Fort Ward Observer: City Consultant Suggests Redoing Fort Ward Wayside Signs

City Consultant Suggests Redoing Fort Ward Wayside Signs

Fort Ward Park managers believe in "the do-over". With plenty of money, time and taxpayers patience city staff routinely does something, then does it again, and again.  For example, over the last decade or so city leaders have planted trees and removed the same trees. Plans for managing runoff were prepared and redesigned by city staff, engineering consultants and locally selected consultants.

The latest city consultant is preparing a plan to improve the interpretation of Fort Ward Park and Museum. Rumor has it that the consulting company that was hired is proposing to "revise" the wayside interpretive signs that were funded by the National Park Service, National Trust and Office of Historic Alexandria.

 Aside from the time and money that a do-over would cost changing the signs wipes away the good work that city leaders and the African American descendants of Fort Ward and Seminary accomplished. The signs are quality and they are a symbol of some of the first efforts made by City of Alexandria leaders to recognize the story of African Americans who lived and worshiped at Fort Ward before the land became a city-park.

 Once again city leaders don't seem to get it at Fort Ward. The proposal comes at a time when our city and nation celebrates Black History Month. Rather than highlighting the stories within each of the hand-crafted signs developed with city staff and community experts and leaders city consultants are recommending ways to erase good work, waste time and money, and prove that progress is hard to achieve at Fort Ward Park.

 Fort Ward Observer

J. Glenn Eugster 

February 25, 2019

Belmont Among Historic Sites Added to the Virginia Landmarks Register

Belmont Among Historic Sites Added to the Virginia Landmarks Register

Posted: Dec 19, 2017 10:20 AM EST

Updated: Dec 19, 2017 10:29 AM EST

Edited by John Early

12/19/2017 Release from the Department of Historic Resources:

http://www.nbc29.com/story/37099596/belmont-among-historic-sites-added-to-the-virginia-landmarks-register#.WjpZpMoLM1Q.facebook

Eleven Historic Sites Added To The Virginia Landmarks Register – AlexandriaNews

Eleven Historic Sites Added To The Virginia Landmarks Register – AlexandriaNews

http://www.alexandrianews.org/2017/12/eleven-historic-sites-added-to-the-virginia-landmarks-register/

Tree Removal Continues at Fort Ward

Tree Removal Continues at Fort Ward

December 22, 2017. Alexandria, VA. Contractors who work for the City of Alexandria continued to cut-down large healthy deciduous trees within and adjacent to Fort Ward Park. The trees which were removed pre-date the creation of the historic park and may have been some of the oldest in this area of Alexandria. Yesterday Mayor Silberberg's office was contacted about this work, which seems counter to the efforts of the Mayor and City Council's recent proposal to protect existing tree cover and plant new trees. At this time the Mayor's office has not responded to yesterday's letter. 


Fort Ward Observer 
J. Glenn Eugster

City Actions Contradicts Council Tree Cover Policy/ Amendment.

December 21, 2017

Dear Mayor Silberberg,

I hope this note finds you well.  

Attached is a brief note I put out moments ago about tree removal in Fort Ward.  Several moments ago trees were removed in questionable locations and I directed questions to various managers in the appropriate departments.  Unfortunately your city safe either didn't know the answers or ignored my communications.  This tree removal began again and a number of trees are targeted for removal.

What is going on here at the historic park seems to be at odds what you and Council are trying to do with the tree cover policy/ amendment.  

My Fort Ward Observer Facebook page has many more photos and I would be happy to answer any questions or have a conversation with your staff.  The old trees in Fort Ward and the City of Alexandria have a historic value and people hold them near and dear to their hearts as I'm sure you do.  Anything you can do to help the public make sense out of actions in the park will be most appreciated.

Here's hoping your holidays have been and will be joyous and safe.  

All my best,

Glenn

J. Glenn Eugster

4022 Ellicott Street

Alexandria, VA. 22304

City Removes Trees & Targets More Cutting in Fort Ward Park.

 City Removes Trees & Targets More Cutting in Fort Ward Park.

December 21, 2017. Alexandria, VA.

Recently the Alexandria Mayor and City Council have been preparing a new policy which they hope will retain and encourage trees within the city. The proposal places a premium on protecting and growing "tree cover" on properties to achieve a variety of ecological, cultural and economic goals. While the policy articulates requirements for private lands including cemeteries owned by churches it seems to overlook the importance of
retaining trees on city-owned lands.

This week a contractor for the City of Alexandria was busy cutting trees within Fort Ward HIstoric Park, as well as on adjacent private properties. In addition, city leaders have marked other trees throughout the park for removal with a "red paint mark".

Tree-pruning and selective tree removal makes sense and is consistent with the Fort Ward Parks Management Plan. However, some of the trees that have been removed, or are proposed for removal, are historic in terms of their age and as cultural landscape elements.

The management of Fort Ward almost always requires an interdisciplinary approach between two, or more, of the city departments with responsibility for the historic park. If one of the multiple departments active at the historic park take action without the meaningful engagement and cooperation of the others mistakes will be made which will damage the park and undercut the Mayor and City Council's efforts to protect and sustain Alexandria's tree cover.

Fort Ward Observer
J. Glenn Eugster

Fort Ward Observer: October 3, 2017

Fort Ward Observer: October 3, 2017
J. Glenn Eugster

A walk through the park this morning reminded me of how beautiful Fort Ward Park is. The challenges of managing the area are many and signs of city service are evident, welcome and appreciated.

TREES--Many trees are marked with red-X's as the city marks dead and dying trees for removal. Tree loss continues to outpace tree-planting. Unfortunately one of the historic Apple trees associated with the Fort Ward community has been targeted for removal. Historic trees seem to fall in between OHA and the Recreation Department. Earlier efforts to get OHA to look at certain trees as "witness trees" only got me a referral to the Recreation Department who "doesn't do history".

TENNIS--The tennis courts adjacent to St. Stephens-St. Agnes School are being redone once again. I heard about the plans for the tennis courts and soccer fields through the grapevine and found a public notice lying on the wall where the courts are being redone. It seems as if this is the third time the tennis courts are being redone in the last ten years.

DUMPING IN THE PARK: The ravine between the west-end of the tennis courts and the water tank seems to be used more and more for illegal dumping. Garbage bags have been thrown into the drainage swale where soil and landscape debris have been piled. The area is used by homeless people as well as students for drinking, shelter and other activities and liquor bottles and cans are littered throughout the area. Given all the attention that there has been on storm water and drainage in the park and the city it is baffling to see another drainage swale filled with illegally with debris.

MAINTENANCE SHED: City workers and locksmiths visited the unoccupied and non-permitted shed in the park maintenance yard. The building has been empty since the first battle of Fort Ward and is occasionally used by homeless people and others for shelter and bodily functions. Evidently the building is now locked securely.

UNPROTECTED GRAVE AREAS: The locksmith drove his truck over one of the marked graves in the park. The grave markers for the graves that were re-discovered on city parkland are hard to see and frankly a token gesture at best. A city employee has placed a stake on the grave that is being driven over and spray painted a circle around the burial area. Many descendants recall Lance Mallamo's, the OHA director, pledge to stake-off the graves so that city workers, the public and contractors would respect these sacred areas. There still needs to be someone in Fort Ward effort who will speak for the dead.

FORT WARD INTERPRETIVE PLAN: The good news is that an interpretive plan for the park is underway. A consultant is leading the effort which seems to be guided by mostly city-employees. It is unclear whether the lack of public interest in helping the city tell the stories at Fort Ward is because of a lack of interest or the way that the consultant's work is being managed. For my window on Fort Ward it seems as if OHA is working with a small circle of friends with formal expertise. After all that has gone on at Fort Ward over the last decade it seems as if the city leaders would want to engage the descendant families and adjacent homeowners who know the park's history very well. We always do our best work when we work together.