Henderson House and the History of Arlington's First Park
A significant milestone in 1941 marked the opening of the county's first public park – Lubber Run Park – a 54-acre expanse in the Four Mile Run-Lubber Run area.
Starting with a $500 allocation in 1933, Arlington has grown from one public park on Four Mile Run in 1941 to a Countywide system of parks, playgrounds, and programs.
In 1933, the Arlington County Board earmarked $500 for parks and playgrounds – amenities still rare in the county. The initial funding of $500 was reduced from a proposed $2,500, but it allowed for land acquisition and maintenance of parcels that developers had donated.
This began the County's first parks and recreation department, formally established in 1944 as the Department of Parks and Playgrounds.
Arlington's public park history is intertwined with the tales of two iconic houses – the Henderson House and the Charles E. Mix House – playing pivotal roles in the county's development of its first park.
The Henderson House, a majestic Swiss-style estate erected in 1894 by John B. Henderson, Jr., witnessed diverse phases, from serving as a U.S. Army officers club to becoming Arlington's first permanent recreation center in 1951. Purchased by the county in 1951, it sadly ended in 1954, succumbing to a devastating fire.
On the other hand, the Charles E. Mix House, built between 1820 and 1840, carries a unique legacy as the residence of Charles E. Mix, Chief Clerk of the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Mix's history unfolds through Civil War upheavals, Union soldiers' damages, and his quest for compensation for emancipated slaves.
A significant milestone in 1941 marked the opening of the county's first public park – Lubber Run Park – a 54-acre expanse in the Four Mile Run-Lubber Run area. Its grand debut, planned as a celebration in 1941, was humbled by a downpour, yet it silently began its service to the community.
In 1951, the narrative took a new turn with the purchase of the Henderson House, which became Arlington's inaugural recreation center. Despite its unfortunate fate in the 1954 fire, the Lubber Run Community Center rose in its place in 1956, serving as a beacon of recreational activities until 2018.
The growth and innovations of the Department of Recreation and Parks, starting in 1953, highlighted milestones such as the Silver Age Club No. 1 in 1954 and Arlington's first therapeutic recreation playground in 1960. By 1971, the county's parks boasted facilities like lighted sports arenas, Lubber Run Park's amphitheater, and the establishment of nature trails.
Even amid growth, the shadows of segregation persisted until 1962, with the establishment of the Negro Recreation Section, providing African-American residents with sports and arts programs until desegregation.
In 2012, the Department of Parks and Recreation formally emerged, with approximately 11 percent of Arlington's land dedicated to parks, attesting to the enduring legacy of visionary beginnings that continue to shape community engagement and well-being.
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