News post

In the Viridian Municipal Management District Board meeting on April 14th, the Board approved a plan that will re-name and re-envision the beach area to be the “Viridian Nature Preserve”.  This is the culmination of 9 months of efforts by a committee of Viridian residents.  A design drawing of the new design is included in this report.  Construction began the week of April 27th.

In June of 2025, the Viridian Municipal Management District (VMMD) board voted to indefinitely close Viridian Beach while it explored options to address recurring safety and security issues related to traffic, inadequate parking, and crowd control at the site.

To address these concerns, the board created a Beach Re-design Committee consisting of five resident members, two resident alternate members, and an ex-officio non-voting board member.  Over the past nine months, the committee has conducted an exhaustive review of options to address the concerns that led to the closing of the beach in June 2025.  Among others, these efforts included exploring the potential to privatize the beach, removing sand and sodding the property, and re-envisioning the property as something other than a beach. 

In September 2025, Board Chairman David DeVries presented a potential development plan that prominently featured a series of boardwalks that weaved through the property from its northern edge to the southern shoreline.   The design also included seating, overlooks, bioswale and native plantings, and a small park that would replace the volleyball court.  At that same meeting, the committee chair reported that the committee was considering funding options such as grants to offset re-purposing costs and the use of Tax Increment Finance Re-investment Zone (TIRZ) Funds to fund the project.  Since September, the committee has continued to meet and research various potential funding options and has made modifications to the original plan to reduce development costs.  

At the April 14th, VMMD meeting, Chairman DeVries summarized the committee’s efforts over the past 9 months and presented a final plan that will re-envision the property as the “Viridian Nature Preserve.”  As in the original plan presented in September, the Preserve will include a series of boardwalks that will wind through the property and include seating and overlooks.  Further, there will be significant bioswale and native plantings throughout and around the perimeter of the property.  It also incorporates an option of controlling access from the eastern entrance to the area via the boardwalk.   Finally, the design is consistent with Viridian’s Audubon Society Gold Signature Certification.

This re-envisioning of the beach will provide Viridian and Arlington residents with a beautiful natural setting in which to walk, observe, reflect, and enjoy the lakeside flora and fauna.  It also aligns with Viridian’s commitment to the local environment and the wildlife and, in particular, the migratory birds it supports.  Further, it is expected this re-envisioning of the property that focuses on individual and small group experiences within the space rather than a large concentration of beachgoers will significantly mitigate the traffic congestion, safety, and security concerns experienced during previous beach seasons.

The project will be completed in three phases.  The first phase will include plantings within the perimeter (bioswale) of the Preserve.  Excess TIRZ funding totaling $96,400 will be used for this purpose.  In addition to creating the perimeter of the Preserve, the plantings will also serve an ancillary purpose of replacing the fencing that now occupies the property to preclude access to the beach.  Phase two of the project, estimated at $449,800, will include constructing the northern most sections of boardwalk and associated plantings while the third phase, estimated at $519,900, will include the southern-most sections (closest to the beach) of the boardwalk and associated plantings.  Total projected cost for all three phases is $1,066,100.  The timing for starting and completing phases II and III will be based on obtaining the necessary funding.  

After discussion, the board approved moving forward with Phase I.  As construction progresses and further information is available regarding the completion of phase I and the potential timing of phases II and III, the VMMD will provide additional updates.