Clarendon Metro Plaza to Get a Facelift

The Clarendon Metro plaza isn't exactly a destination. Yet.

Wedged between Wilson and Clarendon boulevards, it's something to walk across to get to the destination, providing a little bit of green space along the way.

The county is planning to change that, to make the plaza a more vibrant, useable space for residents and visitors to the neighborhood.

"The plaza, as it was designed 35 years ago, was developed for a suburban area," said project manager Tom Hutchings. "Clarendon has become more dense and urban. We need more active and programmable space."

Project developers hope the plaza, which now hosts a weekly farmers market and the annual Clarendon Day festival, will attract more events and enhance the transit experience at Clarendon station once it's complete.

Beginning in the winter or spring, construction will begin to update the plaza, replacing the hexagonal pavers with rectangular pavers to match the surrounding development, and installing low walls for seating. The new plaza will also include covered bike racks and moveable tables and chairs.

Hutchings said the new design would also be more wheelchair-friendly, with ramps to fix access issues and smoother paver edges for a better rolling surface.

The existing buckeye trees on the plaza will stay, keeping the space green.

Hutchings said that the $751,000 project will be phased in order to manage pedestrian traffic. Construction will last up to three months.

A sample section of pavers have been installed on the plaza and the county is taking comments from the public on the design of the project.

"The response from the community has been generally positive," said Hutchings. The project team may tweak the color of the pavers based on public comment, he said.

The project team includes county staff members from several departments, consulting firm Kimley-Horn, and community members.

Most funding for the project comes from Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority and the county's Transportation Improvement Fund.