Nancy Starnes' Roll Around Ballston-Virginia Square
Download Walkabout Map (2011k PDF)
Description: a pleasant meander that covers verdant parks, busy urban roads, back streets and even a shopping mall. For this nearly 2 mile hike, the walker or wheelchair user should allow about 35-45 minutes, not including refreshment stops! The terrain is fairly flat, however the Ballston Mall portion includes passage over a pedestrian bridge and down an elevator and ramp.
The Washington, D.C. area has been home to me for the last five years-the last three of these in Arlington. How I found myself here after 35 years in the laid-back northern New Jersey town of Sparta is a romantic tale-but I'll spare you the details for now!
For 30 years, following the crash of a private plane in which I was a passenger, my constant traveling companion has been my wheelchair. I was accustomed to making my way around Sussex County by car. It was really the most practical way of getting somewhere, as is the case with so many rural areas.
For me, then, moving to Arlington was an eye-opening (and door-opening!) experience. I was attracted to the Ballston-Virginia Square area for what would be my proximity to stores, restaurants, services and of course, public transportation (I'd had enough of driving as my only option!). Having published the Sussex County Access Guide, and served as former mayor of Sparta, I was very aware of how the amenities in Washington's metro area could help make my life easier and more enjoyable, and quickly discovered that leaving near a Metro Station would go far in meeting my needs.
So without further ado, please allow me to guide you through my adopted home and point out some of the fine destinations you might want to visit by walking, rolling, or on a pogo stick! It's up to you!
BEGIN HERE: The Starbucks/Clock Tower Meeting Place
Across the street from where I live is one of the many Starbucks in the D.C. area. But this one has special atmosphereÂ?because you can sit by a fountain (or on or near a sculptural boat bench) while sipping coffee! It's an ideal place to meet your walking or rolling partner-the tall clock tower is an excellent landmark that can be seen from several blocks away.
The route I'm going to lead you on today will take us north along Monroe Street, then west on Fairfax Drive. Next, we'll weave south towards the Ballston Common Mall and then east towards home again. And just in case you wander off my beaten path, the wayfinding signs in this area can be helpful navigational aids-you'll find them on a number of street corners-so you shouldn't have to worry about getting lost.
The first of my favorite haunts on this tour is the Giant supermarket, where I frequently stop to pick up a bag or two of groceries after work. There is an easy car-free path that gets me - and you-- to the front door. This is wonderful, except when an errant fender squeezes us over towards the wall.
Next stop: Pic-A-Deli, on the corner of Washington Blvd. and N. Monroe Street. Without wanting to sound like an advertisement, I will tell you that the food here is delightful, as is the wait staff. Not to mention that the facility itself, both inside and out (yes, the patio is open in warm months) is, for the most part, very welcoming to people with disabilities.
After a yummy palate pleaser, we're out the door and heading west on Washington Boulevard past Quincy Park with its playground, picnic areas and ball fields. Destination: Arlington Central Library. To get there, we'll turn left (south) on N. Quincy Street, steering around an unfortunate number of sidewalk obstructions like guy wires and fire hydrants (it can be done, but please be careful!). Central Library is my polling place, and a tremendous resource which I would love to take better advantage of! The library is open Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m.. The Virginia Room-one of several special collections housed here-- is a treasure trove of historical information on the County , Northern Virginia, and the Commonwealth of Virginia-hence the name "Virginia Room"!
Continuing south, we'll head for Ballston Common Mall, but we'll take a special, path to get there! Not everyone knows that it's possible to get to the mall from the Ballston Metro Station without having to be outside for more than a few feet. How is it done?
Just behind the Metro elevator on the southwest corner of Fairfax Drive is the entrance to the Ballston Metro Center. Once inside, you'll see an elevator to your right. Take this up one floor and turn right as you exit. Just ahead you'll see the entrance to a pedestrian bridge. Enter the bridge and head across to the atrium of the National Science Foundation building, where you'll find a "tropical" wonderland (complete with faux palm trees) all year round.
Continuing through to the opposite side of the atrium, catch the next pedestrian bridge which will take you over Wilson Boulevard-a street that is much nicer to cross at 20 or 30 feet above the pavement, believe me! It's worth a look from above here; the brightly colored glass windows frame the views in interesting ways, and people watching is the best from this vantage point!
The Mall is a practical destination for me-here is where I shop for clothing, gifts, stationery and cards, books, music, luggage, linens, home furnishings, cosmetics and artwork. There are services I use as well, such as hair and nail salons and there's an ATM. Food-a-holics will also appreciate the variety of dining options before a movie or Improv theatre performance conveniently located at the mall. But it is also a lot of fun for other reasons. I have been here for the Taste of Arlington in May; Oktoberfest in (you guessed it) October, and for holiday concerts in December. The day we took these photos, we were entertained by a trio of classically-trained young musicians from St. Petersburg (Russia, that is!) complete with the largest balalaika I've ever seen.
If your stomach is urging you towards lunch, dinner, snack or a beverage by this point in your walk, you may want to stop by one of the various restaurants, pubs or coffee shops on the ground level. The variety of good eats extends to Food Court offerings on the lower level , including "To Market, To Market, a by-the-pound cafeteria style cafe. A glass elevator will get you all the way there from any floor, and a ramp to the lowest level of the Food Court will get you close to the bubbling fountain --and performers-- if you prefer.
Heading back, I like to stay on Wilson Boulevard for a few blocks. Wilson is a street in transition: it isn't the most pedestrian or wheelchair friendly in some places, but it's a street with big plans for the future. Right outside the Mall, Wilson Boulevard does boast the only crosswalk in the County embedded with flashing safety lights, and the sidewalk cafes are bright spots in a sea of somewhat conservative urban architecture.
Heading home, I often stay on Wilson Boulevard to Oakland Park, where I'm likely to pause for a few minutes, or make a beeline along a diagonal stone dust-paved path back past St. George's Church to 9th Street. Ninth is a less-busy alternative to Wilson Blvd.; you might consider taking it any time you are in a more contemplative mood.
Up 9th for one block to N. Monroe Street, and we are back where we started. Another nice place to rest if you haven't already paused is the "pedestrian only" extension of N. 9th Street to N. Lincoln St. one block away. Lots of benches here, and places to park a wheelchair beside them.
For your roll or walk through Arlington, please note the following:
The route described here does not constitute a continuous, high-quality, accessible path. There are occasional missing sidewalk links; sidewalk obstructions; inconsistent street and sidewalk widths. Concrete pavers, which constitute the majority of the paving materials in this part of the County, are a source of vibration that can travel up through the wheelchair frame and, if in disrepair, pose a potential tripping problem.
Construction somewhere in the Ballston-Virginia Square sector is a fact of life. There is now a listing on the WALKArlington website of sidewalk closures that you can visit ahead of your visit.
Arlington Department of Public Works recently released the results of a pedestrian-oriented urban design study of the core area of Ballston. This study is just one component of the County's plan to make Arlington a safer, more inviting place to walk-and roll-for ALL who use our streets and sidewalks!
There are plenty of other places to explore in my neighborhood - like the Arlington Arts Center, which is scheduled to reopen very soon. I hope you'll come back many times and discover for yourself the nooks and crannies of this part of Arlington that make for great explorations.
Enjoy your trip!
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Nancy Starnes, former Mayor of Sparta, New Jersey and one-time Miss Wheelchair New Jersey representative to the national Miss Wheelchair America contest, is currently Vice President of the National Organization on Disability, where she administers their Community Partnership and National Partnership Programs. Ms. Starnes and her fiance Harley Thomas, Associate Director for Health Policy of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, can frequently be found rolling around town in tandem.
