April 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 39

A missile site located on the grounds of a
correctional facility in Lorton, Virginia, transformed
into a recreation area with athletic fields.

Missile Makeover
Old missile sites prove to be full of park potential.
Long before the shoe company urged
people to " just do it, " Nike was the name
of a U.S. Army anti-aircraft missile project. Between 1953 and 1962, the military created about 300 Nike missile
launch sites around the country-mostly near large cities-to protect key sites
from attack. Even though the missile
system was never used, its sites were.
As the government realized that
these missile systems weren't needed

(and technology became more advanced), they began turning over the
sites to federal, and then municipal
agencies. Many of them were scooped
up by park and recreation departments
such as the Fairfax County Park Authority in Virginia that is in the process
of turning a missile site located in the
Laurel Hill Park into a recreation area
with athletic fields. One such park already exists in Great Falls, Virginia.

Nike parks exist throughout the
country, with park and recreation agencies using the space in unique ways. In
Pennsylvania, the Northampton Township Recreation Center built batting
cages on top of the missile magazines
while in Wheeler, Indiana, the town created a paintball field called Blast Camp.
So it looks like when it comes
to recycling, even missile launch
sites aren't off limits. Just do it.

Instead of trash, the new Archie Blue Community Park that
just opened in February features ballfields, a full basketball
court, a playground, picnic shelters, and a canoe/kayak launch.
" To see something that was seven years in the making finally
come together is so exciting, " says Isom-Thorpe. " The community was really involved and had great ideas, so I am happy
to see them enjoy it. "

From Prison to Par
For many years, only criminals were allowed to enjoy more
than 2,000 acres of open space in Fairfax County, Virginia.
The land was a part of Lorton Prison complex, a facility owned
and operated by the District of Columbia. In late 2001, the last
prisoners left the jail, and Fairfax County looked to purchase
the land and facility.
" In 2002, we formed a team to look at the land and hired a
design firm to create a master plan, " explains Kelly Davis, project manager for special projects with Fairfax County Park Authority. She then says they took the " show on the road, " meeting
with citizen groups to learn what they wanted in the property.
" The land is so large, it looked like Disneyworld with all
the amenities, " Davis says. " People were concerned that everybody was trying to jam too much in there. But we also did
bus tours of the property and people started to understand
the scope. "
Phase one of the project included a Bill Love-designed golf
course that has won national accolades for its incorporation of
natural settings. The course was ranked no. 15 on Golfweek's
2009 list of the 50 best municipal golf courses.
When the estimated 50-year, $100 million project is complete, the regional park will have transformed the entire area.

Fresno, California, converted a Super Fund site into a super
park providing multiple sports activities.

According to Special Projects Branch Manager Kirk Holley, future plans include a sportsplex, a fieldhouse, 15 multi-use fields,
a ball diamond, picnic areas, dogparks, and a skatepark. In addition, many of the former prison buildings will be transformed
into cultural centers. " Finding this much land in an urban area
is a huge challenge, " says Holley. " We were able to engage the
community in a wide-ranging open process that has changed
how we will approach projects moving forward. "

Rachel Roberts is a Virginia-based freelance writer and
former editor of Parks and Recreation.
w w w . NR P A . ORG

APRIL 2010

Parks & Recreation 37

April 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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