Community Comments March 2009

Dear Ms. Durham,


This is in response to the City’s presentation made on March 18, 2009 at TC Williams High School, regarding the protection, management and use of
Fort Ward Park, which has been nationally recognized for its significance to the Civil War. I appreciate the opportunity to address this issue once again.

As I mentioned in my previous comments, I have worked for the federal government for 31 years and I am all too familiar with the federal agencies at times making final decisions in advance of the official public comment period. Fortunately that practice occurs less often because of Congressional oversight. While the presentation on March18, 2009 by the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Department and the Office of Historic Alexandria finally set aside their plan for large events, which included additional paving of the historic site. The groups and individuals involved in these discussions over the last two years are concerned that the Recreation Department will merely set it aside their October 2008 plan only to bring it back at a later date. In fact, despite the promising words of mr. Kincannon and Mr. Mallamo funding for the 2008 plan's implementation is still contained in the City's budget.

I attended two of the three public meetings and I was impressed that more than 200 individuals participated in this opportunity for citizen input. After reviewing the meeting results it was clear that there was not one voice supporting the proposed plan that has been featured on the City’s website for six months.

The public coontinues to be mindful that the Parks Department was prepared to ram the project through regardless of the legitimate concerns expressed by many groups and individuals including adjacent homeowners, neighboring communities, Oakland Baptist Church members, Seminary Hil Association board members, the Alexandria Historic Society, the Alexandria Archeological Commission, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and others whose families lay buried on the site.

Only when the community interests joined together to fight this ill conceived plan did we get the City’s attention. For a relatively small town in the shadow of our Nation’s Capitol, this does not speak well of the City’s elected officials or city employees.

This historic park is not only about the African American graves but it is where slaves freed after the war lived, attended school, and worshiped. This situation reminds me of another instance where the history of people was being ignored. I remember vividly a letter sent to my subcommittee from Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. who was making an important but modest request. He asked for report language that instructed the U.S. National Park Service to include the entire story of the Civil War before, during and after in their visitor centers’ and interpretive displays as they needed to be replaced or upgraded. This is what is needed at Fort Ward Park – recognition that African Americans, freed by President Lincoln, lived, raised families and died free men and women within this historic area.

Despite Roger Blakely’s repeated statements about not being able to take action or cotinue services because of reductions to the City budget it seems contradictory that the City Manager does propose a future budget that will fund the additional paved parking areas, paved trails, new restrooms, and picnic pavilions. Rather tan fashion an action plan that helps to implement community supported actions, such as archeolgical studies and African American interpretive trails, the City continues to spend money on and push for the October 2008 plan.

I have spent most of my federal years working on budgets and I am aware that there are times when difficult decisions have to be made. However, the City has proposed to spend large sums of money on the 2008 plan. It would seem to be appropriate and justified to reallocate those funds to support the actions supported by the community.

Listed below are my recommendations for how to improve the Fort Ward Park Action Plan.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Immediately remove all evidence of the Maintenance Yard including stones, fencing, and other materials.
(we acknowledge the City removed many of the vehicles immediately after the public meeting on the 18th)

Immediately remove the area used by the arborist. (residents of the area remember what was envisioned at thisnursery site and the early days where beautiful gardens flourished within the park. However, users of the park have watched the dramatic deterioration the last 15 years. It is a maintenance area with trash and broken pots strewn everywhere, maintenance vehicles, broken machinery, tools and large compost piles and landscape debris. The relatives of Clara Adams, and the others that are buried in the area, say that others are buried in the area, their grave markers have been destroyed, and the environment is disrespectful to those buried there. Even as a working area, it always unclean and unkept. The arborist area should be moved to another location.

After everything is removed, seed and, or, sod the area completely. The City should insure that adequate funds are made available for appropriate archeology /historical survey’s and studies as well as interpretive markers for the grave sites, the overall park area and the Museum.

All of the interested parties would like a public acknowledgement and commitment from the Mayor and City Council that Fort Ward Park will be adequately funded, starting within 2010. The park should be transfered from the Recreation and Parks Department and made the responsibility of the Office of Historic Alexandria. The mowing and landscape maintenance could easily be contracted as is the case with many, many other city responsibilities.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the action plan for Fot Ward Park. I look forward to hearing more about the City's plan for protecting and managing this special area.


Sincerely,

Deborah A. Weatherly