Amazon HQ2 has garnered buzz in Northern Virginia ever since the e-commerce giant announced it would be building its second headquarters in Pentagon City (or, as Amazon calls it, National Landing). And, part of that excitement includes a public park on the headquarter’s grounds.
The final draft design for HQ2’s park was recently released via a prerecorded video on June 8, and included a single, large dog run, a central green area that appears smaller than previously proposed and a location for the brand’s famed community banana stand, which, yes, hands out free bananas to park guests. The final draft of the park will undergo a two-week-long comment period (submit ideas here), and the final meeting on the park is currently scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20.
The green space for the park will be located between 13th and 14th Streets in Pentagon City, west of the Amazon office space, which is expected to be 2.1 million square feet large. Amazon will also be using a portion of the existing Metropolitan Park as a staging area for the HQ2 construction. Amazon has come to a deal with Arlington County that includes the company planning, rebuilding and maintaining the green space, a $14 million commitment.
The park’s proposed layout also includes a “Forest Walk,” meaning tree-shaded paths will be favored in the design. The plan currently includes 12,000 square feet designated for the forest walk, as well as a plan to plant Virginia-native flowers and other flora around the park.The dog run will be 4,000 square feet in an oval shape design, and the banana stand will be located near 14th Street South and South Elm Street.
Other features include man-made hills to make the park appear larger, a sculpted topography for an overlook perch that will sit 8 feet higher than the main path and energy-efficient fixtures.
Amazon HQ2’s offices and the park are expected to open in 2023. For more information, visit arlingtonva.us/amazon.
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