Bluemont / Bon Air

WalkArlington Walkabouts:
Bluemont / Bon Air
The Bluemont / Bon Air Walkabout, developed with guidance from local residents,
is the second in WalkArlington’s series of Walk Friendly Community Walkabouts.
Bon Air Park/Custis Trail: South of the
Custis Trail and I-66 and east of the W&OD
Trail lie the playgrounds, ballfields, courts,
and picnic shelters of Bon Air Park.
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7
Reevesland
.
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Bluemont Park/Reevesland: Home to
Bluemont Park and Ashlawn Elementary, this
land was once part of Reevesland, Arlington’s
last dairy farm, which closed in 1955. Occupying
2.4 of the farm’s original 168 acres, the Reeves
family farmhouse and a milk barn remain, along
with a historic marker near Four Mile Run.
Named for the terminus of the railroad line that once bisected the neighborhood, Bluemont/Bon Air boasts an unrivalled network of trails, no fewer than
six parks, and a thriving retail core extending from the highrises of Ballston
to the small businesses along Wilson Boulevard. A central geographic
location, shared history, and long-standing civic pride are forces that unify
this multi-faceted neighborhood. From the days of Ball’s Crossroads to the
heyday of the railroad to the arrival of Capital Bikeshare, Bluemont/Bon Air
has kept Arlington connected, in space and time, by rail, by bike and on foot.
And the community has been involved every step of the way – whether
helping tend its public gardens, staffing the Bluemont caboose or volunteering at its award-winning schools, a culture of engagement defines this
neighborhood’s character — and will continue to guide its future.
Fairfax Dr.
The
Flame
2
ATS
1
9
l
.
lvd
on B
Wils
Rd.
5
8th
St.
8th
St.
7th
6
St.
6th
St.
Bluemont
Park
5th
500 1000 ft.
B
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rai
g
Rd.
8th
ctio
in
t.
Ashlawn
Elem. School
Rd.
Jun
Dr.
Henry
Bluemont Junction
Caboose: With exhibits
& displays on railroad
history, this red caboose
marks the former hub of
the W&OD Railroad,
which carried passengers
and freight from 1912-1968.
9th
St.
8
A
d.
Park
.
RdK
en
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th
Dr 11
.
Beaver Pond: This oasis of
wetlands hosts an array of
flora and fauna, from lilies
to cattails, waterfowl to
muskrat, and even the
occasional beaver.
R
lebe
N. G
9th
Bon Air
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riso
4
3
Custis Trail
Fairfax Dr.
on
St. il
10th tis Tra
s
Cu
66
St.
9th
Har
Ballston Metro (Orange);
Metrobus 1ABEFZ, 2ABCG;
ART Bus 75;
Capital Bikeshare
Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden
Dedicated in 1951 as a memorial
to Arlington’s WWII service
members, today’s one-acre
garden contains 135 different
rose varieties.
Mile
FourTrail Run
Getting there:
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Lacey
Woods
Park
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St.
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Jac
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Ken xingto
W&O
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From the energetic vibe of a
bustling urban village near
Ballston to the refreshing
solitude of parks, trails, and
open space farther west, this
route encompasses the
defining features of a
world-class Walk Friendly
Community.
66
Washington Blvd.
St.
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ers
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rid
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on S
Flo St.
Edis
St.
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.
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Ambience:
M
Arlington Traditional School
Open to students Countywide,
this diverse, nationally
recognized elementary school
emphasizes academics,
behavior and character.
drow
Woo St.
Abingdon St.
Buchanan St.
Swanson
Middle
School
C
ge
or
Ge
Mostly level trails, sidewalks,
and streetscapes with a
variety of street crossings,
including crosswalks,
bridges, and a tunnel.
ont
2.5 mile main loop with
1.5 mile extension
Terrain:
Lacey Woods Park: This 14-acre
recreational park lies on land once
owned by the Lacey family, whose
property stretched across the
street to the “Storybook House”
and beyond.
Southern Shreve Cemetery
Purchased by the Shreve family in 1791,
this land was sold to St. Ann’s Catholic
Church and School in 1946, but the 1832
family cemetery remains.
em
Length:
Blu
alk a b o
ut
s
W
Ballston-MU
Metrorail
Station
Wilson Blvd.
Ballston
Common
Mall
Ballston Point
Ball’s Tavern (1800), the
Lacey Car Barn (1910), and
Bob Peck Chevrolet (1964)
are just a few of the establishments to set up shop at
the intersection of this
historically busy crossroads.
Constitution Garden: Anchored by Fire Station 2,
this corner hosts Fields Park, a Capital Bikeshare
station, and a garden established in 1987 to mark
the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution.
One-Stop Shopping on Wilson Boulevard
Whether you’re looking for home cooking or fast food,
a funky boutique or convenience store, clock repair or
manicure, Bluemont’s “village center” has it all.
Bluemont Junction Trail/ “The Rocks”
An architectural mix of 1880s farmhouses, 1920s
Sears houses, 1950s split-levels, and 21st century
hybrids surround this community meeting place.
Walkabout Route (2.5 miles)
Other nearby
Walkabouts:
Ballston/Virginia Square,
Westover, Dominion
Hills, Arlington Forest
For more information about
walking in and around
Arlington, visit
www.WalkArlington.com
Extension (1.5 miles)