Quick Summary
- The Fairfax County Park Authority announced on October 1 that it plans a comprehensive renovation of the inclusive playground at Clemyjontri Park in McLean.
- Landscape architecture firm Hoerr Schaudt has been selected to lead the design, according to FFXnow.
- The first public meeting is November 5 at 6 p.m. at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton. Online feedback is open until 5 p.m. on December 7.
- Paying for the main work depends on the countywide park bond on the November 3 ballot, which would provide $180 million for capital projects if voters approve it.
- No total cost has been set yet.
In This Post
- What the Park Authority announced
- Why this playground is a big deal
- How the money works
- Dates worth writing down
- What it means for the neighborhood
- Quick answers
- Sources and reporting limits
What the Park Authority Announced
If you have ever taken a kid to Clemyjontri Park on Georgetown Pike, you know the playground is the whole point. Now the county has said it wants to rebuild it from the ground up.
According to FFXnow, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced the project on Thursday, October 1. Much of the original equipment is near or past its expected lifespan, and the authority is calling the plan a comprehensive renovation, not a swap of worn-out pieces. The firm Hoerr Schaudt will lead the design. The Park Authority says it wants to explore new play experiences, landscapes and amenities inspired by the diversity of Northern Virginia, while keeping the park’s existing character.
The authority’s tagline for the effort is a place “where every child can play.”
Why This Playground Is a Big Deal
Clemyjontri is not a typical neighborhood playground. The playground was built in 2006, and the park’s 18 acres were donated to the county in 2000 by Adele Lebowitz, who wanted children of all abilities to be able to play side by side, per FFXnow’s reporting.
The details are what people remember. Ramps lead up to elevated play structures. There are lowered monkey bars, high-back swings with armrests, wheelchair-friendly rubber surfacing, and elements with Braille and sign language. The park also has a carousel and walking trails.
2006. The year the Clemyjontri playground was built, which makes the equipment about two decades old.
The equipment has needed attention before. FFXnow reported a week of repairs at the park in 2024, and a full renovation is the next step up from patching.
How the Money Works
Here is the part that has a date attached. The Park Authority hopes to pay for the main renovation pieces through the 2026 Park Bond. According to Fairfax County’s bond page, voters will see a $180 million question for parks and park facilities on the November 3 ballot, alongside a separate $75 million question for community health and human services facilities.
$180 million. The size of the parks bond on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The county’s page describes it as covering new parks, open space and improvements to existing parks, and it does not name individual projects.
So the Clemyjontri plan is tied to a vote that has not happened yet. As of October 14, early voting is underway but the result is unknown. The Park Authority says it is also looking at other funding sources, and that the Fairfax County Park Foundation would eventually take donations for extra amenities beyond what bond money covers, if the referendum passes.
As for the price tag, there isn’t one. Park Authority spokesperson Andy Grabel told FFXnow the agency expects a better estimate after the first public meeting.
Dates Worth Writing Down
- November 3, 2026: Election Day, including the park bond question.
- November 5, 2026, 6 p.m.: Public meeting at the Twin Lakes Golf Course ballroom, 6201 Union Mill Road, Clifton, where an initial vision will be presented. Grabel said the venue was chosen because Clemyjontri draws visitors from all over the county and Twin Lakes holds more than 200 people.
- December 7, 2026, 5 p.m.: Online feedback closes.
- Early 2027: At least one more community meeting is planned, according to the Park Authority.
The project is described as early stage, so expect these details to move.
What It Means for the Neighborhood
This project covers the playground only. Grabel told FFXnow it does not change the park’s master plan, which was last updated in 2022. That plan had left room for an arts center as a future phase, but FFXnow reports it is unlikely to move forward soon, if ever, since the McLean Project for the Arts chose to build a new arts and education center in downtown McLean instead.
For people living nearby, the practical questions are the ones every park project raises. How long will parts of the playground be closed? Will parking and traffic on Georgetown Pike change? Those answers are not public yet, which is a good reason to show up on November 5 or send in comments before December 7.
Families house hunting in the area often ask about parks first. If you are weighing neighborhoods in McLean, our McLean real estate agent page has more on the area. And plenty of Reston families make the drive over for the carousel, so if you are closer to Reston, you can start with our Reston real estate agent page.
Quick Answers (FAQ)
When can I give feedback on the Clemyjontri playground plan?
The first public meeting is November 5 at 6 p.m. at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton, and online comments are accepted until 5 p.m. on December 7, according to the Park Authority via FFXnow.
Will the playground close during construction?
No schedule has been announced. The project is at an early stage, so closures and timing are still unknown.
Does the park bond vote decide whether this happens?
The Park Authority hopes to fund the main renovation pieces with the bond, so the November 3 vote matters. The agency also says it is exploring other funding sources.
Sources and Reporting Limits
- FFXnow, “Park Authority plans ‘reimagining’ of inclusive Clemyjontri playground,” by Angela Woolsey, published October 6, 2026.
- FFXnow, “McLean’s Clemyjontri Park faces week of repairs starting Monday,” September 27, 2024.
- Fairfax County, bond referendum page (fairfaxcounty.gov/bond/bonds), accessed October 14, 2026, for the November 3 ballot questions and amounts.
Limits: Details on the redesign come mainly from one news report based on the Park Authority’s announcement. Dates, venue and funding plans are current as of October 14, 2026 and may change. The total cost, construction schedule and design have not been released. Check the Fairfax County Park Authority website for updates and the official ballot for the exact bond wording.
If you are thinking about a move in McLean, Reston or nearby, reach out to Nikki for a local market conversation.