Statement before the Alexandria City Council
On Fort Ward Park by Dennis S. Carroll
December 13, 2008
My name is Dennis Carroll. My home at 4018 Ellicott Street is directly in back of Fort Ward Park’s maintenance facility. I’ve visited the park for 30 years and bought my home near Fort Ward four years ago because I loved the park.
Unfortunately, being close to the park has not been pleasant. From a ringside seat, I’ve discovered that the City has to balance the interests of homeowners near the park, the park’s recreational users, and the park’s preservation. In general, I think the City has failed to balance these interests.
The City deserves an F for its treatment of nearby homeowners until very recently. When I moved near the park, large trees belonging to the park leaned on and crushed my fence. It took a year of phone calls to get the city to remove the trees. By that time, the fence was wrecked and cost $3,000 to replace. The city also stuck two large dumpsters about 25 feet from my fence. The dumpsters overflowed with trash and stunk so badly that my family could not enjoy our backyard. Strangers working for the city stood on top of the dumpsters to mash down the garbage. They could stare over the top of my fence into my back windows at my children. My protest got the city to wake up, remove the dumpsters, and work with me instead of against me. It took three years to reach this point of elementary competence and courtesy.
In balancing recreational uses with the concerns of homeowners, the City has again earned an F. My family has been annoyed repeatedly by the music of people partying for hours at a time. The thump--thump--thump of bass beats has reverberated across a thousand feet from near the amphitheater. I’ve visited the park during these disco-style parties and seen hundreds of people centered on speakers six feet tall. The speakers are powered by SUVs or portable generators. Frankly, my wife and I felt intimidated by one gigantic party of a thousand people as well as by the litter, drinking, and a large tour bus parked and idling on park grass for several hours. Events on this scale and raucous music outrage residents as well as ruin the park in general.
The City has also earned an F for failing to preserve the park. The City needs to respect the park as the City’s Arboretum and a source of history. Having visited the park for 30 years, I’ve come to regret the lack of young trees and progressive deterioration. The City needs to plant new trees and other vegetation to preserve the park’s beauty. Parallel to the neglect of the Arboretum is the neglect of the history. Both of these values have suffered from a lack of balance in managing the park.
What can be done to balance the interests of homeowners, recreational users, and the park’s preservation? One of the most important steps the city can take is a total prohibition of amplified music and alcohol by private parties. The city is considering such a prohibition and should implement it immediately. Why would this make a huge difference? Total prohibition of amplified music and alcohol would be easily understandable and enforceable. It would motivate big, noisy crowds to conduct their parties elsewhere. It would send a clear message to everybody that Fort Ward Park is NOT, repeat NOT, to be treated as a money-making discotheque. Instead, it would show the City’s support for Fort Ward as a beautiful place where smaller groups can enjoy its beauty free of alcohol and raucous music while respecting the rights of nearby homeowners.
Thank you for this chance to tell you my concerns.
On Fort Ward Park by Dennis S. Carroll
December 13, 2008
My name is Dennis Carroll. My home at 4018 Ellicott Street is directly in back of Fort Ward Park’s maintenance facility. I’ve visited the park for 30 years and bought my home near Fort Ward four years ago because I loved the park.
Unfortunately, being close to the park has not been pleasant. From a ringside seat, I’ve discovered that the City has to balance the interests of homeowners near the park, the park’s recreational users, and the park’s preservation. In general, I think the City has failed to balance these interests.
The City deserves an F for its treatment of nearby homeowners until very recently. When I moved near the park, large trees belonging to the park leaned on and crushed my fence. It took a year of phone calls to get the city to remove the trees. By that time, the fence was wrecked and cost $3,000 to replace. The city also stuck two large dumpsters about 25 feet from my fence. The dumpsters overflowed with trash and stunk so badly that my family could not enjoy our backyard. Strangers working for the city stood on top of the dumpsters to mash down the garbage. They could stare over the top of my fence into my back windows at my children. My protest got the city to wake up, remove the dumpsters, and work with me instead of against me. It took three years to reach this point of elementary competence and courtesy.
In balancing recreational uses with the concerns of homeowners, the City has again earned an F. My family has been annoyed repeatedly by the music of people partying for hours at a time. The thump--thump--thump of bass beats has reverberated across a thousand feet from near the amphitheater. I’ve visited the park during these disco-style parties and seen hundreds of people centered on speakers six feet tall. The speakers are powered by SUVs or portable generators. Frankly, my wife and I felt intimidated by one gigantic party of a thousand people as well as by the litter, drinking, and a large tour bus parked and idling on park grass for several hours. Events on this scale and raucous music outrage residents as well as ruin the park in general.
The City has also earned an F for failing to preserve the park. The City needs to respect the park as the City’s Arboretum and a source of history. Having visited the park for 30 years, I’ve come to regret the lack of young trees and progressive deterioration. The City needs to plant new trees and other vegetation to preserve the park’s beauty. Parallel to the neglect of the Arboretum is the neglect of the history. Both of these values have suffered from a lack of balance in managing the park.
What can be done to balance the interests of homeowners, recreational users, and the park’s preservation? One of the most important steps the city can take is a total prohibition of amplified music and alcohol by private parties. The city is considering such a prohibition and should implement it immediately. Why would this make a huge difference? Total prohibition of amplified music and alcohol would be easily understandable and enforceable. It would motivate big, noisy crowds to conduct their parties elsewhere. It would send a clear message to everybody that Fort Ward Park is NOT, repeat NOT, to be treated as a money-making discotheque. Instead, it would show the City’s support for Fort Ward as a beautiful place where smaller groups can enjoy its beauty free of alcohol and raucous music while respecting the rights of nearby homeowners.
Thank you for this chance to tell you my concerns.
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