suburban park, you might think of something rolling and green, with a little mulchy square for a playground and perhaps a backstop that hints at a baseball diamond.

If so, Fairfax County would like you to expand your definition.

On Saturday, the Fairfax County Park Authority dedicated Merrifield Park, a little brick plaza with benches and a fountain, hemmed in on one side by a sleek new complex of condominiums and shops called Merrifield Town Center. Though not necessarily a park in the way some might be accustomed, it performs a similar function: providing area residents with a little space and respite, somewhere to read, meet a friend or lure the kids away from their video games to enjoy some fresh air.

As the county's first developed, public "urban park," Merrifield is being held up as a model for the park of the future in the urbanizing areas of Fairfax, where open land is scarce, back yards are virtually nonexistent and common areas must be equally suitable for cubicle refugees at lunchtime and families out for a picnic. In particular, officials said, it is emblematic of the kind of thinking that will be necessary to make Tysons Corner, which is poised for a massive urban-style redevelopment, into a vibrant, walkable and attractive community.

"The county is changing, so our park system really needs to change," said Sandy Stallman, the authority's manager of park planning. "The county is moving toward more urban development in places like Tysons and some of the revitalization areas. The suburban park model just needed to be updated to coincide with that new urban paradigm."

Fairfax has long epitomized a picket-fence version of the suburbs, and much of it still does. But some areas have begun to look more citylike, and that's partially by design. More than 250,000 people are expected to move to the county of about 1 million over the next two decades, with the highest concentration in dense communities such as Merrifield and Tysons.

By clustering dense developments around existing and upcoming Metro stations, officials aim for the county to grow in a way that does minimal damage to the environment and encourages the use of public transportation. With that opportunity comes the challenge of ensuring that the county's quality of life does not diminish.

"Parks are integral to our idea of community," said Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence), in whose district Merrifield Park is located. "People need green space."

Indeed, Fairfax County residents are crazy for their parks. About 80 percent of households use public parks, according to county figures.

The urbanization of some areas has demanded a new vision, one that Smyth said the park authority has been slow to embrace. This year, the agency issued new draft guidelines for urban parks that broadens the definition of a park to include uniquely urban spaces.

There are "pocket parks," which are little more than a scrap of grass encircled by curb, or a shady area nestled between two buildings. There are "linear parks," which might wind along roadways or bike paths and running trails. There are "civic plazas," the kind of broad, brick-lined spaces one might find in the middle of an open-air shopping center. There are rooftop parks and parks perched atop parking garages.

Merrifield Park, build by the developer of Merrifield Town Center as part of an agreement with the county, is categorized as a civic plaza. For the moment, it's not particularly striking. A shuttered movie theater sits within a stone's throw of the 16,000-square-foot park, which is dwarfed by a nearby parking lot.

Once completed, officials say, the park will triple in size and a parking garage will be hidden underneath. In addition, the nearby area will have more condominiums and shops to attract a steady stream of visitors.