Flashbacks:
The RNGC Caddyshackpocalypse
Bollards!
![_12] Lake Anne [The Fountain].JPG.jpeg](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJHe1K5GISEqRXtexRKTXNviKmR53ij6MOMCFlR-ky_AXYYOzb1Dj15NU7GdsECdXeUE-Lpve83y6grDJQ4ezHyTaCAN1tlijySOING2AqthjBfAYMYs_QP0rYoLjQC-_RJGGYVqY2nk/?imgmax=800)
Here is one of the centerpieces of one of Reston's centerpieces: The Children's Fountain at Lake Anne Village Center. Nice, right? But vigilant observer Sean passed along this photo of a new addition to the "Children's" Fountain:
Clearly, someone's been taking lessons from Reston's most selfish cluster, which is right around the corner from the Plaza.
There's actually a reason for that- no one moniters that water to make sure it's safe, and little kids are actually swimming in it now, not just wading like when I was a kid (back in the day).
ReplyDeleteA few summers ago, my daughter broke out in nasty sores hours after playing in that fountain, and after that I never let her back in. God only knows what is growing in there. I think this is a CYA move by Lake Anne to keep from getting sued. Not to mention that there are sharp concrete blocks in the bottom of this, and I have been there on more than one occasion where a kid ended up cutting themselves pretty badly (and then bleeding into the water, which is, again, not monitered).
That sign has been there for a while (though I believe it use to be gold and black). However I remember as a kid swimming in here, and cutting myself on the cement blocks. I also remember getting sick one time and no longer being allowed in the fountain.
ReplyDeleteThe bigger question is, why doesn't anyone monitor this for bacteria and what not? Aren't fountain operators required to do this?
The county is responsible for monitoring such facilities. Our pools are tested for chlorine levels every hour to be sure they are safe for children. No one tests the Lake Anne fountain. It is not safe for children. It is not safe for pets. And nobody should drink the water (I have seen people drinking from the fountains) because it recycles all day long.
ReplyDeleteNo pets or children, eh? Do they allow pets and children, then?
ReplyDeleteThat sucks.
ReplyDeleteAnon@147: Nice attempt at being clever, but no. "Do they allow adults, then?" might have been a better attempt.
How about imaginary friends? Are they forbidden as well?
ReplyDeleteYou can't even swim in the lake with all the run-off of geese waste. Why would anyone expect a fountain at that lake to be clean?
ReplyDeleteIf they were truly selfish, you would see the adults wading in the fountain and running through the sprays on hot days.
Geese waste? Leaking sewers? Arsenic pollution from the boardwalks? Charming, Lake Anne.
ReplyDeletehey, Lake Anne is a beautiful community -- unfortunately when all the attention and dollars are focused on the "new bethesda" next to the toll road, this 45 year old village (the original Reston Town Center)gets neglected... I for one, welcome the Revitalization plan -- one of the few times I'm hoping for some development...
ReplyDeleteWait until the teeming masses of unwashed line up outside your door.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it clear that the time has long past to 'dozer that poorly conceived and incompetently built mess next to Lake Anne.
ReplyDeleteAs a community asset it barely functioned in the '80s and works not at all now, except for nostaglia addicts.
Not every suburban design failure needs to be "lucited" for eternity.
Go back to North Point.
ReplyDeleteLake Anne does need to be revitalized -- and the nostalgic can still see some aspects of the unique architecture and heritage carried through on something that provides more business, more access, more people, more community....
ReplyDeleteLake Anne Plaza: Face it. It is a failure functionally and aesthetically (okay, at best a partial success but not enough). Level it and start over. Use the spirit of the original and try to avoid its mistakes. Sure, it's a state historic district. Big deal. With enough money at stake, anything is possible.
ReplyDeletetoo bad the powers that be have left the plaza for ruin,but there is no help from the "condo association".instead of trying to solve problems, they are more concerned about the color of flags on the plaza & parking lots. how many more businesses must leave before they actually do something productive??
ReplyDeleteHunters woods and lake anne plaza were great places to be in the late 70's and early 80's. They were not a failure then. I rather suspect greedy landlords of jacking rents being responsible for the failures. It appears to be pretty profitable to have a half-empty shopping center with sky high rents, and gobble businesses' seed-money time after time, rather then having to keep up a fully-utilized shopping center.
ReplyDelete