Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes, and it was our privilege to help create some very special diamonds featured as part of a Little League baseball field, an adult softball field, and a multi-use field that the Arlington, Virginia community can be proud of inside the historic Jennie Dean Park. These lighted athletic fields sit inside the 12-acre park, a stone’s throw from the Pentagon, surrounded by a popular walking trail, a quiet stream, and multiple amenities that bring residents together daily. The fields were built from scratch and represent a grand slam of successful steps to this project, seeded nearly two decades ago by committed community members with a vision.
Challenges
The park sits in the middle of a heavily industrial area, sometimes lacking resources but always with an abundance of community heart and engagement. Yet, partnering with a municipality often means longer timetables and more stringent guidelines before breaking ground, as more stakeholders are involved and many planning meetings are required.
After the fields were constructed with all the landscaping features in place, the city would be handling the maintenance, so their crews needed to be set up for success. Community baseball and softball fields see heavy action during certain times of the year, especially in this active community where sports have always played an enormous role. Homage needed to be paid to baseball and softball heroes of the past when this once-segregated park was the only recreational facility available to the local black community.
These two diamond fields needed to be a powerful source of pride for a community on its way up. But also for the park’s namesake, Jennie Dean (Jane Serepta Dean), a heroic figure who worked tirelessly to better her community, starting Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth and having her efforts lauded by Frederick Douglass and President Theodore Roosevelt.
Results
Yellowstone Landscape was honored to get the chance to rise to the occasion, overcoming the many challenges inherent to athletic field construction and landscaping. How we successfully managed this project:
- We listened closely alongside public officials to community input as this project marched forward.
- Our experience constructing premier athletic fields for colleges and travel teams guided our planning.
- Sustainable design principles helped stretch the county’s budget, saving them precious funds.
- Design adjustments were made to appeal to park visitors not there for baseball but might still enjoy the sights and sounds of Little League enthusiasm.
- We set aside areas perfect for highlighting the park’s sports history with pennants along fences showing off regionally famous teams (i.e., Green Valley Quicksteps, Green Machine, and Over the Hill Gang).
- Natural areas of the park were protected at every stage of construction.
- The walking trail gives visitors prime green space for exercise and provides parents a relaxing path to use during their children’s baseball or softball practice.
- Careful design principles create a natural flow into the fields and produce a welcoming feel.
- Open communication with county officials and county employees made handing off the landscape maintenance a smooth transition.
- Teamwork, vision, and public commitment produced a finished product that’s helping keep today’s Arlington kids engaged in positive recreation, and will do so for many future generations.
Residents’ Thoughts about Their Park and Fields
“As a sports enthusiast, you’ve got to love those fields!”
“The community engaged to ensure the park reflected our history.”
Fields of Fresh Dreams
The area around Jennie Dean Park has been essential to the black community for over 75 years. This wonderful property is now welcoming to all. Thankfully, when communities are allowed to come together, that’s precisely what they do, and the positive outcomes multiply, gaining unstoppable momentum.
Landscaping companies are blessed with the chance to tidy up green spaces and transfer beautiful ideas into sketches then into reality. But rarely do we get the opportunity to help highlight a community’s history while assisting with their inspiring redevelopment efforts. Constructing these athletic fields inside Jennie Dean Park gave Yellowstone Landscape that opportunity.
We can’t imagine a higher calling than to help a place like this shine. Actually, this notable piece of real estate, full of memories, has always shined—all it needed was enough people working together to reveal its light.
If your community is considering a redevelopment project that would highlight the area’s unique appeal, contact Yellowstone Landscape.
