Got sidewalk chalk? String lights? A few tables and chairs? You’ve got what it takes to make a place.
From Philadelphia to Vancouver, Rosslyn to Shirlington, and all points in between, “placemaking” is where it’s at.
What Is Placemaking?
According to the Project for Public Spaces, placemaking is “a community-based collaborative process to reimagine public spaces, shaping the public realm to maximize shared value.”
The concept of placemaking has been around since the 1960s but took on greater significance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people sought to get out of their homes and into public space, albeit while maintaining social distance.
Turns out, once the need for social distancing subsided, people continued to frequent places such as parks and outdoor seating areas to gather and connect. As a result, the practice of placemaking has spread to more and more public spaces. Arlington is no exception.
The Right Place
Walk-friendly Arlington is uniquely suited to placemaking thanks to a history of sustainable transportation planning, pedestrian-oriented design, community-building initiatives, and public engagement.
In recent years, County government, businesses, and residents have taken placemaking to a new level in settings ranging from public spaces like parks, plazas, and sidewalks, to commercial properties to local neighborhoods.
The Right Time
Along with place, another flexible element that makes placemaking attractive is timing. A place can be made for a few hours (known as a pop-up), a few months (temporary installation), or as a permanent fixture (transformation).
Just since September, Arlington has made room for all three—from pop-up to temporary to permanent. Check out these timely examples:
Placemaking Past: One and Done
Started in San Francisco in 2005, PARK(ing) Day is an annual community collaboration that temporarily transforms vehicle parking spaces into small parks, reinterpreting the concept of “public space.”
Arlington County celebrated Park(ing) Day 2025 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 2, with pop-up parks hosted by Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services, Vision Zero, ZipCar, Friends of Urban Agriculture, and WalkArlington/BikeArlington.
Along with our “pardners” Capital Bikeshare, Lime, and Bird, WalkArlington / BikeArlington transformed a Ballston parking space into a Country & Western Car-Free Corral. After fencing off a spot, laying out some hay bales, and setting up camp, we welcomed passers-by to park a bicycle or scooter at a corral, learn how to adjust a bike saddle, and lasso free walking and biking guides and Capital Bikeshare information. We broke camp at 3 p.m. and rode off into the sunset.
Placemaking Present: Here and Now
In September 2025, Rosslyn welcomed the NOW, a temporary park at 1401 Wilson Blvd. that has transformed an overlooked office building terrace into a vibrant outdoor destination.
Named for its location at the intersection of Nash, Oak, and Wilson, the NOW was designed and brought to life by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) and its partners, informed by community feedback and guided by purposeful collaboration.
According to Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick, “The concept was simple: Rosslyn is the most urban part of Arlington, with nearly everyone in the neighborhood living in high-rises, so access to public outdoor gathering space is especially valuable. The NOW offers a creative way to enhance Rosslyn and deliver community benefits while major development plans take shape.” [Read more origin-story insights from the Rosslyn BID here].
The NOW features three welcoming zones for everyone to enjoy:
Gather: A scenic terrace with comfortable seating and gathering places for all ages.
Grow: An interactive urban garden with native plants, pollinator-friendly beds, hand-painted rain barrels, and plots tended by local partners.
Paws: A dog-friendly zone where leashed pets can do their duty and rest their paws.
The real-time success of the NOW is already apparent, with people meeting for lunch, reading outside, bringing their dogs for a play break, and enjoying community events.
Placemaking Future: A Place for Art
Slated for opening in 2026, the 2700 Art Space at Arlington Arts brings a new, flexible outdoor arts and event space to South Arlington.
The 2700 Art Space design is called the “Glade,” taking inspiration from the nearby Four Mile Run stream, surrounding landscape, and local cultural history.
Based on community feedback, placemaking consultant Graham Projects created an inclusive, accessible space for all visitors to enjoy. The design also pays tribute to the former Inner Ear recording studio with the salvaged drum riser as the center of a performance area.
Part of Arlington’s Cultural Affairs Division, 2700 Art Space will be ready-made for arts and community programming activation starting next year. For now, check out photos of the site and take a virtual tour of this state-of-the-art placemaking space.
Whether pop-up, temporary, or permanent, the placemaking possibilities are endless. So, grab some sidewalk chalk, string up those lights, and pull up a chair. We’ve saved a place for you!
Photos
- The NOW is a temporary park at 1401 Wilson Blvd. that has transformed an overlooked office building terrace into a vibrant outdoor destination.
- BikeArlington and WalkArlington celebrated PARK(ing) Day 2025 with a one-day Country & Western-themed pop-up park in Ballston featuring hay bales, artificial turf, rocking horses, Country music, and parking meters temporarily clad in bandanas and cowboy hats.
- The Rosslyn Business Improvement District and partners celebrated the opening of the NOW with a ribbon-cutting in September 2025. Among those pictured are the Rosslyn BID’s Senior Community Planning Director Alli Henry (cutting the ribbon), Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick (center left) and Arlington County Board Member Maureen Coffey (center right).
- Slated for opening in 2026, the 2700 Art Space at Arlington Arts is currently under construction. It will bring a new, flexible outdoor arts and event space to South Arlington.
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