First Look: Potential Plans for Pony Barn Area

Reston Association’s Pony Barn working group is looking over conceptual sketches of what the reimagined Pony Barn Recreation Area could look like.

Three renderings by Urban. Ltd. have been presented to the working group. All incorporate upgrades and elements the group determined are important, but there are slight variations and pros and cons to each (see pictures attached to this post).

The working group has been discussing upgrades at the pony barn since last summer. The group decided in December that it would move forward with renovations in 2015, but will not include a proposed memorial garden.

After several community meetings over the spring and summer, ideas for everything from an archery range to leaving it as is to building the memorial garden were considered for the quiet, wooded plot at Steeplechase Drive and Triple Crown Road in south Reston.

The space once held an actual pony barn, but since the 1980s has been mostly a picnic pavilion and swing set. The wooden-beamed picnic pavilion is badly in need of restoration or renovation.

Some of the top priorities include replacing the picnic pavilion floor with a solid surface, upgrading electrical access, adding children’s play equipment and historical information about the area.

This year, RA allocated $30,000 from the 2014 Capital Improvement Budget for upgrades or changes. That will be carried forward to the 2015 budget.

The group has given some feedback on the proposals. Visit Reston Association’s website to see their pros and cons list.

There will be upcoming opportunities for public comment on the project, RA officials said.