Alexandria intends to open a long-awaited spray park in Del Ray early next month.
The Del Ray Gateway/Colasanto Interactive Fountain will open the week of Sept. 7, with operations continuing through October, the city told ALXnow in an email. The park is located at the triangle-shaped park at the corners of Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues.
The opening of the spray park was postponed in May due to “unforeseen circumstances and final project completion requirements,” the city said on the project website.
The multi-phase Del Ray Gateway project also includes the Nancy Dunning Memorial Garden in honor of the late Del Ray resident. The spray park project features public art from artist Beatrice Coron that was installed in July.
Planning for the project has been in the works since 2021 and construction started last year. The city selected McLean-based LSG Landscape Architecture for the project to replace Colasanto Pool at 2700 Mount Vernon Avenue. The pool at Nicholas A. Colasanto Center and Park dates back to 1969 and closed in 2010. A 2012 aquatic facilities study determined that a spray park would best suit the area.
RPCA’s other interactive fountain is located at Potomac Yard Park (2501 Potomac Avenue) and typically operates from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October.
