March 10, 2009
4008 Fort Worth Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22304
Re: Managing Fort Ward as a Historic Park
To: City Elected Officials and City Manager; cc; Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, as the lead department, conducted community meetings with the aim of soliciting public input on the current facilities and operations at Fort Ward. What has transpired is shocking and steps must be taken to improve operations, maintenance and stewardship of the historical park.
Gradually over the last several years, the City has made changes that are inconsistent with the historic park and transformed part of it into a regional maintenance yard and transfer point for trash. These changes have been unsightly, increased maintenance traffic and encroached into sensitive African American historic sites. The changes have been made with complete disregard of the residents and families who live nearby and enjoy visiting the park.
Attendees at the meeting were asked to identify changes they would like to see to the park and place numbered stickers on the suggestions to help prioritize them. Ostensibly this would allow the City to move ahead on changes they believe reflect the consensus of the participants. Unfortunately, because of actions previously taken by Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, there was considerable distrust and suspicion regarding their plans.
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities have expanded the maintenance yard without a Special Use Permit, removed trees that once screened the yard from Picnic Area 1, increased the amount of composting in the Yard, paved over African-American graves, placed a large, screened dumpster in a prominent location on the circular lane, placed a a metal fabricated ticket/security booth at the entrance and installed car parking stops as speed bumps that impede walkers and discourage use by disabled patrons. In the past they have proposed plans to increase parking areas off Braddock Road and expand picnic areas to increase use and potential revenues.
As important, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has made changes and continues to propose changes that alters the experience of users of the park and destroy additional African-American historic and cultural resources related to the building of the Fort and the post civil war period.
There is also an issue of not adequately managing a permit process for large crowds using the park. There have been numerous weekends between Memorial and Labor Day when the park is overcrowded, noisy, and the use of alcohol and amplified music have been major problems. Poor management has impacted the historic areas, grass, trees, plants, terrain, and drainage increasing City costs, at the expense of the historic character and the African-American resources.
We can have a park that allows multiple compatible uses to co-exist in an historical park. The size, terrain, and historic character of the park limit the size of groups using the picnic facilities. Failure to manage use of the park results in damage to the park and its historic resources disrupts quiet enjoyment of property by adjacent owners, and increases short and long term costs.
To improve management, relieve suspicion, and provide a more diverse interpretation of events at Fort Ward, I suggest the following actions be taken.
Short Term
Do nothing to increase or intensify use of the historic park. Maintain and encourage passive use of the park for tourist, history buffs, walkers, small groups of picnickers, and those who want to enjoy the natural outdoors.
Create an advisory committee with authority to help identify improvements, park management including maintenance and operation.
The City should adopt a target of removing the maintenance yard within 2-3 years.
Increase and celebrate the use of civic organizations, students and volunteers in beautifying and maintaining the park.
Involve City staff and volunteers in developing a unique interpretive history of the contribution of African Americans during the Civil War; building and maintaining the Fort, working at the nearby Fairfax Seminary Hospital, and living at the Fort after the War.
Improve the permitting process and the management of visitors during peak periods to ensure users know the park rules and pay an appropriate fee to cover administration, operation and maintenance costs associated with their use.
Long Term
Replace current car parking stops used speed bumps with ones that are more compatible for walkers and persons in wheel chairs.
Remove, the existing trash dumpster on the circular road and develop a less obtrusive container and fencing for collection of park generated trash. Offsite collection of trash for storage at the park should end.
Repaint the car parking stops to a color more compatible with a historic park, a shade of brown.
Remove the ticket/security booth and if it is necessary, install a booth that is compatible with a historic civil war park and in a location that is more effective.
Develop and implement training to ensure that operations and maintenance staff understand their responsibilities in caring for a historic park.
Alexandria is fortunate to have a Fort Ward. It is an important community asset entrusted to the City of Alexandria. It helps define Alexandria as a diverse community. I hope you will take steps to protect the park, its historic character and improve park management and stewardship.
Sincerely,
Dave Cavanaugh
4008 Fort Worth Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22304
Re: Managing Fort Ward as a Historic Park
To: City Elected Officials and City Manager; cc; Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, as the lead department, conducted community meetings with the aim of soliciting public input on the current facilities and operations at Fort Ward. What has transpired is shocking and steps must be taken to improve operations, maintenance and stewardship of the historical park.
Gradually over the last several years, the City has made changes that are inconsistent with the historic park and transformed part of it into a regional maintenance yard and transfer point for trash. These changes have been unsightly, increased maintenance traffic and encroached into sensitive African American historic sites. The changes have been made with complete disregard of the residents and families who live nearby and enjoy visiting the park.
Attendees at the meeting were asked to identify changes they would like to see to the park and place numbered stickers on the suggestions to help prioritize them. Ostensibly this would allow the City to move ahead on changes they believe reflect the consensus of the participants. Unfortunately, because of actions previously taken by Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, there was considerable distrust and suspicion regarding their plans.
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities have expanded the maintenance yard without a Special Use Permit, removed trees that once screened the yard from Picnic Area 1, increased the amount of composting in the Yard, paved over African-American graves, placed a large, screened dumpster in a prominent location on the circular lane, placed a a metal fabricated ticket/security booth at the entrance and installed car parking stops as speed bumps that impede walkers and discourage use by disabled patrons. In the past they have proposed plans to increase parking areas off Braddock Road and expand picnic areas to increase use and potential revenues.
As important, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has made changes and continues to propose changes that alters the experience of users of the park and destroy additional African-American historic and cultural resources related to the building of the Fort and the post civil war period.
There is also an issue of not adequately managing a permit process for large crowds using the park. There have been numerous weekends between Memorial and Labor Day when the park is overcrowded, noisy, and the use of alcohol and amplified music have been major problems. Poor management has impacted the historic areas, grass, trees, plants, terrain, and drainage increasing City costs, at the expense of the historic character and the African-American resources.
We can have a park that allows multiple compatible uses to co-exist in an historical park. The size, terrain, and historic character of the park limit the size of groups using the picnic facilities. Failure to manage use of the park results in damage to the park and its historic resources disrupts quiet enjoyment of property by adjacent owners, and increases short and long term costs.
To improve management, relieve suspicion, and provide a more diverse interpretation of events at Fort Ward, I suggest the following actions be taken.
Short Term
Do nothing to increase or intensify use of the historic park. Maintain and encourage passive use of the park for tourist, history buffs, walkers, small groups of picnickers, and those who want to enjoy the natural outdoors.
Create an advisory committee with authority to help identify improvements, park management including maintenance and operation.
The City should adopt a target of removing the maintenance yard within 2-3 years.
Increase and celebrate the use of civic organizations, students and volunteers in beautifying and maintaining the park.
Involve City staff and volunteers in developing a unique interpretive history of the contribution of African Americans during the Civil War; building and maintaining the Fort, working at the nearby Fairfax Seminary Hospital, and living at the Fort after the War.
Improve the permitting process and the management of visitors during peak periods to ensure users know the park rules and pay an appropriate fee to cover administration, operation and maintenance costs associated with their use.
Long Term
Replace current car parking stops used speed bumps with ones that are more compatible for walkers and persons in wheel chairs.
Remove, the existing trash dumpster on the circular road and develop a less obtrusive container and fencing for collection of park generated trash. Offsite collection of trash for storage at the park should end.
Repaint the car parking stops to a color more compatible with a historic park, a shade of brown.
Remove the ticket/security booth and if it is necessary, install a booth that is compatible with a historic civil war park and in a location that is more effective.
Develop and implement training to ensure that operations and maintenance staff understand their responsibilities in caring for a historic park.
Alexandria is fortunate to have a Fort Ward. It is an important community asset entrusted to the City of Alexandria. It helps define Alexandria as a diverse community. I hope you will take steps to protect the park, its historic character and improve park management and stewardship.
Sincerely,
Dave Cavanaugh
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