Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Attn: Laura Durham
Dear Ms. Durham
The March 18, 2009 meeting went along way to alleviate some of the citizen concerns regarding proposed changes to the historic Fort Ward Park.
At the meeting, Kirk Kincannon, Director, Department of Recreation and Parks and Cultural Activities and Lance Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria provided assurances that nothing would be done at the park to disturb known grave sites.
However, the draft Action Plan presented at the meeting was a list of “possible immediate solutions”, with no clear plan or commitments addressing citizen concerns. The PowerPoint presentation left many questions unanswered making it difficult to provide constructive comments. The Department Directors should come forward with firm budget and policy commitments that implement a plan protecting the park and ensuring it will be ready for the Civil War Sesquicentennial.
One slide provided only a glimpse of what may be considered an “Action Plan”.
“Possible Immediate Actions” (Power Point Slide)
Staff/community working groups.
Questions: Who would establish the groups? What would be their responsibility? Would an ad hoc group suffice?
Phased plan for relocation of maintenance facility.
Questions: Again who would develop plan? What would be the conditions for evaluating a reasonable timetable for removal of the maintenance yard and restoring the area to the park?
Community notification of park and nursery operations.
Questions: Who would provide notification? Does this infer consultation with neighborhood groups? Does notification occur before or after a decision is made?
Two week moratorium on rentals, with longer term reductions in site availability.
Questions: What purpose does a two week moratorium on rentals serve? What other measures will be implemented immediately to prevent overcrowding, unacceptable noise levels and alcohol consumption in the park.
Controlled access available for grave sites.
Questions: Does this infer the maintenance yard will not be moved anytime soon? Does it also mean the gravesites in the maintenance yard will be excluded from historic interpretation of the African American experience? Is a maintenance yard on a historic area of the park with graves an appropriate use of park land?
Signage and enforcement of “no alcohol” and “no amplified noise” without permit policies.
Questions: When will RPCA adopt, implement and enforce provisions prohibiting no alcohol and no amplified noise? Under what circumstances would RPCA permit alcohol and amplified noise?
Early April walking tours w/working group and public.
Questions: Is a walking tour the only acceptable method for recognizing the African American contribution to the Civil War period? Who would be the lead on developing the walking tour? Would the walking tour be incorporated into the historic interpretation of events at Fort Ward during and immediately after the Civil War? How can a meaningful walking tour be developed when the location of the school and the gravesites are behind locked chain linked fences?
Although the presentation was well received, it failed to outline a meaningful process to protect resources and mitigate problems identified by citizens.
Much of information regarding an African American School, the Clara Adams gravesite and other burials was available to the City when the Park was first developed. Regretfully, this period of in-action and disregard for the African-American experience during and after the Civil War makes it more compelling that the City take action now, not later.
Under the circumstances I suggest a process and a plan to develop interim guidance for managing the park and develop a more diverse interpretation of historic events in time for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. This plan integrates park maintenance, operation, resource protection and a more inclusive interpretation of history at the park.
City staff is in a difficult position responding to public pressures and attempting to balance the changing needs of the community. Your success and our success is dependent on establishing trust relationships, working together towards consensus, and groups being receptive to thoughtful comments and suggestions regarding management of public resources. Public support of decisions regarding use of public historic parks can reduce maintenance, operations and resource protection costs.
I recognize this is a busy time for City staff. However, citizens have rallied and provided responses to requests for comments and suggestions regarding management and use of the park. It is my hope that all interested parties can sit down together and collectively work through the various issues identified at the public meetings.
Sincerely,
Dave Cavanaugh
Action Plan
Goal: To get the Park ready for the Sesquicentennial in 2011.
Historic and Cultural Uses
Identify Lance Mallamo, Director of Office Historic Alexandria, as the lead management official for managing the historical and archaeology resources at the Fort Ward Museum and Park.
Allow creation of an ad hoc citizens group to work with the museum and archaeology staffs on planning, research and development projects.
Complete a literature search of records identifying the location of early building sites, roads, and known grave sites.
Initiate preliminary development and funding for archaeological studies to delineate known home and grave sites.
Prepare a stewardship plan that protects and identifies important historic resources.
Develop a historically interesting interpretive plan for Fort Ward that incorporates the African American experience into the current interpretation of events at the Fort.
Implement a communications plan for visitors using a variety of tools, e.g., maps, brochures, video, signs and podcasts.
Remove the maintenance yard and return the land and historic areas to the park.
Complete oral histories; Elizabeth Douglas, William Jackson, and Mr. Randall.
Park Operations, Maintenance, Resource Protection
Create an ad hoc advisory group to assist the Director RPCA and staff in developing a interim operation and maintenance plan. (Separate ad hoc group)
Establish working relationship between the ad hoc advisory committee and the Park and Recreation Commission to guide improvements to the park.
Identify a lead ad hoc group member to meet with Robert Powell every two weeks to monitor commitments for improving operation and management of the park. The goal is to identify potential problems and through collaboration and working with the Recreation and Park Commission find acceptable solutions.
Environmental and Natural Resources (Resource Protection)
Restore land in the maintenance yard to its natural condition.
Identify and take action to mitigate drainage problems associated with the current maintenance yard.
Develop a tree planting and protection plan for planting indigenous trees to the park.
Restore and maintain perennial plant beds along the circular walk/roadway.
Stewardship
Involve community organizations and groups in applying for grants, planning fund raising events, organizing community service activities to protect and maintain the park for future generations.
Identify opportunities for volunteers in operation, maintenance and beautification of the park.
Coordinate the location, size, display and number of signs in the park.
Ensure the circular walk/roadway and rest room facilities are compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
1108 Jefferson St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Attn: Laura Durham
Dear Ms. Durham
The March 18, 2009 meeting went along way to alleviate some of the citizen concerns regarding proposed changes to the historic Fort Ward Park.
At the meeting, Kirk Kincannon, Director, Department of Recreation and Parks and Cultural Activities and Lance Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria provided assurances that nothing would be done at the park to disturb known grave sites.
However, the draft Action Plan presented at the meeting was a list of “possible immediate solutions”, with no clear plan or commitments addressing citizen concerns. The PowerPoint presentation left many questions unanswered making it difficult to provide constructive comments. The Department Directors should come forward with firm budget and policy commitments that implement a plan protecting the park and ensuring it will be ready for the Civil War Sesquicentennial.
One slide provided only a glimpse of what may be considered an “Action Plan”.
“Possible Immediate Actions” (Power Point Slide)
Staff/community working groups.
Questions: Who would establish the groups? What would be their responsibility? Would an ad hoc group suffice?
Phased plan for relocation of maintenance facility.
Questions: Again who would develop plan? What would be the conditions for evaluating a reasonable timetable for removal of the maintenance yard and restoring the area to the park?
Community notification of park and nursery operations.
Questions: Who would provide notification? Does this infer consultation with neighborhood groups? Does notification occur before or after a decision is made?
Two week moratorium on rentals, with longer term reductions in site availability.
Questions: What purpose does a two week moratorium on rentals serve? What other measures will be implemented immediately to prevent overcrowding, unacceptable noise levels and alcohol consumption in the park.
Controlled access available for grave sites.
Questions: Does this infer the maintenance yard will not be moved anytime soon? Does it also mean the gravesites in the maintenance yard will be excluded from historic interpretation of the African American experience? Is a maintenance yard on a historic area of the park with graves an appropriate use of park land?
Signage and enforcement of “no alcohol” and “no amplified noise” without permit policies.
Questions: When will RPCA adopt, implement and enforce provisions prohibiting no alcohol and no amplified noise? Under what circumstances would RPCA permit alcohol and amplified noise?
Early April walking tours w/working group and public.
Questions: Is a walking tour the only acceptable method for recognizing the African American contribution to the Civil War period? Who would be the lead on developing the walking tour? Would the walking tour be incorporated into the historic interpretation of events at Fort Ward during and immediately after the Civil War? How can a meaningful walking tour be developed when the location of the school and the gravesites are behind locked chain linked fences?
Although the presentation was well received, it failed to outline a meaningful process to protect resources and mitigate problems identified by citizens.
Much of information regarding an African American School, the Clara Adams gravesite and other burials was available to the City when the Park was first developed. Regretfully, this period of in-action and disregard for the African-American experience during and after the Civil War makes it more compelling that the City take action now, not later.
Under the circumstances I suggest a process and a plan to develop interim guidance for managing the park and develop a more diverse interpretation of historic events in time for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. This plan integrates park maintenance, operation, resource protection and a more inclusive interpretation of history at the park.
City staff is in a difficult position responding to public pressures and attempting to balance the changing needs of the community. Your success and our success is dependent on establishing trust relationships, working together towards consensus, and groups being receptive to thoughtful comments and suggestions regarding management of public resources. Public support of decisions regarding use of public historic parks can reduce maintenance, operations and resource protection costs.
I recognize this is a busy time for City staff. However, citizens have rallied and provided responses to requests for comments and suggestions regarding management and use of the park. It is my hope that all interested parties can sit down together and collectively work through the various issues identified at the public meetings.
Sincerely,
Dave Cavanaugh
Action Plan
Goal: To get the Park ready for the Sesquicentennial in 2011.
Historic and Cultural Uses
Identify Lance Mallamo, Director of Office Historic Alexandria, as the lead management official for managing the historical and archaeology resources at the Fort Ward Museum and Park.
Allow creation of an ad hoc citizens group to work with the museum and archaeology staffs on planning, research and development projects.
Complete a literature search of records identifying the location of early building sites, roads, and known grave sites.
Initiate preliminary development and funding for archaeological studies to delineate known home and grave sites.
Prepare a stewardship plan that protects and identifies important historic resources.
Develop a historically interesting interpretive plan for Fort Ward that incorporates the African American experience into the current interpretation of events at the Fort.
Implement a communications plan for visitors using a variety of tools, e.g., maps, brochures, video, signs and podcasts.
Remove the maintenance yard and return the land and historic areas to the park.
Complete oral histories; Elizabeth Douglas, William Jackson, and Mr. Randall.
Park Operations, Maintenance, Resource Protection
Create an ad hoc advisory group to assist the Director RPCA and staff in developing a interim operation and maintenance plan. (Separate ad hoc group)
Establish working relationship between the ad hoc advisory committee and the Park and Recreation Commission to guide improvements to the park.
Identify a lead ad hoc group member to meet with Robert Powell every two weeks to monitor commitments for improving operation and management of the park. The goal is to identify potential problems and through collaboration and working with the Recreation and Park Commission find acceptable solutions.
Environmental and Natural Resources (Resource Protection)
Restore land in the maintenance yard to its natural condition.
Identify and take action to mitigate drainage problems associated with the current maintenance yard.
Develop a tree planting and protection plan for planting indigenous trees to the park.
Restore and maintain perennial plant beds along the circular walk/roadway.
Stewardship
Involve community organizations and groups in applying for grants, planning fund raising events, organizing community service activities to protect and maintain the park for future generations.
Identify opportunities for volunteers in operation, maintenance and beautification of the park.
Coordinate the location, size, display and number of signs in the park.
Ensure the circular walk/roadway and rest room facilities are compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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