From: "glenn eugster"
To: "Rich Baier"
Cc: "Lance Mallamo"
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2009 6:51:33 PM
Subject: Comments on the Proposed Draft Alexandria Urban Forestry Master Plan: Fort Ward Park & Tree and Shrub Fund Comments
Dear Mr. Baier/ Rich,
Good day!
I recently learned of the Draft Alexandria Urban Forestry Master Plan which is being circulated for public review and comments. I appreciate the opportunity to provide the following comments.
First, the Urban Forestry Master Plan is well done, timely and has many excellent recommendations that will help Alexandria sustain a high quality living environment. The Urban Forestry Steering Committee has obviously taken this assignment seriously and should be complimented for a job well done.
Second, the 25th recommendation on page 76 involves rededicating Fort Ward Park as the City’s Arboretum. It also suggests that a master plan be developed and adopted for the park. This recommendation reaffirms the City’s earlier commitment in 1983 to create a collection of trees and other woody plants that will serve as an educational resource for City residents and visitors. $25,000 is proposed to go to implement this recommendation.
Recommendation 25 is also identified, on page 84 of the report, to be a pilot project. The narrative notes that “the multiple uses of the park and the increasing pressures of recreational demands on the site have led to the decline of the park’s tree population and a loss of focus on its function as a showcase for native and ornamental woody plant species“. The narrative goes further to say, “This rededication should include a careful study and development of a plan that will integrate and celebrate the park’s historic past as well as its future and importance as one of the City’s premiere recreational sites”.
The idea of rededicating the City’s Arboretum is an appropriate idea. Inappropriate recreational uses and neglect have had a negative impact on many of the trees and shrubs and more attention to this important park value is welcome. For example, the condition of the memorial for the first City Arborist is sad given this renewed interest in urban forestry.
The idea of the careful study and development of a plan for the park is also an appropriate idea, given that this area has never had a master plan in over 40 years. If a plan is done for the park it needs to be for overall park use, protection, and interpretation rather than just the use of the park as an arboretum. Unfortunately the leaders of the Recreation & Parks Department, as well as the Recreation & Parks Commission, indicate that a plan for Fort Ward park will not be undertaken within the next 5 to 10 years and many other parks are higher priority for planning if and when that service is available.
Although the Draft Urban Forestry Plan recommendation has merit the report needs to be revised to incorporate the following points.
1. The plan for the Arboretum needs to be done as part of the master plan for Fort Ward Park. A coordinated effort before additional action will avoid some of the destruction and conflicting uses we have experienced over the last five years. It will also eliminate the need to and cost of do things over.
The park continues to suffer from the uncoordinated and inappropriate activities by the Recreation & Parks Department. As we discussed with City staff during the City’s community meetings in February and March 2009, Fort Ward Park is a Historical Park. This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains historic and cultural values from the pre-and-post Civil War periods including the graves of some of the first freed African-Americans who lived in the area before it was made a park by the City.
The pilot project description on page 84 needs to be revised to reflect that this is the City’s only Historical Park, its status on the National Register of Historic Places, and the results of the community meetings from February and March 2009.
Attached is a copy of the City’s approved National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form from February 16, 1982.
2. The Draft Urban Forest Plan needs to recognize the various City of Alexandria Archaeological Protection Procedures and Ordinances for digging on city property. As you know from recent earth moving and tree planting work in the park these procedures and requirements have not been followed at Fort Ward despite the fact that the Office of Historic Alexandria in 1989 identified the overall area as “Land that may have the potential to contain significant archaeological materials” and in 1995 identified likely African-American graves based on interviews with Sgt. Young. In addition, it is important to note in the pilot project description that archaeological research needs to be completed throughout the park before the new plan for the park or the Arboretum is prepared.
3. The vision for the Arboretum is promising and would be viewed as a positive park improvement by many of the park users. The City would do well to keep it’s February 9, 2009 written commitment, and other verbal commitments, to the public to use the results of the community meetings and prioritize a draft action plan for park improvements. Many of our residents are baffled by the City’s unwillingness to use information provided by the public and the City’s advisory groups.
4. Trees and shrubs are a wonderful way to connect with the public and generate support for parks. Although the draft plans speaks to the City’s donation fund your efforts will be more effective if you create a fund specifically dedicated for planting trees and shrubs in the City’s parks. Frankly people like to donate funds for trees and shrubs but want to be sure that the government uses the money for that purpose.
My experience managing the National Park Service’s Tree & Shrub Replacement Fund and National Cherry Blossom Fund proved to be an excellent way to raise friends for the parks as well as significant donations for planting trees and shrubs. Should you be interested in the funds that I’ve mentioned please let me know. I have information on how they worked and the results of our efforts.
I sincerely hope that you and the Urban Forestry Steering Committee will use these comments and take time to revise the proposed plan before it is approved. As I wrote to you earlier, residents would like to support the City with initiatives such as these and will do so if managers will work with us.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Glenn
J. Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA
703-845-8947
Glenn_eugster@comcast.net
No comments:
Post a Comment