Statement to the Alexandria, VA. City Council on Fort Ward Park
by J. Glenn Eugster
December 13, 2008
Good day. I'm J. Glenn Eugster of 4022 Ellicott Street,
Alexandria, VA. My wife and I have lived in Alexandria for 20
years. We are here because of the history, sense of community,
and the wonderful quality of life.
For the last 14 months I've been communicating with 55 homeowners
in our neighborhood and others from nearby. I have sent you
requests on their behalf asking for assistance. Each time that we
have contacted you it was after a good-faith effort to resolve
problems directly with the City Departments.
City park managers have routinely ignored, resisted, and actively
worked against taxpayers who have expressed concerns about crime,
garbage, flooding, noise, crowds, and cultural resource
degradation. We have encountered passive aggressive and arrogant
behavior in response to our concerns.
For example, when we experienced a variety of park-related crime
in our area, park managers refused to close the gate to the park
at night, removed the gate, and said, "Criminals will get in the
park whether the gate is locked or not".
When we asked to move the solid waste transfer station in the
park maintenance yard, I was told, "We are looking at an option
to place the dumpsters behind your house".
When we complained about the expansion of the park maintenance
yard to care for multiple parks, without a Special Use Permit or
any public input, we were told, "The maintenance yard has always
been there".
When we expressed concern to numerous City officials about the
protection of Virginia Fitzhugh and the other African Americans
buried in Fort Ward Park but outside the cemetery after the Civil
War, we were totally ignored.
During the last two summers we complained regularly about the
amplified noise levels and very large crowds without permits at
the park. We were told, "Call the Police Department".
After trying for 8 months to secure a copy of the plan for Ft.
Ward Park, we were told on November 7, 2008 that no plan exists.
Recently we found a plan on the City's website dated October 16,
2008 that was prepared by City staff without public input. Not
surprisingly, the plan doesn't address the concerns we have
expressed nor does it have a goal. It has no objectives and does
not even include all the areas of the park.
The residents of Marlboro Estates and other adjacent
neighborhoods need your help. The Parks & Recreation Department
intends to submit this flawed plan to the public at a hearing.
After over 30 years the park surely needs a plan. Park use and
management have destroyed park resources, had a negative impact
on adjacent homes, and contributed to health, safety and crime
problems. As a remedy, we need a plan that is well-developed
with input from experts and the public from the start rather than
one that is presented to them at a hearing.
Please make the City take adequate time to prepare a
quality plan for Ft. Ward Park with expert and public input at
the start.
Remove the October 16, 2008 study and recommendations from
the City's park planning website and call for a process that
brings people together to develop a plan rather than have
government carry out a preconceived proposal for people to react
to.
Encourage the Parks & Recreation Department to carry out
their duties in ways that are more honest, open, and respectful
of adjacent landowners.
Request the Department to be more collaborative and
committed to protecting park values while pursuing recreation
services.
We won't get these ongoing problems solved, or achieve the
economic, environmental, recreational, or educational potential
of this part of our community unless the Council sets a better
direction. We can't afford the current "we" versus "they"
approach--it must be "us". We do our best work when we work
together.
Help us please!
Thank you.
by J. Glenn Eugster
December 13, 2008
Good day. I'm J. Glenn Eugster of 4022 Ellicott Street,
Alexandria, VA. My wife and I have lived in Alexandria for 20
years. We are here because of the history, sense of community,
and the wonderful quality of life.
For the last 14 months I've been communicating with 55 homeowners
in our neighborhood and others from nearby. I have sent you
requests on their behalf asking for assistance. Each time that we
have contacted you it was after a good-faith effort to resolve
problems directly with the City Departments.
City park managers have routinely ignored, resisted, and actively
worked against taxpayers who have expressed concerns about crime,
garbage, flooding, noise, crowds, and cultural resource
degradation. We have encountered passive aggressive and arrogant
behavior in response to our concerns.
For example, when we experienced a variety of park-related crime
in our area, park managers refused to close the gate to the park
at night, removed the gate, and said, "Criminals will get in the
park whether the gate is locked or not".
When we asked to move the solid waste transfer station in the
park maintenance yard, I was told, "We are looking at an option
to place the dumpsters behind your house".
When we complained about the expansion of the park maintenance
yard to care for multiple parks, without a Special Use Permit or
any public input, we were told, "The maintenance yard has always
been there".
When we expressed concern to numerous City officials about the
protection of Virginia Fitzhugh and the other African Americans
buried in Fort Ward Park but outside the cemetery after the Civil
War, we were totally ignored.
During the last two summers we complained regularly about the
amplified noise levels and very large crowds without permits at
the park. We were told, "Call the Police Department".
After trying for 8 months to secure a copy of the plan for Ft.
Ward Park, we were told on November 7, 2008 that no plan exists.
Recently we found a plan on the City's website dated October 16,
2008 that was prepared by City staff without public input. Not
surprisingly, the plan doesn't address the concerns we have
expressed nor does it have a goal. It has no objectives and does
not even include all the areas of the park.
The residents of Marlboro Estates and other adjacent
neighborhoods need your help. The Parks & Recreation Department
intends to submit this flawed plan to the public at a hearing.
After over 30 years the park surely needs a plan. Park use and
management have destroyed park resources, had a negative impact
on adjacent homes, and contributed to health, safety and crime
problems. As a remedy, we need a plan that is well-developed
with input from experts and the public from the start rather than
one that is presented to them at a hearing.
Please make the City take adequate time to prepare a
quality plan for Ft. Ward Park with expert and public input at
the start.
Remove the October 16, 2008 study and recommendations from
the City's park planning website and call for a process that
brings people together to develop a plan rather than have
government carry out a preconceived proposal for people to react
to.
Encourage the Parks & Recreation Department to carry out
their duties in ways that are more honest, open, and respectful
of adjacent landowners.
Request the Department to be more collaborative and
committed to protecting park values while pursuing recreation
services.
We won't get these ongoing problems solved, or achieve the
economic, environmental, recreational, or educational potential
of this part of our community unless the Council sets a better
direction. We can't afford the current "we" versus "they"
approach--it must be "us". We do our best work when we work
together.
Help us please!
Thank you.
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