From: "Mary Koik"
To: "glenn eugster"
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:15:42 PM
Subject: RE: Fort Ward Park
Mr. Eugster,
First, let me say thank you for your longstanding appreciation of and commitment to Fort Ward. Active and engaged neighbors are the greatest ally a historic site can have, and all history lovers owe a debt of gratitude to people like you who watch over and safeguard these resources.
Fort Ward and the other Defenses of Washington sites face several unique challenges. Too many of them languish in obscurity, forgotten even by those who live in their shadow. At others, the urban environment has made it difficult to balance the sites’ historic nature with the constantly evolving needs of the community. Happily, recent years have seen a major increase in the level of public interest surrounding all of the forts, giving us reason to hope that the future will bring improved interpretation and appreciation.
Although I have worked with the museum and interpretive staff at Fort Ward on several occasions, I had not previously been aware of the conflict between historic and recreational uses you discussed in your email. While it is always heartening to see a community utilizing preserved historic land, it should be done in a sensitive and respectful manner. I’m truly sorry to hear that this might not always be the case at Fort Ward Park, and CWPT will certainly make further inquiries into the situation. Park management is not our typical purview, but we very much share your concerns about the appropriate use of historic land.
That Fort Ward has been preserved and interpreted by the City of Alexandria is a benefit to the entire region — the interpretive facilities there are easily the best of all the Defenses sites. Having worked with staff at the museum and historic site on several occasions, I know they take their educational responsibilities seriously, and I regret if that mission has ever been eclipsed by other ways in which the park is employed.
Thank you both for your ongoing support of Fort Ward and for bringing this matter to our attention.
Mary Goundrey Koik
Deputy Director of Communications
Civil War Preservation Trust
1331 H Street NW, Suite 1001
Washington, DC 20005
202-367-1861 ext. 231
mkoik@civilwar.org
To: "glenn eugster"
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:15:42 PM
Subject: RE: Fort Ward Park
Mr. Eugster,
First, let me say thank you for your longstanding appreciation of and commitment to Fort Ward. Active and engaged neighbors are the greatest ally a historic site can have, and all history lovers owe a debt of gratitude to people like you who watch over and safeguard these resources.
Fort Ward and the other Defenses of Washington sites face several unique challenges. Too many of them languish in obscurity, forgotten even by those who live in their shadow. At others, the urban environment has made it difficult to balance the sites’ historic nature with the constantly evolving needs of the community. Happily, recent years have seen a major increase in the level of public interest surrounding all of the forts, giving us reason to hope that the future will bring improved interpretation and appreciation.
Although I have worked with the museum and interpretive staff at Fort Ward on several occasions, I had not previously been aware of the conflict between historic and recreational uses you discussed in your email. While it is always heartening to see a community utilizing preserved historic land, it should be done in a sensitive and respectful manner. I’m truly sorry to hear that this might not always be the case at Fort Ward Park, and CWPT will certainly make further inquiries into the situation. Park management is not our typical purview, but we very much share your concerns about the appropriate use of historic land.
That Fort Ward has been preserved and interpreted by the City of Alexandria is a benefit to the entire region — the interpretive facilities there are easily the best of all the Defenses sites. Having worked with staff at the museum and historic site on several occasions, I know they take their educational responsibilities seriously, and I regret if that mission has ever been eclipsed by other ways in which the park is employed.
Thank you both for your ongoing support of Fort Ward and for bringing this matter to our attention.
Mary Goundrey Koik
Deputy Director of Communications
Civil War Preservation Trust
1331 H Street NW, Suite 1001
Washington, DC 20005
202-367-1861 ext. 231
mkoik@civilwar.org
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