Neighborhood Day - An Arlington Tradition

Arlington's history of strong neighborhoods goes back to its origins as a rural community around the turn of the 20th century and through the early 1900's. Neighborhoods had their own schools, libraries, meeting houses, and post offices. Although the County gradually spread until the small communities became part of a larger "urban village," losing their postmarks and some of their identity, the County continues to rely on its neighborhood associations to provide the first level of democratic participation in what we call "the Arlington Way." Neighborhood Day is an effort to recognize and celebrate this history, and the continued role of neighborhood associations and neighborhood schools in our daily life.

In recognition of the strength of its neighborhoods Arlington has a unique Neighborhood Conservation program. Neighborhoods join the program by completing an arduous planning exercise that results in a Neighborhood Conservation Plan. The plan indentifies the neighborhood's priorities, goals and necessary physical improvements. (Here is a sample plan.) The neighborhood designates its representatives to the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee, a group that is empowered by the County to earmark funds for the improvement projects identified in the various Neighborhood Conservation Plans to be funded by a bi-annual bond issue. This is the only program in the US where neighborhoods themselves control the funding for their improvement projects.

Arlington's school system is strong, diverse and staffed with capable teachers and administrators. In addition there is a long tradition of parent involvement though the PTA's, grouped under the County Council of PTA's. Parents give generously of their time to school activities.

Only about a fourth of Arlington's households have children in the schools. Because of time constraints, the parents' involvement in school activities may prevent them from being active in their neighborhood association. In an effort to improve coordination between neighborhood associations and PTA's, Arlington Neighborhood Day emphasizes joint events involving both groups. The day begins with these joint neighborhood events, organized in the neighborhood and corresponding to the unique characteristics of each school and neighborhood association. We have a sample list of events in an earlier year as an example. This year's list will develop over coming months.

Later in the day, the focus turns to the County-wide Neighborhood Day Parade. This parade is sponsored by the County, planned by the Neighborhood Day Steering Committee. It has a home-grown atmosphere and many diverse participants. We have a list of participants in an earlier parade as an example.

For 2002, Neighborhood Day is scheduled for Saturday May 11, 2002. The theme will be some variation of "Trees" to tie in with the effort this year to address the loss of tree canopy in Arlington.

For 2002 we expect the major events will include:

• Neighborhood events in the morning joinly sponsored by neighborhood associations and PTA's.
• The Ballston Common ceremony recognizing Neighborhood Heroes
• The Big Parade
• Courthouse Plaza events after the parade
• The Columbia Pike Blues Festival in the afternoon-evening
• The Fort Myer Twilight Tattoo

Last modified: April 4, 2002

The Neighborhood Day page is hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation