Subject: Update on Fort Ward Park--Twelve Things You Should Know
Date: May 14, 2009
Dear Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board Members & Liaisons,
Discussions continue related to the protection, management and use of Fort Ward Park. On Thursday April 30, 2009 Tom Fulton, Adrienne Washington, Dave Cavanaugh, Fran Terrell, and I, met with Rich Baier, Acting Director of the City's Recreation & Parks Department, and Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria. The group walked the park for two hours while discussing various concerns, issues, alternatives and actions related to Fort Ward Park. Mr. Mallamo and Mr. Baier provided news about the City's efforts to address some of the ongoing problems in the park including the following information.
1. The City is removing vehicles, equipment, and materials from the maintenance yard and nursery area. Known graves within the park will be protected with temporary fencing and studied by the City's Office of Archeology. Water runoff, from the City's maintenance yard, that is damaging graves within the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery will be studied to determine what can be done quickly to prevent the erosion of headstones and the subsidence of graves. The City will look into moving the mulch piles next to Marlboro Estate homeowners and African American graves.
2. The City Council has added and approved $50,000 in the 2010 Alexandria budget to begin doing archeology work to identify graves and buildings related to African Americans who lived, worked, worshiped, and are buried on the land that is now Fort Ward Park. The City has also been made aware of funding available for Fort Ward Park from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the U.S. Congress through the efforts of Congressman Jim Moran.
3. The City Council is considering establishing a multi-stakeholder Fort Ward Park Advisory Commission to help address problems and plan for the future of the area. Appointments to this group will be approved by the Council and subject to the City's Open Meetings Act. Various interests from around the City will be selected to participate on this Commission following a more formal and traditional process. The Commission and the date of its first meeting will be announced in the future.
4. The City will create a Fort Ward Park Staff & Community Working/ Stewardship Group that will be open to everyone. More information has been promised by the City.
5. The City is hiring a new Park Ranger to help manage the use of Fort Ward Park on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Walter Powell, the Chief of Park Maintenance for this sector, started to perform these duties last weekend and will serve to assist park users and help to see that existing laws and permit conditions are carried out.
6. The City will continue to promote and allow park users to use alcohol at Fort Ward Park with a permit from the Commonwealth of VA Alcohol Control Board.
7. The City expects to set a maximum limit of 250 people on existing picnic areas. The maximum limit of people using the amphitheater will be set at 100.
8. The Fort Ward Park facility development plans that the Recreation & Parks Department is proposing in the City's October 2008 plan for the area, have been postponed until further notice. City park managers will continue to do grass mowing, tree trimming and rut-repair work.
9. Unfortunately it appears that the City will not complete the Fort Ward Park Action Plan that managers proposed at the public meetings in February and March 2009. Mr. Mallamo, former Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon, and Judy Noritake, the Chair of the Recreation & Parks Advisory Commission, presented an abbreviated list of actions to the Mayor and City Council on April 14, 2009 indicating that the public endorsed the list. None of the City's findings, that were presented at one of the public meetings were shared with the Council. Also provided by Ms. Noritake was a list of unfunded requests for 2009. Fort Ward Park Improvements were listed as Priority III (Long Term). The Arboretum, facility, plantings, signage and marketing, was listed as Priority II (Medium Term).
A number of citizens who attended, or watched, the Council meeting have written to Council asking that the public comments be used and the action plan completed. .
10. The effort to protect and manage the use of Fort Ward Park was featured in stories in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, Alexandria Times, and on National Public Radio/ WMAU radio.
11. The community leaders let Rich and Lance know that plans are being discussed to celebrate the birthday of Clara Adams in early June. Ms. Adams, who is buried with her husband within the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard and nursery area, was one of the founders of the Oakland Baptist Church. Her birthday is June 2, 2009 and family members and neighbors are discussing a day and time to honor her memory. More information is available if you are interested in attending the ceremony.
12. The City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services began an outreach effort on May 13, 2009 at T.C. Williams High School to receive feedback from the public on stormwater management problem areas and needs, funding options, and next steps. The City’s presentation included a proposal for a new source of funding based on new tax on assessed real estate property value; or a storm water management fee based on impervious areas.
The meeting was the first of four meetings to be held. Glenn Eugster presented information to City officials and their consultants on Fort Ward Park maintenance yard storm water problems impacting the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery. Information was also presented on storm water problems in the drainage swale between the cemetery and the park road that have periodically created problems for property owners in Marlboro Estates. Community leaders discussed this problem earlier with Rich Baier on April 30, 2009.
Mr. Baier and Mr. Mallamo expressed considerable interest in working with the citizens of Alexandria to find ways to better protect, manage and enjoy Fort Ward Park. Hopefully future dialogue will be an opportunity to listen to the City's plans for the park and ask questions. I sincerely hope that you will make time to join us for this important gathering.
If you have questions or comments please let me know.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Glenn
J. Glenn Eugster
Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board Member--Area 6
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-845-8947 (h)
703-489-4207 (c)
glenn_eugster@comcast.net
Date: May 14, 2009
Dear Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board Members & Liaisons,
Discussions continue related to the protection, management and use of Fort Ward Park. On Thursday April 30, 2009 Tom Fulton, Adrienne Washington, Dave Cavanaugh, Fran Terrell, and I, met with Rich Baier, Acting Director of the City's Recreation & Parks Department, and Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria. The group walked the park for two hours while discussing various concerns, issues, alternatives and actions related to Fort Ward Park. Mr. Mallamo and Mr. Baier provided news about the City's efforts to address some of the ongoing problems in the park including the following information.
1. The City is removing vehicles, equipment, and materials from the maintenance yard and nursery area. Known graves within the park will be protected with temporary fencing and studied by the City's Office of Archeology. Water runoff, from the City's maintenance yard, that is damaging graves within the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery will be studied to determine what can be done quickly to prevent the erosion of headstones and the subsidence of graves. The City will look into moving the mulch piles next to Marlboro Estate homeowners and African American graves.
2. The City Council has added and approved $50,000 in the 2010 Alexandria budget to begin doing archeology work to identify graves and buildings related to African Americans who lived, worked, worshiped, and are buried on the land that is now Fort Ward Park. The City has also been made aware of funding available for Fort Ward Park from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the U.S. Congress through the efforts of Congressman Jim Moran.
3. The City Council is considering establishing a multi-stakeholder Fort Ward Park Advisory Commission to help address problems and plan for the future of the area. Appointments to this group will be approved by the Council and subject to the City's Open Meetings Act. Various interests from around the City will be selected to participate on this Commission following a more formal and traditional process. The Commission and the date of its first meeting will be announced in the future.
4. The City will create a Fort Ward Park Staff & Community Working/ Stewardship Group that will be open to everyone. More information has been promised by the City.
5. The City is hiring a new Park Ranger to help manage the use of Fort Ward Park on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Walter Powell, the Chief of Park Maintenance for this sector, started to perform these duties last weekend and will serve to assist park users and help to see that existing laws and permit conditions are carried out.
6. The City will continue to promote and allow park users to use alcohol at Fort Ward Park with a permit from the Commonwealth of VA Alcohol Control Board.
7. The City expects to set a maximum limit of 250 people on existing picnic areas. The maximum limit of people using the amphitheater will be set at 100.
8. The Fort Ward Park facility development plans that the Recreation & Parks Department is proposing in the City's October 2008 plan for the area, have been postponed until further notice. City park managers will continue to do grass mowing, tree trimming and rut-repair work.
9. Unfortunately it appears that the City will not complete the Fort Ward Park Action Plan that managers proposed at the public meetings in February and March 2009. Mr. Mallamo, former Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon, and Judy Noritake, the Chair of the Recreation & Parks Advisory Commission, presented an abbreviated list of actions to the Mayor and City Council on April 14, 2009 indicating that the public endorsed the list. None of the City's findings, that were presented at one of the public meetings were shared with the Council. Also provided by Ms. Noritake was a list of unfunded requests for 2009. Fort Ward Park Improvements were listed as Priority III (Long Term). The Arboretum, facility, plantings, signage and marketing, was listed as Priority II (Medium Term).
A number of citizens who attended, or watched, the Council meeting have written to Council asking that the public comments be used and the action plan completed. .
10. The effort to protect and manage the use of Fort Ward Park was featured in stories in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, Alexandria Times, and on National Public Radio/ WMAU radio.
11. The community leaders let Rich and Lance know that plans are being discussed to celebrate the birthday of Clara Adams in early June. Ms. Adams, who is buried with her husband within the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard and nursery area, was one of the founders of the Oakland Baptist Church. Her birthday is June 2, 2009 and family members and neighbors are discussing a day and time to honor her memory. More information is available if you are interested in attending the ceremony.
12. The City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services began an outreach effort on May 13, 2009 at T.C. Williams High School to receive feedback from the public on stormwater management problem areas and needs, funding options, and next steps. The City’s presentation included a proposal for a new source of funding based on new tax on assessed real estate property value; or a storm water management fee based on impervious areas.
The meeting was the first of four meetings to be held. Glenn Eugster presented information to City officials and their consultants on Fort Ward Park maintenance yard storm water problems impacting the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery. Information was also presented on storm water problems in the drainage swale between the cemetery and the park road that have periodically created problems for property owners in Marlboro Estates. Community leaders discussed this problem earlier with Rich Baier on April 30, 2009.
Mr. Baier and Mr. Mallamo expressed considerable interest in working with the citizens of Alexandria to find ways to better protect, manage and enjoy Fort Ward Park. Hopefully future dialogue will be an opportunity to listen to the City's plans for the park and ask questions. I sincerely hope that you will make time to join us for this important gathering.
If you have questions or comments please let me know.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Glenn
J. Glenn Eugster
Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board Member--Area 6
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-845-8947 (h)
703-489-4207 (c)
glenn_eugster@comcast.net
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