From: "James Spengler"
To: "glenn_eugster@comcast.net"
Cc: "Mark Jinks" , "Bruce Johnson", "Lance Mallamo" , "Judy Noritake" , "Ron Kagawa" , "Laura Durham"
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 6:12:06 PM
Subject: Your email
Glenn, I am writing to correct your statement in the email of 6/28/2011 you sent to various recipients. Your statement is: "In 2008 the Recreation Department and Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission leaders prepared and approved a plan, without input from the public or the Office of Historic Alexandria, for Fort Ward Park that would significantly increase park use. Many of the proposed buildings and parking areas to be added would be located on top of historic Native American, Civil War, and African American sites--including family grave areas."
At no time in 2008 or later did the RPCA staff and/or Park and Recreation Commission prepare and approve a plan for Ft. Ward. In the fall of 2008, the Commission asked staff to prepare a presentation on recommendations to alleviate issues at Ft. Ward raised by community members. That presentation was heard on October 16, 2008 (advertised public meeting) and is posted on the Ft. Ward web site. There was no vote on this presentation or subsequent action. In this presentation the number of picnic areas was suggested to move from 11 to 5 with parking added to existing spaces. None of the parking on pavilion renovation are shown to be on any of the currently identified historically sensitive areas or family graves. New picnic regulations were proposed that would reduce use of the park. Any improvements would go through the City Capital Improvement Program, review and permit process.
Another presentation was made at a public Park and Recreation Commission meeting on January 15, 2009. Staff updated the Park and Recreation Commission on actions being taken to address citizen concerns. This presentation is also posted on the Ft. Ward web site. There was no vote on this presentation or subsequent action. Staff did inform the board of 3 public meetings being held in February and March to hear community concerns. The matrix of issues raised at those meetings is also posted on the Ft. Ward web site. Prior to the Ft. Ward Stakeholder Advisory Group being formed the City decommissioned all maintenance yard activities, moved horticultural operations out of the park, and installed interim drainage improvements.
Eventually, the City Council created a charge of work and the City Manager appointed a Stakeholder Advisory Group. The first meeting of this group was in December 2009. In their final adopted report the SAG reviews the history that led up to the formation of the group. This history is contained in pages 7 - 9 of the report. It is interesting to note that no mention of a "2008 plan" being adopted by the Park and Recreation Commission appears.
I would submit that it is probably best that no one person or group potentially try to inflame the community since so much hard work was committed to move us forward.
James B. Spengler
Director
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Office: (703) 746-5502
Cell: (703) 258-4797
To: "glenn_eugster@comcast.net"
Cc: "Mark Jinks" , "Bruce Johnson"
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 6:12:06 PM
Subject: Your email
Glenn, I am writing to correct your statement in the email of 6/28/2011 you sent to various recipients. Your statement is: "In 2008 the Recreation Department and Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission leaders prepared and approved a plan, without input from the public or the Office of Historic Alexandria, for Fort Ward Park that would significantly increase park use. Many of the proposed buildings and parking areas to be added would be located on top of historic Native American, Civil War, and African American sites--including family grave areas."
At no time in 2008 or later did the RPCA staff and/or Park and Recreation Commission prepare and approve a plan for Ft. Ward. In the fall of 2008, the Commission asked staff to prepare a presentation on recommendations to alleviate issues at Ft. Ward raised by community members. That presentation was heard on October 16, 2008 (advertised public meeting) and is posted on the Ft. Ward web site. There was no vote on this presentation or subsequent action. In this presentation the number of picnic areas was suggested to move from 11 to 5 with parking added to existing spaces. None of the parking on pavilion renovation are shown to be on any of the currently identified historically sensitive areas or family graves. New picnic regulations were proposed that would reduce use of the park. Any improvements would go through the City Capital Improvement Program, review and permit process.
Another presentation was made at a public Park and Recreation Commission meeting on January 15, 2009. Staff updated the Park and Recreation Commission on actions being taken to address citizen concerns. This presentation is also posted on the Ft. Ward web site. There was no vote on this presentation or subsequent action. Staff did inform the board of 3 public meetings being held in February and March to hear community concerns. The matrix of issues raised at those meetings is also posted on the Ft. Ward web site. Prior to the Ft. Ward Stakeholder Advisory Group being formed the City decommissioned all maintenance yard activities, moved horticultural operations out of the park, and installed interim drainage improvements.
Eventually, the City Council created a charge of work and the City Manager appointed a Stakeholder Advisory Group. The first meeting of this group was in December 2009. In their final adopted report the SAG reviews the history that led up to the formation of the group. This history is contained in pages 7 - 9 of the report. It is interesting to note that no mention of a "2008 plan" being adopted by the Park and Recreation Commission appears.
I would submit that it is probably best that no one person or group potentially try to inflame the community since so much hard work was committed to move us forward.
James B. Spengler
Director
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Office: (703) 746-5502
Cell: (703) 258-4797
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