Reston Association revealed final designs for a new observation dock at Lake Thoreau and a tennis-only renovation at Lake Newport on Wednesday, opening a narrow window for residents to weigh in before both projects advance.
The Lake Thoreau dock, near the swimming pool at 2040 Upper Lakes Drive, would feature an elevated platform with benches and a metal railing around its perimeter. RA held a community meeting at the dock site at 6 p.m. Wednesday so residents could view renderings and talk with staff. Online feedback through a comment form will likely remain open through approximately Saturday, August 1, according to RA communications director Cara O'Donnell, as reported by FFXnow.
The dock design grew out of a public meeting held in summer 2025 and an online survey. It still requires approval from RA's Design Review Board before construction can begin.
At Lake Newport, plans drawn by Rinker Design Associates call for converting the six lighted courts at 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue back into a tennis-only facility, removing the pickleball lines that had been added in recent years. As we reported July 15, the renovation is funded in RA's 2026–2027 Capital Improvement Plan.
A second community meeting on the Lake Newport courts is set for Wednesday, August 5, at 6 p.m. at the courts. RA is already accepting online feedback on that project.
Autumnwood: eight pickleball courts for $75,000
With pickleball being dropped from Lake Newport, RA staff are proposing to convert the Autumnwood courts at 11950 Walnut Branch Road into eight dedicated pickleball courts. The facility currently has four lighted pickleball courts and two tennis courts.
Staff estimate the conversion would cost approximately $75,000, according to a memo presented to the RA board at its Thursday, July 23, meeting. The project would also include court fencing improvements, shade enhancements, and a water bottle filling station. The board deferred action on the proposal after hearing a presentation from CEO Peter Lusk, Patch reported.
Lusk told the board that "many pickleballers do not consider pickleball courts on tennis courts to be dedicated," explaining the push for purpose-built facilities.
Demand is clear. A 32-day usage study at Autumnwood found courts occupied about 66 percent of the time across more than 3,000 monitored hours. During the 8–11 a.m. peak window alone, staff counted roughly 956 players and 94 people waiting.
Julie Bitzer, chair of RA's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, endorsed the expansion at the July 23 meeting, saying the committee has pushed for more pickleball options "for many, many years."
How to weigh in
Residents who want to comment on the Lake Thoreau dock can submit feedback online through approximately Saturday, August 1. The Lake Newport community meeting is Wednesday, August 5, at 6 p.m. at 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue. The RA board's September meeting will take up the Autumnwood pickleball conversion and criteria for identifying future court sites.
