Arlington Opens Voting In Ballston Pond's New Name Competition

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Parks and Recreation has narrowed the list of names it is considering for the Ballston Pond next to Interstate 66 and the exit ramp for Fairfax Drive. The pond is currently being transformed into a wetland as part of a restoration project.

In June, Arlington County asked the public to propose new names for the pond. The county said it received a mix of thoughtful and funny name ideas.

Based on the county’s naming policy for facilities, Arlington County Parks and Recreation has compiled a short list of finalists for the name of the area.

The county now wants residents to rank the four finalists in the order of preference. The deadline for voting on a new name is Tuesday, July 19.

The Ballston Pond was originally designed and constructed as a stormwater detention facility to collect and slow stormwater runoff from I-66 when the highway opened to traffic in 1982. Over the years, the pond has been filling up with sediments deposited by stormwater runoff, which slows down when it reaches the pond.

The Ballston Pond is no longer functioning as originally designed, and its water quality benefits are limited due to water flowing straight through the pond instead of taking a more circuitous route. In addition to invasive plants, trash is a continual issue.

In July 2021, the $3.6 million Ballston Pond Retrofit Project contract was awarded to Environmental Quality Resources LLC.

Here are the four finalists for Arlington residents to use the survey form to rank in order of preference:

Crossroads Wetland Park: The name recognizes that in the early 1800s the area near the intersection of North Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard was known as Ball’s Crossroads after a tavern at the crossing. By the mid-1800s, Ball’s Crossroads was one of the more settled areas in the county, with an established identity as a trading center. Learn more here.

Ballston Wetlands: The name highlights the wetland feature and its location at the western tip of Ballston.

Thaddeus Lowe Park: Thaddeus S. C. Lowe was the Union Army’s Chief Aeronaut who conducted hot air balloon surveillance flights between 1861 and 1863. He made multiple tethered ascents in Arlington (one ascent at Ball’s Crossroads), Falls Church and Fairfax County to perform the first aerial reconnaissance in U.S. military history, providing intelligence on the locations of Confederate troops. The name is also a pun for the low-lying park position, under Washington Blvd.

Wetlands Vista Park: The name acknowledges a key feature in the park, which is a new platform that allows you to observe the wetlands and wildlife.