Status Report on Marlboro Estates-Fort Ward Park Health, Safety, Use and Management Issues
Prepared by Glenn Eugster
November 21, 2008
The following information is prepared as an information service to the residents of Marlboro Estates and other residential areas surrounding Fort Ward Park in Alexandria, VA.
City Parks & Recreation Director Outlines Actions to Respond to Neighborhood Concerns
On November 7, 2008 Tom Fulton, Dennis Carroll, Glenn Eugster and Margaret McCormack met with the City of Alexandria Parks & Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon to discuss the September 2008 request that was made to the Mayor and City Council about Fort Ward Park use and management problems impacting the homeowners of Marlboro Estates and other nearby residential nearby. Mr. Kincannon outlined a series of actions that the City is taking to respond to our concerns. He also identified a number of actions the City is considering taking. Following the meeting, on November 11, 2008, Mr. Kincannon sent the following summary of the actions the City is taking and pursuing.
1. Hold a meeting on Ft Ward with Seminary Hills Association in the next few
weeks to review ideas for improving the park and addressing crowd
control and park overuse issues. Share ideas regarding site
improvements and receive feedback.
2. Change and improve procedures for park picnic and shelter reservations.
3. Change and improve procedures for park rule enforcement.
4. Check on eliminating use of alcohol at picnic and shelter/park rentals
(most likely, but need to make sure I can enact this).
5. Eliminate the allowance of amplified sound or music for rentals and
picnics except for City functions/events.
6. Reduce the amount of "reserved picnic and shelter areas" to five areas
this year in order to help control crowds and park over use.
7. Investigate carrying capacity of the park and identify methods to
control overuse of the park.
8. Develop stronger constituency and support base for the park (i.e. volunteers).
Mr. Kincannon said that he would be taking an active role in pursuing these actions to make sure promises are kept.
In response to our neighborhoods request for a copy of the Fort Ward Park master or management plan that guides the actions of the City Mr. Kincannon indicated that there is currently no plan being used to guide development and management of Ft. Ward Park. The last plan that the City identified for the park is the map/brochure entitled City of Alexandria Arboretum, Fort Ward Park 1983.
City Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Warns of Budget Cuts and More Future Use for Fort Ward Park
A public meeting of the City’s Parks & Recreation Commission was held on November 20, 2008 to discuss a range of topics including the status of the City’s budget for parks and the response to Fort Ward Park neighborhood concerns. The Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission is an eleven-member advisory unit established by City Council in March 1970. The Commission advises City Council in matters relating to recreation and culture, and participates in planning recreational activities and services through its advice to Council, and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. Marlboro Estates is within Planning District 3 and our representatives on the Commission are: Kaj Vetter, David Dexter and Richard Brune.
Highlights of the meeting are outlined below:
Special Events Policy Being Developed: The City is developing a policy for special events in parks, including Fort Ward Park. The Commission will review the policy on December 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm at a location to be determined. A public hearing will be scheduled after review by the Commission. This new policy could positively or negatively impact the use and management of Fort Ward Park.
Budget Shortfalls to Impact Parks & Recreation Services: The City is currently reviewing its current and future budgets to find a way to reduce spending to be consistent with available funds. Kirk Kincannon indicated that all departments are taking their fair share of budget cuts including the Parks & Recreation Department. Some budget cuts have been taken already and the City will look to reduce spending in 2009 in hiring, seasonal maintenance staff, lawn maintenance, snow removal, trash removal, and overtime emergencies. Deputy Parks & Recreation Director Roger Blakely indicated that cuts to seasonal hires will reduce the City’s ability “to monitor and manage the nonsense that goes on in the parks”.
Status of Fort Ward Park Problem Solving: Kirk Kincannon reported on the meetings he has had with the leadership of the Seminary Hill Association and Marlboro Estates. He said to the Commission that, “Fort Ward Park, and other parks, are overused and we have to stop the impacts”. Commission Chair Judy Guse-Noritake offered a contrasting perspective in the Fort Ward Park discussion when she said, “Overtime we are going to look to large parks to handle more use”. Kirk Kincannon countered by saying that, “We need to point large groups elsewhere”. Roger Blakeley offered another perspective by indicating that, “We don’t have staff to manage the use of the park this fiscal year”.
Neighborhood Meeting Planed for December 2, 2008 with Park & Recreation Commissioners
In response to our requests for discussion Kaj Vetter, one of the three District 3 Commission members serving our neighborhood has agreed to meet with us on Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will give residents an opportunity to share our concerns about park use and management with one of our Commissioners. The meeting will be held at 4022 Ellicott Street. Please call Glenn Eugster at 703-845-8947 to confirm your attendance.
Future Meetings of Neighborhood Importance
Public Meeting on Fort Ward Park Use and Management: Date and location to be announced soon. Note: The outcome of this meeting will be very important to our residents. It will be very important for as many of us as possible to attend and make a statement about our views. Kirk Kincannon has been very responsive to our concerns and this is the best chance we have had to be heard. We need your help at this meeting!
Meeting with Parks & Recreation Commission Vetter: Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm at 4022 Ellicott Street. Please confirm attendance by calling 703-845-8947 or replying to: glenn_eugster@comcast.net Note: I am looking for a small number of people to join me in this discussion with Mr. Vetter. My hope is to familiarize him with our neighborhood, our love of the park and the problems we have experienced.
Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting on Special Events Policy: Thursday December 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Located to be identified. Note: The Commission plays and important advisory and advocacy role in the City and needs to be guided by residents. Commissioners need to hear from the people they represent.
Seminary Hill Association Board Meeting: Thursday December 11, 2008. Contact Nancy Jennings, our District 6 Association Representative at: Nrjennings@comcast.net Note: As many of you know the Association was instrumental in saving Fort Ward Park creating Marlboro Estates. The board has been most helpful to us over the last year in working with the City. The Association meetings are interesting and very informative.
For additional information about this status report please call:
Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-845-8947
glenn_eugster@comcast.net
Prepared by Glenn Eugster
November 21, 2008
The following information is prepared as an information service to the residents of Marlboro Estates and other residential areas surrounding Fort Ward Park in Alexandria, VA.
City Parks & Recreation Director Outlines Actions to Respond to Neighborhood Concerns
On November 7, 2008 Tom Fulton, Dennis Carroll, Glenn Eugster and Margaret McCormack met with the City of Alexandria Parks & Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon to discuss the September 2008 request that was made to the Mayor and City Council about Fort Ward Park use and management problems impacting the homeowners of Marlboro Estates and other nearby residential nearby. Mr. Kincannon outlined a series of actions that the City is taking to respond to our concerns. He also identified a number of actions the City is considering taking. Following the meeting, on November 11, 2008, Mr. Kincannon sent the following summary of the actions the City is taking and pursuing.
1. Hold a meeting on Ft Ward with Seminary Hills Association in the next few
weeks to review ideas for improving the park and addressing crowd
control and park overuse issues. Share ideas regarding site
improvements and receive feedback.
2. Change and improve procedures for park picnic and shelter reservations.
3. Change and improve procedures for park rule enforcement.
4. Check on eliminating use of alcohol at picnic and shelter/park rentals
(most likely, but need to make sure I can enact this).
5. Eliminate the allowance of amplified sound or music for rentals and
picnics except for City functions/events.
6. Reduce the amount of "reserved picnic and shelter areas" to five areas
this year in order to help control crowds and park over use.
7. Investigate carrying capacity of the park and identify methods to
control overuse of the park.
8. Develop stronger constituency and support base for the park (i.e. volunteers).
Mr. Kincannon said that he would be taking an active role in pursuing these actions to make sure promises are kept.
In response to our neighborhoods request for a copy of the Fort Ward Park master or management plan that guides the actions of the City Mr. Kincannon indicated that there is currently no plan being used to guide development and management of Ft. Ward Park. The last plan that the City identified for the park is the map/brochure entitled City of Alexandria Arboretum, Fort Ward Park 1983.
City Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Warns of Budget Cuts and More Future Use for Fort Ward Park
A public meeting of the City’s Parks & Recreation Commission was held on November 20, 2008 to discuss a range of topics including the status of the City’s budget for parks and the response to Fort Ward Park neighborhood concerns. The Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission is an eleven-member advisory unit established by City Council in March 1970. The Commission advises City Council in matters relating to recreation and culture, and participates in planning recreational activities and services through its advice to Council, and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. Marlboro Estates is within Planning District 3 and our representatives on the Commission are: Kaj Vetter, David Dexter and Richard Brune.
Highlights of the meeting are outlined below:
Special Events Policy Being Developed: The City is developing a policy for special events in parks, including Fort Ward Park. The Commission will review the policy on December 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm at a location to be determined. A public hearing will be scheduled after review by the Commission. This new policy could positively or negatively impact the use and management of Fort Ward Park.
Budget Shortfalls to Impact Parks & Recreation Services: The City is currently reviewing its current and future budgets to find a way to reduce spending to be consistent with available funds. Kirk Kincannon indicated that all departments are taking their fair share of budget cuts including the Parks & Recreation Department. Some budget cuts have been taken already and the City will look to reduce spending in 2009 in hiring, seasonal maintenance staff, lawn maintenance, snow removal, trash removal, and overtime emergencies. Deputy Parks & Recreation Director Roger Blakely indicated that cuts to seasonal hires will reduce the City’s ability “to monitor and manage the nonsense that goes on in the parks”.
Status of Fort Ward Park Problem Solving: Kirk Kincannon reported on the meetings he has had with the leadership of the Seminary Hill Association and Marlboro Estates. He said to the Commission that, “Fort Ward Park, and other parks, are overused and we have to stop the impacts”. Commission Chair Judy Guse-Noritake offered a contrasting perspective in the Fort Ward Park discussion when she said, “Overtime we are going to look to large parks to handle more use”. Kirk Kincannon countered by saying that, “We need to point large groups elsewhere”. Roger Blakeley offered another perspective by indicating that, “We don’t have staff to manage the use of the park this fiscal year”.
Neighborhood Meeting Planed for December 2, 2008 with Park & Recreation Commissioners
In response to our requests for discussion Kaj Vetter, one of the three District 3 Commission members serving our neighborhood has agreed to meet with us on Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will give residents an opportunity to share our concerns about park use and management with one of our Commissioners. The meeting will be held at 4022 Ellicott Street. Please call Glenn Eugster at 703-845-8947 to confirm your attendance.
Future Meetings of Neighborhood Importance
Public Meeting on Fort Ward Park Use and Management: Date and location to be announced soon. Note: The outcome of this meeting will be very important to our residents. It will be very important for as many of us as possible to attend and make a statement about our views. Kirk Kincannon has been very responsive to our concerns and this is the best chance we have had to be heard. We need your help at this meeting!
Meeting with Parks & Recreation Commission Vetter: Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm at 4022 Ellicott Street. Please confirm attendance by calling 703-845-8947 or replying to: glenn_eugster@comcast.net Note: I am looking for a small number of people to join me in this discussion with Mr. Vetter. My hope is to familiarize him with our neighborhood, our love of the park and the problems we have experienced.
Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting on Special Events Policy: Thursday December 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Located to be identified. Note: The Commission plays and important advisory and advocacy role in the City and needs to be guided by residents. Commissioners need to hear from the people they represent.
Seminary Hill Association Board Meeting: Thursday December 11, 2008. Contact Nancy Jennings, our District 6 Association Representative at: Nrjennings@comcast.net Note: As many of you know the Association was instrumental in saving Fort Ward Park creating Marlboro Estates. The board has been most helpful to us over the last year in working with the City. The Association meetings are interesting and very informative.
For additional information about this status report please call:
Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-845-8947
glenn_eugster@comcast.net
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